In Love With Him

Chapter 66

Dominic – POV

We sat at the island like it was something we’d done a thousand times before. Like it was the most natural thing in the world — her cooking breakfast, me nursing a hangover, both of us side by side in a quiet little pocket of morning light. It felt… right.

Too right.

Her leg brushed mine under the counter, and instead of pulling away, she left it there. The warmth seeped through my skin like a drug. The clinking of silverware, the soft hum of music in the background, the smell of her — it all blurred into something that felt like home.

My home.

My girl.

For a minute, I forgot about everything. About Amber. About the deal. About how f*****g broken I was.

Then she asked it.

Her voice was soft, tentative. “Dom… what’s been going on with you lately?”

I froze mid-chew, the piece of bacon suddenly turning to ash in my mouth.

I turned to look at her, and there she was — those big, bright blue eyes staring into me like they could see every crack I was trying to hide.

And God… I wanted to tell her.

I wanted to pour it all out. That I was falling so f*****g hard for her I didn’t know which way was up anymore. That I couldn’t stop thinking about her — the way she smiled, the way she smelled, the way she felt wrapped around me in bed like she belonged there.

I wanted to tell her about the deal I made with Amber — how I sold myself piece by piece just to make sure no one ever hurt her again. How I let the wrong girl into my bed to protect the only one I truly cared about.

How I hated myself for it.

How I was scared to death of losing her.

Because I didn’t know if I’d survive without her.

But I didn’t say any of that.

Instead, I forced the lump in my throat down and mumbled, “Yeah, just… got a lot going on.”

Coward.

She stared at me, and I knew she didn’t believe it. She wasn’t stupid. She knew there was more. But she didn’t push. She never did. That’s what killed me the most — her patience. Her gentleness.

Instead, she reached out and took my hand.

Just that — her fingers curling into mine — sent a jolt straight through me. Like lightning in my bloodstream.

“You can always talk to me,” she said quietly. “About anything.”

My throat tightened. I could barely breathe, let alone speak. I tightened my jaw and nodded once, terrified my voice would break if I tried to answer. The guilt roared inside my chest like a wildfire.

And just when I felt like I couldn’t hold it together any longer…

The front door opened.

Kennedy slipped her hand away from mine as if nothing had happened.

Paul’s voice echoed from the foyer, followed by the shuffle of footsteps and the sound of rolling luggage. My mom walked in first, followed by Kyle and Morgan dragging their bags behind them.

“Hey, we’re home!” Paul called.

Kennedy stood up and smiled — effortless and sweet — like we hadn’t just been holding hands under the table. Like I wasn’t seconds away from falling apart.

She walked over and wrapped Morgan in a hug, greeting her like a sister.

And I just sat there.

Watching her.

Feeling everything I couldn’t say lodged in my throat like a knife.

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Kennedy – POV

I felt Dominic watching me as I hugged Morgan — I could feel his gaze like it had weight. Heavy. Intense. His eyes always did that to me, made me feel like I was the only person in the world who mattered. And I hated how easily I melted under it.

I forced myself to keep the smile on my face, to act like everything was fine. But inside? My chest was still buzzing from just minutes earlier. The quiet between us. The warmth of his hand wrapped around mine. The way he looked like he wanted to say something… but didn’t.

I wasn’t stupid. Something was wrong.

Dominic wasn’t the same anymore. Not lately. He looked tired all the time, drained — like he was constantly fighting something inside himself. And maybe I was selfish, but I wanted to be the one he could lean on, the one he trusted enough to talk to. Instead, he gave me the same distant, vague answer he always did.

“Just… got a lot going on.”

Yeah, no kidding.

I didn’t push him. I never did. That’s not who we were. But I couldn’t lie — it hurt. Because I would’ve told him anything. Everything. He was the only person who made me feel… safe. Like I could say the scariest, messiest thing in the world and he wouldn’t flinch.

And when he took my hand?

God.

It was stupid, how much that tiny gesture meant to me. The way his thumb brushed against mine, the way his whole body seemed to tense up like he was fighting not to feel something. Or maybe fighting not to say it.

I would’ve stayed like that forever.

But of course, that moment was over as fast as it came — just like everything else between us. His hand disappeared the second the front door opened. Like we were guilty. Like we’d been caught.

Morgan pulled away from me and gave me a warm smile. “Miss me?”

I nodded. “Of course. Did you guys have a good trip?”

She started rambling about the airport and Kyle’s ridiculous snoring and something about nearly missing the flight, but my focus kept drifting back to the kitchen — to Dominic, still sitting at the island, his plate of half-eaten food in front of him, his shoulders hunched like the weight of the world was pressing down on them.

He looked like he wanted to disappear.

And I hated it.

Because even with everything we weren’t saying… all I wanted was to wrap my arms around him, pull him close, and tell him it was okay.

Tell him he wasn’t alone.