by Jenny Siegel
“I’m so sorry that this happened to you and your mother. Simon’s not well.” His brow furrows with worry and concern, the lines around his eyes more pronounced. There is nothing for me to say. I don’t want to make him feel any worse; he must be torn, between wanting to help his son and worrying about his future wife. I nod and curl back into Dominic’s side.
“We’ll speak to you in the morning.”
“Okay, get some rest. The police will want a statement, but they said they can wait until the morning.” I don’t think I could go through it again tonight.
“I love you, Charlie.” She kisses me on the cheek that isn’t sore.
“Love you too, Mom.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Dominic leads me back to our bedroom in silence, his lips pressed to the top of my head for the duration of the elevator ride. He parks me on the end of the bed and starts fussing. I hear him turn the shower on in the bathroom, and he comes into the room to gather up all the fluffy towels before he starts to undress me. Carefully, he pulls my shirt over my head, taking care not to touch my cheek. My arms flop back down to lie uselessly in my lap as he unties my sneakers and slips them off. Taking my hand in his, he pulls me up to standing, unbuttons my shorts, and slides them down my legs. He guides me to sit back down on the bed once they are off. Only hours earlier, he stripped these clothes off me, but it feels a lifetime ago. How has this all happened in such a short space of time? Leaving me sitting in my bra and panties, he disappears into the bathroom before coming back to help me to stand.
The shower has already started to steam up when he leads me through to the bathroom. The mirror hasn’t completed fogged over, and I catch sight of my reflection. Not a pretty sight. My hair is wild and tangled. Mascara has left dark marks down my cheeks, but I gasp at the bruise that is flowering on my left cheek where Simon struck me. Dominic watches me, the pain visible in his dark eyes.
“That fucking-” He clenches his jaw to stop himself from saying anything else. Instead, he steps forward and opens the shower door. “It will make you feel better.” He motions for me to step inside. I slip off my bra and panties, step under the hot spray, and let the pounding water wash away the tension and horror of the afternoon. After washing my hair, I stay in the shower for a long time. My fingers start to prune, and with reluctance, I turn off the water and open the door. A pile of white fluffy hotel towels is folded on the rail and I wrap one around my hair and one around my body.
Dominic watches me like a hawk, resting against the vanity unit, his arms folded over this chest. He’s changed out of his golf clothes and is just in regular jeans and a t-shirt. His shirt pulled tight over his biceps momentarily distracts me but I’m too exhausted to do anything about it.
“Feel better?”
“Yeah, thanks.” I move toward him and he drapes one of the bathrobes over my shoulders.
“You hungry?” I look at him confused for a second, but then I realize I haven’t eaten since this morning.
“No, just tired.”
“Come on.” He leads me through to the bedroom and pulls back the covers and motions for me to climb into bed. I sit there and watch him switch lights off in the bathroom and close the door.
“Can you pass my brush, please?” I ask quietly, and he rummages in my bag until he finds it and hands it over. I take off the towel and pull the brush through my tangled hair. I feel more human after my shower and washing my hair.
“What happens now?” I put down the brush and watch him as he pulls his t-shirt over his head and starts on the buckle to his jeans. Sliding his jeans down, he pulls them off and folds them, placing them on top of his bag. He slips under the covers beside me and gathers me into his arms.
“Lincoln phoned while you were in the shower. They’re going to postpone the wedding,” he says in a grave voice.
My eyes flick up to look up at him. “Why?”
He exhales heavily and pushes strands of damp hair out the way. “Your mom's shaken up and look at your face.”
“They’re still going to get married, though?”
“I don’t see why they wouldn’t.”
“So when will it be?”
“I don’t know.” He looks down at me, concern etched over every inch of his face. “Iris phoned.”
“Did you tell her?”
“Yes, and I told her the wedding was postponed. They’re going to wait until we get home.”
“Can we leave tomorrow?” I look at him in alarm; I really don’t want to stay here any longer than I have to.
“If you want to or we can stay with your mom for a bit?”
“No,” I panic slightly. “I want to go home, with you.” Because wherever he is is home.
“Shh, it’s okay. We can leave tomorrow. Let’s just get some sleep.” He brushes his lips over my forehead but when he pulls away, I tilt my head up so that I kiss his lips. The warmth of his full lips spreads through me and when my tongue brushes against his, he groans.
“Charlie.” He pulls back, cupping my jaw in his palm. I know what he’s saying, but I just need to feel close to him. I snuggle into his chest and feel his arm rest around me.
“You not going to tell me to dry my hair first?” I manage to joke.
“I’ll let you off this once.” His arms tighten around me and I close my eyes, but I am too wired to sleep. My cheek hurts like a bitch, but once the bruising has gone, there will be no permanent damage. Although my headache is easing, sleep evades me. I’m unable to switch off and keep replaying every interaction with Simon over in my mind. What I could have done differently, if anything.
“What will happen to him?” There is no need to say who I’m talking about, and by the way Dominic tenses, he knows who I mean.
“Lincoln will get him help. The police have him now.” He sighs.
“Did he say how Mom was?”
“She took something to help her sleep.” We lie in the darkness in silence, but he’s still awake. His breathing is a dead give away and the tight hold he has on me, plus I can feel him looking at me in the darkness, if that’s possible. He’s waiting for me to fall asleep first and I would if I could. Everything is whirling around in my head, on a constant loop, making me feel sick.
“Dominic?”
“Hmm.” He doesn’t sound sleepy either, it’s as if he’s just been lying there until I spoke or feel asleep.
“I should have guessed sooner. That night at dinner, Simon was acting weird.” His whole body tenses, and his fingers curl tighter into my flesh.
“What happened?” I know that steely tone; he’s mentally preparing himself.
“Nothing really. I thought it was all my imagination, but I don’t think it was.”
He grinds out, “Tell me.”
“I ran into him as I was leaving the bathroom, literally. He caught me and stopped me from falling.”
“He touched you?” There is outrage in his voice, and if I could see him properly, he would be clenching his jaw.
“At first, he caught me but then…”
His fingers dig deeper. “Then what?”
I wish I’d never started, a wave of revulsion washes over me looking back on it. “He pulled me closer and held me like you would. When I tried to pull away, he didn’t let go at first.”
“That motherfu-”
“Please don’t,” I whisper, cutting him off.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” His voice softens and he brushes a hand through my hair.
“I thought I imagined it. Then when you told me about Jason, I didn’t want to make it worse.”
“It’s okay. I’m sorry.” He leans forward and brushes his lips over my forehead. My eyes close and my body sags into his. He tucks me closer to him with my head under his chin, so our whole bodies are touching. The warmth from his skin heats mine, chasing away the chill that has plagued me since he rescued me from that room.
“The photographs…” Dominic sounds uncertain when he breaks the silence. “That was him al
l along.”
“Yeah, he was trying to scare my mom off, but he said he did it to fuck with me.” A sob builds up in the back of my throat and bite my lip to try to stave it off.
“That bastard. He could have destroyed everything between your mom and Lincoln and between us.”
“I got another one.”
“When?” He pulls back in shock.
“When I stayed with Iris and Bryan. It was on the windshield of my car.”
“He followed you?” he asks, incredulous that he would go that far.
“He must have. He knew we’d fallen out. On the back of the photograph, he’d printed ‘Trouble in paradise.’” I exhale a shaking breath because I hadn’t let myself think about the enormity of him leaving the envelope on my windshield.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” he asks in a soft voice, laced with frustration.
I let out a small sigh. “I had too much to think about, our fight, exams. Then after the way you had reacted to the previous photo, there was no way I would risk showing it to you.”
“I’m sorry. I had promised you they wouldn’t touch us and-”
“Don’t, it’s over now.”
We lie in silence again, Dominic’s thumb brushing over my hip in a pattern that only makes sense to him.
“What did Jason say to you?” My voice quivers because I’m still not sure I want to know, but I need to. So I brace myself for whatever he has to say.
It’s Dominic’s turn to sigh, a deep one that ruffles my hair as he exhales. “I met Simon when I was waiting for you. He called me over and introduced me to Jason. Said I was your boyfriend. Jason remembered you. I could tell by the way his eyes lit up what he meant.” He’s quiet for a long minute, and I begin to think that’s it and he’s not going to finish. But he continues, his voice angrier than before. “Then he said that you’d always been up for a good time and someone had finally managed to tame you.” He spits the last bit out. Fucking nerve of Jason.
“It’s like Simon lit the fuse and just stood back and watched the fireworks. He had it all planned.” It comes out strangled because the lump in my throat has swelled and a fresh wave of tears hit me when I think again about how what Simon put us through and how close I was to losing Dominic.
“Shh, it's over with now.” He holds me tightly, but I resist, shaking my head as I try to get him to understand.
“He nearly destroyed our relationship. He intentionally tried to destroy my mom’s. It could have been so much worse, what he could have done to us in that hotel room…” I suck in a breath. My heart races, everything is starting to close in on me and I concentrate on taking deep breaths.
“I was so worried about you.” His hushed voice penetrates the darkness. “When I came back and you weren’t here, I didn’t think much of it. Then I started calling you and then Lincoln. It took ages to get him. He was on the golf course and didn’t have his phone. I searched all over until I got a hold of him.”
“Is that when you came up to the room?” I whisper.
“Yes, I tried before but there was no answer.”
“I dozed off or passed out. I don’t know which.”
“Then when I heard you scream.” His grip tightens. “I went cold all over and felt sick to my stomach. I thought… I don’t know what I thought; I just knew I had to get to you.”
“I was terrified. All I could think of was that you didn’t know where I was and I might not see you again.” A sob builds in my throat and overflows, bringing with it more tears.
“Shh, it’s okay. You’re safe now, and I won’t let anything happen to you.” But I can’t stop, a dam has burst and everything I have been holding in since I walked into that room comes rushing forth. My heart races and I’m struggling to breathe properly as I start to hyperventilate. Frantically try to catch my breath, Dominic holds me, stroking my hair and down my back. “Breathe, Charlie. I’ve got you, you’re safe.” Eventually, his soothing voice lulls me to sleep.
Chapter Twenty-Three
It’s been a week since my mom’s almost wedding, but it could have been a lifetime ago. Dominic hasn’t let me out his sight and my mom phones every day, usually before she goes to bed, even if we’ve spoken earlier in the day. Sometimes she doesn’t have much to say and only calls to tell me she loves me and she’ll call tomorrow. What happened has really shaken her up. After they get married, they are going on an extended honeymoon. Dawn sees her every day, of which I’m glad. It was silly of me to be jealous of her growing close with my mom. At least there is someone there for her when I can’t be.
The doorbell sounds as I’m vegging on the sofa, reading. I know it will be Iris. She called to say she’d be around before we left to visit Dominic’s parents. He wanted to visit them before we leave to go on the road. Of course, he’s adamant I go with him. Not that I would think about not going.
“So, when’s your mom's wedding now?” Iris asks, folding her feet underneath her and getting comfortable on the sofa.
“Beginning of September. Lincoln was determined that they still have a wedding but on a smaller scale. You’re still invited, though.” I squeeze her hand and she gives me a weak smile.
“How’s his son?” she asks and I shrug because I don’t know the full story; my mom doesn’t like to talk about it, which is understandable.
“He’s being moved to a private facility. Lincoln is worried about him, but he is also furious. Apparently, he never got over his parents’ divorce.” The look of worry on Lincoln’s face when Dominic burst through the door and saw us both was fierce. The love in his eyes as he cupped my mom's face and asked if she was okay and the way he gathered her into his arms once she was untied made a lump form in my throat as I watched them. Even now, it brings tears to my eyes.
“You’re going to Dominic’s parents for the weekend and then you’ll meet up with us all.” She clarifies the arrangements, her blue eyes sparkling with excitement. I’m glad Iris and Bryan are coming with us; it wouldn’t be the same without her. Even if I wasn’t going with Dominic, there is no way he would go without me now.
“Yes, we’ll see you soon.” I smile broadly; her excitement is catching. With all the drama of my mom's almost wedding, I’ve not been able to think about going on the road with Supercharged. Getting to spend three months with my gorgeous boyfriend and our friends will make it an amazing summer and help me forget about all the drama with Simon.
“How will you handle seeing Mia again?” she asks in a hushed voice.
I groan and roll my eyes. “Don’t remind me. I’m at the point now where I don’t care. If she has a problem with me, then I want to hear it. I’m sick of dealing with people's bullshit and judgment.”
“That’s the Charlotte I know and love.” She leans forward and pulls me into a hug. “I’m glad you’re okay. I was so worried about you.” Her voice is muffled by our hug.
“So was I.” Dominic appears behind the sofa and leans down to ruffle Iris’ hair, earning him a half-hearted glare. She pushes up from the sofa and picks up her purse.
“Look after her.” She gives him a meaningful look, which he returns with a terse nod. “We’ll see you at the start of our road trip.” She beams and bounces on the spot. Maybe it’s just as well that we won’t be here for the next few days. She will be beyond excited by the time they leave.
• • •
When we pull into his parents’ drive, his mom throws open the front door and walks quickly down the path to greet us. Her smile is contagious and I find myself grinning back at her.
“Dominic, Charlotte, I’m so glad you’re here.” She grabs Dominic and hugs him but then pushes him gently to one side and envelops me in an equally big hug. Taking care not to squeeze me too tightly, scared in case I break.
“How are you feeling after what happened?” Mrs. Hudson puts an arm around my shoulder and slowly walks me to the house.
“Okay. A bit shaken, but Dominic’s been great.”
“He’s been worried about you.” Sh
e sees my quizzical look and smiles. “He phoned us every day. How’s your mom?”
“She’s okay. She’s postponed her wedding until she feels better.”
Mr. Hudson appears in the doorway and steps outside to greet us, but his gaze skips over us to settle on Daisy, parked in the driveway.
“Nice car. Whose is it?” he calls out.
“Charlotte’s,” Dominic shouts back and winks at me.
“And you let him drive it?” He looks at me with a wry smile on his face.
“I think that is the only reason he’s with me,” I call back, jokingly.
Dominic catches up with us and nudges me. “You know that’s not why I love you.” His tone is serious, and I’m surprised he has said this in front of his dad, but his dad just smiles at us, shaking his head in amusement. For the first time I think this visit might be okay.
“Would you like something to drink Charlotte? Some soda, coffee?” Mrs. Hudson offers and indicates for us to sit down. She picks up the remote control and turns off the ballgame that her husband is watching. A scowl appears on his face, but he sits down without saying a word.
“I’m good, thanks.” I smile politely.
“Lunch will be ready soon. Are you sure I can’t get you anything? Dominic, would you like something?”
“I’m fine, Mom.” He grins as she continues to fuss.
“Leave them be, Annie,” Mr. Hudson scolds gently, and she flashes us an apologetic smile.
“Sorry, a force of habit. I’ll be in the kitchen if you need anything.” She turns to go and I stand up.
“Do you need any help?” I offer, but she shakes her head.
“No, it’s all under control. Anyway, I’ve got Frank to help me.” She smiles as he rolls his eyes and picks up the remote control. With Mrs. Hudson safely in the kitchen, he turns the tv on again.