Page 64 of Masters of Pleasure
“What brought this on?”
“A gentleman and his wife came to Outlands this past fall to reconnect.Got me thinking…” There was a wistfulness to his dad’s voice, shocking Mitch even further.His dad was never this open with his emotions.“I never stopped loving your mom, lad.I just wasn’t very good at showing her that.While there was one place, wecouldcommunicate?—”
“Don’t wanna hear about that,” Mitch murmured, making his dad chuckle.Another shocker.Man, his father really was loosening up in his old age or maybe thanks to the therapist.
“I didn’t try outside of that.I thought as long as we had it, that was all that mattered.I didn’t take the time to listen to what she was saying or wanted from me.I didn’t give her the little things she asked for.I didn’t think it should be necessary.We loved each other, and that shoulda been enough, right?”His short, sharp bark of laughter held no humor.“But tis not.I should have chased after her every time we argued.Talked through it.Got to the root of why she was angry instead of focusing on the single incident that set her off and got me going my merry way.Apologized where I was wrong and made it up to her.”
“You apologized a lot.”That was something Mitch definitely remembered.He always knew when his dad had fucked up.
“Nah, I made excuses.I didn’t actually apologize.I sure as hell didna change.”His brogue had thickened with emotion.
“Do you think you can now?”The question was as much about being a protective son, worried his mom might get hurt again as it was for himself.
“I can try.I want to.So, I hope this old dog can learn some new tricks and impress your ma.”There was another small moment of silence.“What about you and this lass, son?I could tell she means something to you, or you wouldn’t have been so upset.”
To Mitch’s surprise, he found himself telling his dad everything.Unlike with Olivia, where it was more a purge of negativity or his friends when he’d been torn between anger and frustration, now he was just sad.He’d liked having Domi in his life.Hell, he’d been falling in love with her.
Did he love her?
Hell, he didn’t know.If he didn’t, it was something close.
When he got to the end of it, telling his dad what had happened last night in the hallway to the bathroom, his dad was quiet for a moment.Mitch hadn’t spared him.He hoped he hadn’t hurt his dad’s feelings, but it had also been a chance to let his dad know how Mitch had felt seeing his parents’ back and forth over the years while the man was actually listening.
“Your Olivia is right.Terrifying woman, by the way.I met her last night.Your ma would like her.If you don’t want to be me, don’t be.I never chased after your ma the way I should have.I was too high in my pride, too afraid she’d reject me.I always waited for a sign from her.Then once I had her again, I took her for granted, thinking she’d always come back… Now, it might be too late, but for the first time, I’m going to try.”
The determination in his voice was encouraging, and for the first time, Mitch found himself hoping his dad could actually do it and make his mom happy.
“Don’t make the same mistakes I did.Go after your lass.Apologize.Listen.Show her what she means to you.And don’t try to keep all the communication confined to the scene.That’s no way to run a relationship.”
Hell, his dad was right.Last night, he’d done exactly what his dad had always done to his mom—run away without talking, made a unilateral decision about their relationship for both of them.Not because it was what he wanted, but from a place of fear and pride.
“Thanks, Dad,” he said, meaning it.
“Any time, laddie.”The warmth in his dad’s voice seeped into his chest, giving him a bit more courage.“I’m proud of you, Son.Even if she turns you away, at least you’ll know you tried.”
Yeah, but he really hoped she didn’t turn him away.
ChapterTwenty-Three
Domi
The entire house smelled like her childhood, even though dinner had been over hours ago, and Ana was long in bed.It smelled delicious but unusual enough to be a reminder of why it smelled that way.She wished she could pretend it was just one of those days when she got a hankering or had planned out a menu to share with Ana and Rae.She’d cooked what her heart had needed because it had been hurt.Bruised.Broken.
Ana had been excited about the elaborate dinner and thought it was a special birthday surprise for her.Which was what it should have been if Domi had thought of it.
“Hey, stop it.”Rae poked her in the side, hard.
“Ow!I wasn’t doing anything!”
“Yes, you were.You had your ‘guilt’ face on, which means you’re thinking about something you think you did wrong.Probably something that wasn’t your fault, or the only person who thinks it would be a big deal is you.”
Domi rubbed her side, scowling.“I was just thinking tonight should have been a special dinner for Ana and wishing it hadn’t been a wallowing dinner.”
“And feeling guilty you hadn’t thought about making her a special birthday dinner, even though we took her out last night, right?”Rae asked dryly.Dammit.They really did know each other too well sometimes.
“Shut up.What are you doing?”she asked, leaning over.Rae had been scrolling through something on her laptop for the past few minutes, but now that Domi actually looked at it, she could tell it wasn’t social media.When Rae immediately tried to shift the screen away so Domi couldn’t see, it made her even more curious.“What is that?”
“Nothing.”Rae’s shoulders hunched defensively.“I mean… it’s a website.A blog.”
