Surviving Regret (38 page)

The new text message alert on my phone woke me from a deep sleep. Sitting up, I rubbed the sleep from my eyes only to see that I actually had two new messages. The first was from Mason, letting me know that he would be staying at Hunter’s in two weeks. The second one was from Dominic. It came in around four this morning, and made no sense whatsoever.

I quickly sent Mason a text back letting him know that I had a new job, and that I would have to let him know what my schedule was like. I also let him know that I would make time to have dinner with him, Cooper, and Jackson when they came. I didn’t want to tell him I wasn’t speaking to Hunter. I then sent a text to Dominic to come over whenever he woke up.

I was drying my hair when I heard someone knocking; I turned the dryer off and went to see who was at the door.

“Hey, I didn’t think I would see you till later.” I said to Dominic, opening the door wider so he could walk in.

“I’m actually surprised I’m up this early too. So, you wanted to talk?” He walked over to my bed and sat down.

“Yeah, I think it’s about time. What do you think?” I said, taking a seat next to him.

“I don’t really want to talk right now.” He looked up at me with regret in his eyes. “Can I just hold you for a little while?”

I moved to lean against my headboard, and he did the same. He pulled me so I was cuddled into him, with my head resting on his chest.

“I miss this, Kenzie. I miss you. Being here at school is so different from being at home,” he said, as he kissed the top of my head.

I nodded my agreement, and he continued, “What you found in my room was Brittany’s. I told my roommate he needed to keep his shit on his side of the room. I explained to him what you found, and he asked me to apologize to you.” He grabbed my chin, and made me look up at him. “I can’t lose you, Kenzie.”

“I miss us too; we worked when we were at home. Things are so different here, and I’m trying to trust you, but it’s hard. When I walked in, and saw those panties sitting on your side of the room, I didn’t know what to think. I knew you couldn’t be that stupid to leave them there in plain sight.”

“I know that I wouldn’t have known how to react if I found some guy’s boxers in here either. Can we just put it behind us and move on?” He whispered the last part to me.

I watched, as his eyes grew heavy. “I’m trying, Dominic, but you can’t keep screwing up all the time. I’ve cut Hunter out, so you don’t have to worry about him anymore.”

“I love you, baby.” He blinked once, twice and then he was asleep. I put my head back down on his chest, and listened to his breathing. I laid there, thinking for a long time, before I finally fell asleep.

When I woke up, I lifted my head and looked at Dominic. He was still sound asleep. I must have slept for a few hours because now it was dark outside. I tried to get up without waking Dominic, but when I sat up, he grabbed my arm.

I turned to look at him and he smiled at me. “You’re so beautiful.”

Blushing, I shook my head, and turned away from him. “I’m not.”

“You have no idea the feelings I get when I look into your pretty blue eyes.”

This is the Dominic that I loved, the one who knew what to say to make me feel beautiful. This is the relationship with him that I wanted, not the one we seemed to be having lately.

“I love you. I’m sorry things have been so messed up for us lately.”

I smiled at him and said, “Me too.”

“I’m starving. You want to head out to grab something to eat?”

We drove down to The Raven. This was becoming a favorite place of mine. The burgers there were to die for.

I was surprised to see Hunter, Hailey and Zeke sitting at one of the booths.

Dominic stopped when he noticed them. He turned his head to look at me. “You want to go somewhere else?”

“No, we’re already here. I’m starving and I can’t avoid him forever. He’s practically family.” I knew that with my brothers coming into town, I would not be able to avoid him while they were here.

“Alright, I guess you’re right, I still don’t like it though.”

I leaned in, placed a kiss on his lips and said, “You don’t have anything to worry about, I promise.”

“I know. That still doesn’t mean I have to like it.”

Dominic kept walking but I stopped to say hi.

“Hey, sweetie.” Zeke said.

“What’s going on?”

Hailey looked at me, trying to gauge my mood. “I’m fine,” I said.

“Well, since you’re here, and Zeke has to get back to work, let’s go get our nose pierced.” Hailey said practically bouncing out of her seat.

I looked over her head to Dominic. He shrugged. I guess that was my answer.

“Alright, but we have to eat first. We’re starving.”

“Of course, we were just heading out. Zeke has to get back to work so Hunter and I will go take a walk. Text me when you’re done.” She stood up from the booth, gave me a hug and whispered in my ear. “He’s a mess.”

I nodded, and looked over at Hunter, sitting at the table with his head down. I think this was the longest we had ever gone without talking.

I took a few steps towards him and placed my hand on his shoulder, “Hey.”

He looked up at me and my heart broke. He looked like shit and I couldn’t fix it. We both knew nothing would ever come of our relationship, which is why I needed to stay with Dominic.

I started to move my hand from his shoulder, but he reached up to grab it.

“I’m sorry.” He said it just loud enough for me hear him.

“I know. Everything will be fine. We just need time.”

Hailey, Zeke and Hunter left as I sat down to eat with Dominic. I ordered my favorite burger while he ordered wings.

“So, you’re going to get your nose pierced?” He asked while taking a drink of his soda.

“Yeah, Zeke is a friend of Hunter’s. He’s the same guy who has done all of Hunter’s tattoos.”

He stared at me, but picked up another wing. We really didn’t talk much after that. He paid the bill, and I sent a text to Hailey letting her know that we were ready.

We met Hailey and Hunter outside and walked the few blocks down to
Ocean Mystique
where Zeke worked.

Hailey and I went to the back of the shop were Zeke set everything up for us. Since the room was small, Hunter and Dominic waited out front. Hailey was very nervous after she saw all the stuff lying on the tray and made me go first.

I hopped up on the table. Zeke walked over to me and asked which side. I pointed to my right. He took his marker, and made a dot where the stud would go. He handed me the mirror. I smiled and said, “Perfect.”

He went back over to his tray, grabbed the needle and the clamp, and then turned around back to me.

“Now the only thing that is going to happen is your eyes will water, and you will feel some pressure.”

I nodded, understanding what he was telling me. He placed the clamp on my nose, and then said, “Now take a deep breath in.” I did, and I felt the pressure of the needle going through my nose. “Now let it out.”

He turned back around to his tray and fit the stud through the piercing.

“You’re done, quick and painless.” He handed me the mirror so I could check it out. I loved it.

“I want my tongue done, too.”

His eyes shot up to mine as if I said something crazy.

“What?” I asked, shrugging my shoulder

“You sure? That one will hurt, and your tongue will be swollen for a few days.”

“I’m sure.”

Zeke walked out of the room to grab the bar bell, and when he came back, we did the same basic procedure all over again. When I was all done, I hopped off the table.

“Your turn.” I said, smirking at Hailey.

When he finished, we walked out to the front of the store so we could pay and get the aftercare instructions.

I grabbed my wallet from my purse, but Zeke shook his head. He nodded over my shoulder. Hunter winked at me.
Great.
That’d piss Dominic right off. I turned back and handed Zeke some cash as a tip so it’d look like I paid.

I put my arms around Dominic and asked him what he thought.

“Looks cute. I like it.” Then he leaned in to kiss me.

I pulled back a second later and said, “No getting carried away.” I stuck my tongue out at him and took off running and laughing out of the store.

I heard Dominic groaning as he came up behind me. He put his hands on my hips, “Baby, that is fucking sexy.”

We said our goodbyes to Hunter and Hailey as they took off on Hunter’s street bike. How the hell did he get that down here? I got a little jealous of the fact that he was riding with her; he never let anyone ride with him but me.

On the way home with Dominic, I decided to tell him about my brothers’ visit. Because everything seemed to be going better for us again, I didn’t want to start of hiding stuff from him.

“Babe, you know that I don’t care about you hanging out with your brothers, but I have a problem with you being with Hunter.”

“And I have told you a hundred times, you have nothing to worry about.” I said, squeezing his hand as we were walking back to his car.

“It’s not you, it’s him. Just don’t go anywhere alone with him, alright?” He said, squeezing my hand back.

“Promise.” I was making a lot of promises lately. I prayed that I could keep them all.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Everything was finally feeling back to normal with Dominic and me. We were spending a lot of time with each other. Cooper and Mason kept postponing their trip because of Jackson. Chloe was having some blood pressure issues with her pregnancy, and he didn’t want to leave her until he knew she was ok. Finally, after the third time rescheduling, Jackson just told Cooper and Mason to go without him.

We had a whole weekend of shit to do while they were here. They were going to call me when they finally made it to Hunter’s, and then we were all going to meet at Raven’s to get something to eat.

I needed to do some studying since I wouldn’t have time this weekend. Hailey was spending more and more time with Hunter and Zeke lately, but she was here today. I guess she was excited to see Mason, even though she wouldn’t admit it. She jumped in the shower since we still had a little while before we would meet up with everyone.

When she walked out of the bathroom, I heard her sniffle. I looked up and her eyes were all red and swollen.

“Hails, what’s going on? Why are you crying?”

She just shook her head and walked over to her dresser, her back turned towards me. I placed my hand on her shoulder, and she broke down.

“Please, sweetie, tell me what is wrong.”

She shook her head again. I pulled her over to the bed and she curled up in a ball with her head on my lap. We stayed like this for a while. She cried and I ran my fingers through her hair. I knew she would talk to me when she was ready.

Finally, she started to calm down. I reached over and handed her a tissue. She wiped the remaining tears, sat up and played with the tissue in her hand.

Then she said so low I barely heard her, “I love Mason.”

“Oh. Hails, I know.” I reached over and hugged her. “You think I didn’t notice all the sneaking around you were doing back home?”

She shrugged her shoulders.

“Why didn’t you tell me before?”

Sighing, she looked up at me and said, “I didn’t want you to get upset with me and freak out that I had a crush on your brother. I know you hated all the girls fussing over him in high school.”

“You are my best friend, and you are nothing like those girls. I’m glad you finally told me, but what about Zeke? You guys have been seeing each other a lot.”

“We are just friends, and most of the time Hunter is with us. Zeke is fun to hang around with, and he helps keep my mind off Mason.”

“So, I guess you’re excited Mason is coming?”

“Hell yeah, I can’t wait to see his sexy ass.” I cringed and she started laughing.

Groaning, I said, “Ok, here’s the deal, if you’re talking to me about my brother, I only want the PG version. I don’t want nightmares.”

She got serious. “So you are seriously ok with me and Mason? He seems to think you’re going to have a problem with it.”

“He may think I have issues, but I don’t. I love you, Hailey. I know you’ll take care of him and that’s all I can ask.”

“I love you, Kenzie.” She hugged me again. “How are things with Dominic?”

“Surprisingly, we haven’t had any drama lately, and things are good. He’s a little worried about me spending time with Hunter when he’s not around.”

“Well that’s good.” She looked down at her lap again and then back up at me. “Hunter misses you like crazy. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him like this, not even after last summer.”

I sighed. “I miss him too, but to keep Dominic happy, and my heart intact, I can’t hang around him like I did anymore. He made it perfectly clear there could never be a
him and me
. Time will tell if Dominic and I will last, but for now, I want to be with him. He stood up to my brothers when he wanted to date me. Hunter would never do that.”