Page 62 of Masters of Pleasure
“Marissa?”Kincaid cocked his head.“I think I’ve heard that name before.”
“Olivia didn’t like her,” Mitch said suddenly, interrupting the conversation.He’d been listening but not participating, which wasn’t like him, but the guys rolled with it.“I think she almost called her a name at one point.”
“Really?”Brian blinked in surprise, his brow furrowing.Both Kincaid and Zach had similar reactions.Olivia didn’t like everyone, but it was rare she actively disliked someone.They’d had a total misogynist asshole in their Dom class.Olivia had been perfectly civil to him until she’d kicked him out.“She seemed nice enough.”
“Do you think you’ll see her again?”Mitch was genuinely curious.
“No chemistry.”Brian shrugged.He looked between Zach and Kincaid.“If Morgan wants to go on more group dates with them, and Marissa needs a date, we should probably switch off.I wouldn’t want to lead her on.”
“What about me?”Mitch asked, frowning.Not because hewantedto date someone other than Domi, but he didn’t like the feeling of being left out, and hewasn’tdating Domi anymore.Looking out for Morgan would give him something to focus on.
Three pairs of eyes bore into him.
“Aren’t you going to try to get back together with Domi?”Zach asked the question, but it was on all of their faces.
Yes!
The little part of his brain that reacted wanted nothing more… but… was this how it started?Was this how his parents had begun?Knowing they should stay away, but always giving in to the impulse to be together again?
Mitch knew Olivia thought he’d made a mistake dumping Domi.He had a feeling she meant for him to try to win Domi back, then stick with it.She’d been right when she’d told him it was easy not to be his dad—he had to do what his dad had never done and stay away from Domi.
“I don’t think so,” he said finally, looking down at the breakfast sandwich in front of him.The tight bands around his chest squeezed hard.“It’s better this way.”
“If you say so,” Brian said doubtfully.Kincaid patted Mitch’s shoulder.He could tell none of them agreed with him, but they’d support whatever decision he made, which meant the world to him.
Domi
Staring at the numbers until they started swimming in front of her eyes, Domi finally slammed her laptop shut.She couldn’t concentrate, and that meant she couldn’t work.A mistake on her part could cost thousands of dollars, even tens of thousands.
She needed to finish her work, but she couldn’t do it when all she could think about was Mitch.Who hadn’t called… or texted.
Not that she had done either.
She shouldn’t… right?He’d broken up with her, so he had to reach out first, right?
Though she supposed, she could reach out and apologize for not listening to him, for not giving him space when he’d told her what he needed.Not with the intention of getting back together, even though part of her wanted to, but she did owe him an apology.She could check in on him, make sure he was okay.Maybe find out what had set him off in the first place.
Argh.
This was madness.
Clearly, Ben and Jerry, though they’d tried their best, hadn’t cut it.She needed herrealcomfort food.
Abandoning her laptop and work, Domi headed for the kitchen.Cooking would help her get her head on straight anyway.Even if it didn’t, the end result would be worth it.
When Rae got home a few hours later, she came straight into the kitchen, following her nose.
“Oooh, honey…” Rae’s voice trailed off as she put her purse down, looking around at the array of food.Ana would be excited when she got home.Domi didn’t often take the time to make Puerto Rican food.It was usually a special treat, or they went to a restaurant.Ana also wouldn’t realize what it meant, but Rae definitely did.
Using the back of her arm to wipe the sweat off of her forehead, Domi looked around.Maybe it had gotten a little out of hand.She’d ended up running to two different stores to get everything she needed—the first store hadn’t had quite enough plantains for both themofongoand thetostones.
“I couldn’t concentrate on work,” Domi said, wringing her hands.
“It smells amazing.Ana will be thrilled.It’s been months since you madetostones.”
“I madealcapurrias,too.”
Rae’s eyes lit up.Those wereherfavorite.What Domi really wanted was the Asopao de pollo she’d made.Once she got the idea in her head, she wanted the food her mom made her when she was a kid, suffering some kind of disappointment, she hadn’t been able to let it go.Which actually reminded her of her mom.It was never enough to make one thing—she had to make a whole feast.
