-Alaina-

Hooking my arm around his, he looks at me.

"I'm not sure about this, A, if he threatens me, I'm a scrawny bartender who can't fight."

I roll my eyes at him.

"Look, he would hurt someone, but never in front of me." I pat his arm before taking a step into the cheapest, but nice restaurant I could find.

I search the room, because if I'm honest, I know for a fact he would find where I was going.

And I was right.

He sits in a booth in the corner, his eyes glued to Kai, jaw clenched.

Knew it.

"We will be lucky to make it through 10 minutes of this dinner, so don't worry you'll be able to make it to your real date."

"Good, he's hot, Alaina, and I'm here with you risking it, so feel lucky." he winks at me, making me laugh.

I look over to wear Dominic sits, his legs spread apart, his gaze directed at me.

"So which one is he?" Kai looks around until his eyes meet Dom.

"Oh. That one. You know, I get why you like him." He nudges my elbow.

"Kai." his head turns in my direction. "Kiss me."

"Fuck you, I don't have a death wish, look at the way he looks at me just for being here with you."

"Trust me." 

He hesitates before grabbing my face and leaning in.

But I don't even feel the contact before I'm ripped away.

His hand grips onto my arm, dragging me away.

Kai throws his arms up, leaving me to my own defences.

Throwing up my middle finger, he laughs before sitting down again.

I'm trapped between a body and the wall, his breath fanning my face.

"I'm going to kill him." he mutters, looking into my eyes.

"Not on my watch."

"Then look away, Alaina." he lifts off the wall.

Stopping him with my arm, he glances back at me.

"Stand down, James Bond, you know you aren't capable of that."

I think.

He scoffs, dropping his head between his shoulders.

"Lord give me patience, or an untraceable handgun." his fists clench and unclench.

"I don't get you." I mumble, looking at the floor.

"You break up with me, no contact for 2 months and you somehow worm your way back into my life but don't let me live without you. Why break up with me if I'm not allowed anyone else?"

"I told you, my feelings never changed, you just have to to trust me this is for you, not me." his eyes close as if in pain.

"Trust me, this is doing me no good, it's is quite literally torture watching you walk around with a guy that isn't me. I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't have to." his eyes hold this sadness I can't explain.

I let out a soft laugh before pushing past him to walk out.

"Alaina please, just listen to me."

"No, I'm sick of listening to your bullshit, I've been sat sulking over our breakup and I'm finally figuring it out and recovering, and you're here trying to keep me 'safe'? Fuck you, Dominic."

I make my way to the door, him hot on my tail.

"I am keeping you safe, and being with me isn't going to ensure that."

"You have no right to make my decisions for me." I swing the door open.

He grips my arm, pulling me back.

"Okay, you're right. But this is for the best, why can't you just believe me?!" his voice raises.

"Why does my safety matter so damn much to you?!" I push his chest.

"Because I fucking love you, Alaina, why can't you see that!"

And everything falls silent.

My throat starts closing as his eyes dart all over my face, my eyes flooding slowly.

"You really just said that? Just to get me to stay here." I mumble, my breathing shaky.

"No, I would never use that as a fucking playing card, Alaina. I love you. Let's figure this out together."

I stumble back, shaking my head.

He reaches out the me, my hands flinching back.

Taking a deep breath, he speaks again, a lot softer this time.

"Okay. I know I fucked up, I never should have made that choice for you, and I'm sorry, I'm realising that now." his hands attempt to reach for mine once more.

I let him. As pissed as I am, I need some form of warmth to shield me.

"Dominic."

"Alaina."

"You're going to have to do better than this shit to get me back. You hurt me and now it's time for you to fix it." I release his hands and walk in the other direction.

It's taking everything in me to walk away and not turn around and kiss those perfect lips, but I need just a little time.

He fucked up.

He loves me.

Holy shit, he loves me.

Dominic god damn Tate loves me.

And that's what makes this so much harder.

I'm not sure if I zoned out, or if some part of my brain just wanted to come here.

But now I'm at Samara Cliffs, that place I love that Dom and I went to.

You know, childhood memories and shit.

Hanging my legs off the edge, I let the breeze drift through my hair.

I inhale deeply, still feeling no form of relief.

I let my head hit the floor, watching the clouds gliding slowly.

But the feeling in my chest remains, my entire body feeling crushed.

Reaching for my bag, I pull out the flask, running my finger over my engraved name in the steel.

I flick the cap, taking a long swig of the sharp liquor.

"Not a very ladylike drink." My head twists in the direction of the sound, my eyes meeting a face.

Letting out a gentle scoff, I take another drink.

"Dominic sent you." I squint my eyes at the burn, observing the view before me.

"He may have said you might be here." Nathan sits beside me, leaning on his hands.

"If you're here to get us to talk, then you might as well leave." another drink.

He laughs, taking the flask from my hands.

"Nope. Just thought you might want an amazing, muscular man to drink your thoughts away with." he takes a sip.

"And when is he arriving?" I tease, his offended look making me laugh.

We sit in silence, just watching the sky's colors form, and merge.

Not a sound other than the trees rustling, or the odd gust of wind.

Who knows how long we sit before he turns to me.

"I know I said we don't have to talk about it, and I'm not trying to defend the asshole, but he really did think this was the right thing to do, and trust me I told him not to be stupid, but he's stubborn apparently."

"It would be useful if he actually explained why, instead of repeating shit about being safe." I take the last few drops from the flask.

"As much as he's an idiot, he doesn't do stuff without reason. I just hope he comes to his senses."

Jumping from where he was sat, he reaches his hand out, lifting me up.

He throws an arm around my shoulder, messing with my hair.

"Now, no more coming to get drunk on cliffs, hm?"

Opening the car door, he pushes me in.

I notice as he's driving that he takes all the right turns to my apartment building.

Why does everyone seem to know where I live?

"I can see those cogs turning." He spins the wheel, coming to a halt at my apartment.

I sit looking at the building for a few seconds, just thinking.

How did I get here? From being brought up in an amazing neighbourhood, the best family ever, the perfect man. 

To this.

Not awful, but definitely not society's version of perfect.

"Are we sittin' here all day, or are you going to go inside and get your ass to bed? It's one in the morning."

Clearing my throat, I pick everything up, thanking him and stepping out the car.

"Hey, if you ever need a drinking buddy, or even just a talking buddy, I'm here." he states, giving me one final wave before driving away.

Interesting day.

As I walk through my door, my phone rings.

"Dominic, stop calli-"

"I'll give you space just please let me talk and then you can hang up and take however long you need, okay?"

He takes my silence as a go ahead apparently.

"I really messed up, but I'm ready to take that responsibility and fix us. I will tell you anything you want to know, and we can work it out. Together. All I need is a chance."

The call falls quiet, neither of us speaking.

"Goodnight, Dominic."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The coffee shop is finally opening again today, but I have to be in charge since Mr Davis still isn't ready to return.

After the long, cold walk to our cafe, I open the doors, my shivering body relaxing almost immediately in the warmth.

Since I'm the first one in to set up, there's not a sound.

You'd think it would be eerie, being alone in the bleak, icy morning, but no.

Walking around in the glow of the iridescent lights, the smell of freshly ground coffee filling my nose.

The silence.

Until Josh bursts through the door.

I jump and I swear I almost go into cardiac arrest.

He walks through, bobbing his head and humming.

"What the fuck is this Alaina?" I can literally hear the smile in his voice.

Cleaning the last table, I turn to where he's looking.

A huge bouquet of roses sits on the counter, a thick ribbon tied around it.

There's a note plastered to the front.

"Giving you space doesn't mean I can't send you gifts to contribute to my forgiveness.

Miss you, mi amore <3"

Even his rough handwriting is attractive.

"Holy shit, Alaina has a man." Josh taps the side of my leg with his foot.

"Had."

"Looks like more than that, I didn't even know you could get these kind of things around here." He lightly brushes his finger across the petals.

"Flowers?" I laugh, making him roll his eyes and walk away.

I go stand in front of the roses for a while, just thinking. 

Deciding whether to call him or not is making my brain start to deteriorate, so I just put the flowers in the back room and open the doors for the day.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

-Dominic-

He looks at me, stifling back a laugh.

"Dominic, the guy who never believed in love, chasing after a girl. Leaving roses? You've been reading too many romance novels." Lucas throws a pillow at me.

"For a matter of fact, I've only ever read one." I throw it back at him.

"Let me guess, she told you to read it?" Nate chimes in, making me shoot him a glare.

"Oh my God, Dom, you're in love."

"Without a doubt." I finish off the drink in my hands, standing up.

Its been around 1 week and 6 days since I left the roses, not that I've been counting.

And I haven't had a single text, call, anything, so I'm losing hope.

On top of that, I've been working non-stop, as well as trying to figure out what happened in the car crash.

But yet she's still my main focus.

As long as there's a target on my back, there's one on her's.

I don't know how much longer I have to wait, but I know she's has always and always will be worth waiting for.

I would chase her around the world if I had to, I know that sounds mad.

Dragging my hands down my face, I watch the orange flames in the fireplace.

What am I doing? I'm almost obsessed with this girl.

"Dominic? Pay attention." Nate raises his voice slightly, making me turn around.

Taking my seat again, I zone into the conversation.

Within seconds, my mind drifts again, blocking out the noise of Nate and Luke discussing work.

That's until I hear my phone make a sound.

I look down, almost jumping out of my seat.

Alaina <3

Lets talk.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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