by H. Q. Frost
"Holly, this is my girlfriend, Nyla."
"Hey, pretty."
"Hi," Nyla peeped.
"Dom, what up, man!" A man in the back stuck his hand in the air.
"Darren." Dom nodded.
"When you working next, bug?" Holly asked.
"Dom goes back to his old schedule in a week," Deidra cooed, leaning her elbows onto the counter.
"I'm hungry, can I order? And don't spit in it."
"We treat our customers with respect." Holly winked at him, making him laugh.
"La, what else you want?"
"What kind of wedding were ya at that you didn't eat?" Deidra curled her lip.
Ignoring the nosey teen, Dom nodded toward the lit up menu then looked at Nyla, "Babe?"
"Um, just a small fries, please."
"Make it a large and a large chocolate. Give me a plain with extra pickles."
"Holly, you gotta punch in his discount." Deidra moved to the side, keeping her eyes on Dom and a grin on her face.
With a shake of his head he chuckled and pulled Nyla closer. When Deidra skipped to the back to get their food, Dom kissed Nyla's temple.
"Someone has a big crush on you," she mumbled, more surprised by the blatant girl than jealous.
"She's like, sixteen and is the owner's daughter. She's really annoying."
"I can see that."
"Don't be jealous." He kissed her again.
"I'm not. Girls seem to flock to you."
"I could be ugly." He grinned at her, finally making the attitude she carried crumble as she laughed and hit his side.
"That's why I don't ask you to come into the theater anymore. Oh!" She spun to face him and grabbed his suit coat. "Did I tell you Renee got a job there?"
The smile on his face fell to a serious, tight jaw as he responded, "No."
"She used Kait's name and got a job practically without an interview."
"Not surprising," he uttered and looked away, not wanting to talk about Renee.
"She looks like shit too," Nyla threw in, drawing his attention for an explanation. "She looks like she's definitely cracked out."
His hands shoved into his pockets as he shrugged. "Probably is."
"Have you talked to anyone?" she softly asked.
"You know I haven't. Boney came up here a couple nights ago when I was on shift. We said hey and that was it."
"If you stopped talking to your friends because of me—"
"I stopped talking to them because they weren't good friends. Drop it, okay?" The last thing he wanted was the topic of Jeff to come up.
She lay her head on his chest and he wrapped his arm around her until Holly placed their tray on the counter.
"Here you go, cuties."
"Dom, do you work this week?" Deidra asked as he grabbed the tray.
"Not working Surf this week." They sat at a booth and he smiled across at Nyla.
"She's a persistent little thing."
Laughing, he pushed a fry in his mouth. After sharing the burger, shake, and fries he got Nyla out of there. Deidra's persistent flirting was irritating her already bad attitude.
"You in a hurry to go home?" he asked.
"No. Why? Where do you want to go?"
"The hill." He started the truck. Slowly pulling up to the woods, he made sure no cars were around before getting out. "This was Jeff's favorite place ever. It's the only place he ever mentioned going. We went to Disney as kids and he talked about the hill like it was cooler than that." He chuckled and took her hand, helping her through the woods. "I didn't think about your shoes."
"It's okay. I'm fine," she insisted because it was the first time he'd talked about Jeff since his death. "What would you guys do here except party and shoot guns?"
"Get high." He chuckled. "That's pretty much it."
"Well, you guys made good memories here. That's probably why."
"I think he lost his virginity here too."
"Ew." She laughed and he grinned. "To who? Anyone I've met?"
"I don't even know who it was. I never asked and he never told. He didn't really have a hard time getting laid."
"I noticed that," she muttered. "I just hope he was smart about it."
"You mean protection? Jeff taught me to use protection." He threw his head back in laughter. "I learned a lot from that guy."
"He was pretty amazing. I miss being called Myra."
With a laugh, Dom glanced away and quickly swiped his tears.
"I miss him," she whispered as they got to the bottom of the hill.
"Race to the top." He took off.
"Dom! No fair!"
When she got close, he grabbed her hand and pulled her to the top.
"Full moon." His eyes stayed on the glowing orb that lit the empty field as he mumbled, "The sky's never been this clear. Rarely see the stars." When she didn't respond, he looked over his shoulder.
The moon acted like a light, and he turned to get the full view of Nyla standing behind him with her dress around her feet.
"You ever have sex here?" The invitation of her words had him stepping forward to touch her.
"Not like I'm about to." He grabbed her hips and didn't waste time engulfing her mouth while cupping her breast.
Laying his suit coat down, he sat and pulled her over him.
"I love you, Nyla. I'd do anything for you. You're all I want."
"I'm yours."
"Promise me nothing will change that." His lips slipped over her nipple.
"I promise you. We have a book to write."
***
"Dom." Boney approached from behind. "You start afternoons Monday?"
"Yeah." Dom stared him in the eyes, not sure what insane request he'd have, but they hadn't talked in a month.
"Can you take my shift Sunday morning and I'll take your Monday?"
He had planned on spending the day with Nyla before his schedule change but figured maybe he could get her to switch her Monday night with someone at the theater.
"Sure."
"Thanks." Boney patted his shoulder before jogging away.
Later when he showed up at Nyla's, there were two men standing on her porch while she stood in the doorway.
"Hi." She smiled. "This is Trent and…" She winced and looked at the other guy.
"Bill." He put his hand out first.
"Dom." He shook their hands in confusion but masked it with a smile directed toward Nyla.
"Dom's my boyfriend. They're the new neighbors." She glanced toward Austin's old house.
"Oh, alright." He managed a smile but inwardly cursed because he wasn't sure what to expect from the younger guys that didn't seem to know she had a boyfriend until she said the words.
"Nice to meet you, Nyla," Trent smiled at her then glanced at Dom before walking down the steps. "Take it easy."
"Don't be a stranger," Bill said to her and offered Dom a sideways glance before following his roommate.
"Don't be a stranger," Dom mocked before walking around her and going into the house.
"They were nice and just introducing themselves."
"Until your boyfriend showed up," he said going to the fridge. "Which means they'll be back when your boyfriend leaves."
"Don't blow it out of proportion, babe. You bring me fries?" Her arms wrapped around his waist from behind.
"They were old and I couldn't drop a new batch 'cause the new dickwad manager was on shift. And I'm not blowing anything out of proportion. I'm a guy, Nyla. Just like those guys, I think with my dick."
"Oh do you?" She raised her eyebrows and took a step back, crossing her arms over her chest. "And what does your dick think about?"
"That you're hot and it wants to fuck you. I can guarantee those guys are thinking the same."
"Maybe they're gay." She shrugged and he snickered.
"If they were gay, they would have stuck around when I showed up."
She grabbed him, kissing him through her laughter.
"We could always get the he
ll out of here." Her fingers pushed hair from his eyes and the tip of her tongue slicked over his eyebrow, but he didn't pull away from the wet intrusion.
"You been looking for any houses that might be for rent closer to mine?"
"I mean me and you leave the city."
"Eight months, La." He bit her nose then pulled away.
"What happens in eight months, Dom? I don't get it. Did you promise your mom you wouldn't leave after Jeff's death? She thinks in a year it won't be as devastating? Tell me what the hell we're waiting for. What if I talk to your mom? Do you think that'd help anything?"
"No, just let it go, okay? How can you not wait eight months for me?"
"Eight months of you getting pissed and jealous every time you see my neighbors? Eight months of me having to look at the spot Jeff got shot? Eight months until we start our life together on our own? With our own responsibilities? Eight more months until I sign up for classes again because I can't transfer the credits?"
"You can't?" he blurted and spun to look at her.
"No." She shook her head. "I don't get why you promised your mom this. In eight months, Jeff's death will still haunt us all, and I imagine it hurts her the most. How are you going to make that better in eight months?"
"My mom's never been overbearing and not because she didn't care but because we were worse when she told us no. She's worked nights since I can remember and with no parent around we fucked around a lot. We did shit we weren't supposed to. Hung out with people we weren't supposed to. As long as we weren't showing up at the precinct by police escort, she thought we were good kids. She'd seen our friends there sometimes a few times a week, but never us. And because of that, she was never overbearing. This is the one and only thing my mom has ever asked me to do except look out for Jeff, and I failed her with that. I'll stick around eight more months for my mom."
She stared at the irrefutable look across his face and her arms went around him. "I'd wait a lifetime for you, Dom."
"I'm yours, Nyla." He kissed the top of her head.
***
As Nyla punched in for work on Monday, Renee walked up to the time clock.
"What the fuck are you doing here?" Her catty tone was like nails on a chalkboard. "I requested not to work the same shift as you."
"I swapped shifts with Patty today," Nyla muttered, rolling her eyes.
"Nyla! We're working together today?" her friend squealed and Renee groaned walking away. "I hate her."
"She's different," Nyla mumbled watching her walk away. "I gotta sweep. I hope today goes fast."
The clock dragged, but at her thirty-minute break she checked the couple of texts Dom had sent her.
"What're you grinning at?" Her manager smirked. "Who's texting you? Sexy strut?"
"What?" Nyla laughed, lowering her phone to look at her.
"He has a sexy walk." She grinned while Nyla laughed louder.
"He does. He carries himself so sexily," another co-worker chimed in.
"He's confident and knows he's hot."
"Oh my god, guys. Okay!" Nyla covered her laughing mouth.
"Why are you on shift right now?"
"That's what I want to know," Renee mumbled coming up from behind Nyla.
Rolling her eyes, Nyla answered her friend, "Because Dom gets off work at two and I leave at three so we'll be able to spend the evening together."
"Dom's not at work." Renee chuckled and Nyla rolled her eyes but ignored the gossip queen.
"Aren't you two supposed to get a place soon?"
"Soon." Nyla managed a smile to hide that she didn't think it was soon enough.
"Not anytime soon," Renee spoke up.
"Why are you such a bitch, Renee?" a co-worker complained.
"Nyla, Dom's not at work and if he told you that, he's lying. Your boyfriend is a fucking liar."
Crossing her arms, Nyla turned to face her, not sure why she was giving in to Renee's head games. "Then where is he?"
"Oh my god, you're serious?" She snickered. "Dom has a whole other life you don't know about." She smiled evilly.
"Renee, shut the fuck up for once." Nyla's friend grumbled, walking away.
"I'm serious. You want me to take you to Dom?"
Nyla's eyebrows furrowed and she glanced at their manager.
"Nyla, go call him," she said.
That evil grin was still spreading across Renee's lips as she said, "He won't answer the phone. I can take you to him right now."
"Where is he?" Nyla asked in a small voice.
"Nyla, don't believe her." Their manager huffed.
"Renee, where is he?" Nyla asked with more confidence.
"Renee, just tell her. Nyla, I'll give you an hour but if you leave, Renee, you're fired."
"Fuck this job. I don't need this. I'd much rather see Dom go down." She giggled and bounced excitedly, heading for her car.
"I'll be back, Cindy," Nyla promised and ran to catch up with Renee.
"I can't wait to see his face." She squealed with excitement and Nyla huffed.
"Where is he, Renee? If you're lying to me, I'm going to kick your ass."
"Oh please, Nyla." She laughed at her. "I have nothing to lie about. Unlike Dom. I would have told you sooner if I knew you didn't know."
"Where is he?" Nyla yelled in frustration.
"Buckle up. Safety first." Her evil laughter crawled under Nyla's skin.
When the car pulled into a parking lot, Nyla hesitantly looked over at Renee who was still giggling every few minutes.
"Why are we here?"
"So you can see Dom." She grinned getting out.
The pounding in her chest made her body start to shake and it took her a minute to open the car door. When she got out, she stared at the building.
"Come on!" Renee encouraged, her evil grin beaming from her lips as she began skipping toward the doors.
Slowly heading for the doors, the past six months of their relationship played through her head. Renee had to be fucking with her because Dom was at work. He worked Surf Burgers early in the morning and Reboot in the afternoons. He wasn't here.
"Nyla!" Renee giggled standing at the doors and waving her forward.
"I don't understand," Nyla uttered, approaching the doors.
"Because you're fucking dense." Renee grabbed her hand and pulled her inside. "Walk, Nyla, you shoulda learned that as a baby." She yanked her down the corridor. Pulling her into a packed room, she walked up to Leo, the first familiar face she noticed. "Hey, can you get everyone to shut up? Do that whistle you do."
"Why, what's going on?" He smirked.
"Something epic." She giggled.
Leo's whistle cut through all the chatter and silence began to fall over the lunchroom.
"Dominic Sestak, where are you?" Renee screamed through her cupped hands.
Dom glanced over his shoulder in confusion then slowly got to his feet. His eyes landed on Renee and his brows furrowed while his lip pulled up into a scowl.
"I found Dom, Nyla." Renee giggled and that was when Dom noticed Nyla.
Her pounding heart sat in her throat while she looked around the lunch room full of high schoolers.
Dom moved quickly across the room to get to her while she slowly began to back out of the room.
"Nyla," he blurted and that was when she turned and ran. "Nyla!" He took off in a sprint after her.
"Dom Sestak, no running!" a teacher snapped at him as he blew past her in the hall.
"Nyla!" He burst out the doors and grabbed her arm right before she made it to the parking lot.
"You're in high school," she fumbled out in a trembling voice. "How old are you?" Her wide eyes full of shock stared into his remorseful blues.
She looked him over head-to-toe. She had been certain he was twenty-one and wasn't sure how she never found out his actual age, but he didn't look under twenty. His deep voice, the way he demanded respect, his hard jaw. But that soft baby skin, that boyish grin, the fact he couldn't leave for eight months
because he hadn't graduated high school. It all hit her.
"Dom, how old are you?" she urged.
"Dom's only seventeen, Nyla," Renee answered in a wicked tone full of delight. "I assumed you knew because how stupid do you have to be to not know you're dating a high schooler?"
"Oh my god." Her hand covered her mouth and she spun to walk away but he grabbed her arm.
"La, let me get you home."
"Don't fucking touch me." She yanked her arm away. "I slept with you, you're not even eighteen!"
"I tried to wait. For you. I tried, but you wanted it, and I couldn't deny you anymore. I knew I should wait because I know how you are and I wanted to wait."
"Oh god, this is good!" Renee laughed from behind him. "Dom's not eighteen until March."
"You're a kid," Nyla said in disgust.
"Dom's seen and done more shit than most of the people combined in this school," Leo stuck up for his friend. That was when Nyla saw there were several students standing at the school doors, watching the show.
"You lied to me."
"I never lied," his stern voice carried with an echo. "I never lied to you."
"You told me you were at work in the mornings! I know I've asked your age!"
"You've asked me once and I never got to answer. And all summer I've been at work in the mornings when I said it. Before summer break, I only told you I had an early morning. You just assumed it was for work. I knew if you knew my age, you wouldn't let me close. You wouldn't have even given me a chance."
"We could have been friends!" she stressed and the tears started.
"I tried that. I tried to only be your friend." He stepped closer and she stepped back.
"I… I don't even know if what we did was legal. Oh god, I could go to jail for sleeping with you!"
Renee's mocking laughter rang out.
"Sixteen is legal, Nyla." He stepped toward her and grabbed her arm. "My mom works at the police station, you think she'd allow it if it weren't legal?"
"Please let me go," she whispered and blinked her eyes up to look at him, tears dripping down her cheeks.
Slowly letting her arm go, he said, "Let me take you home and we'll talk, La."
"No." She shook her head while backing away from him. "Leave me alone or I'll call the police for harassment."
"Nyla," he uttered in disbelief. "You fucking promised nothing would take you away from me."