In Love With Him

Chapter 37

Dominic’s POV

I stood just outside the bathroom, arms crossed over my chest, trying not to pace. I hated that she was in pain—hated that she was trying so hard to act like she wasn’t. I was just about to knock when I heard her voice.

“Dominic?”

I stepped closer. “Yeah? You okay?”

There was a pause. “Can you get… Helen?”

My eyebrows furrowed. “Are you sure you’re alright?”

“Yeah, I just… I need your mom.”

“Okay,” I said slowly. “Don’t move, I’ll get her.”

I turned and bolted down the stairs, skipping the last two like a damn superhero. My mom was plating mashed potatoes in the kitchen when I slid in. “Mom—Kennedy needs you. Like, now.”

She didn’t hesitate. She dropped the spoon mid-scoop and was up the stairs so fast I swear I felt a breeze. I’d never seen her move that quick in my life. Guess that was the mom mode kicking in.

Which left me... alone in the kitchen.

With Paul.

I turned toward the doorway, thinking I could quietly escape before the inevitable awkward dad talk happened, but—

“Dominic,” Paul said, his voice even. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”

I froze, pivoted slowly, and nodded. “Yeah… sure.”

He leaned against the counter, his expression tired, not angry. Just… worn down. “Look,” he began, “I know I’m not gonna win any father of the year awards. God knows I should’ve been the one taking care of her through this, not… you. But the truth is, I never knew how to fix it.”

He paused, then sighed and rubbed the back of his neck.

“When my wife died, I—I didn’t just lose her. I lost myself too. And instead of stepping up and being strong for Kennedy and Max, I broke. Kennedy had to grow up way faster than any kid should. And she did. Took care of everything. Me, Max… hell, probably the damn bills too. I’ve spent every year since trying to make it up to her, trying to be better.”

He looked up at me, his voice steady now.

“And I will protect her. No matter what. From anything… or anyone. You understand me?”

It wasn’t a threat. Not exactly. More like a warning wrapped in vulnerability.

I nodded slowly, meeting his gaze. “Yeah. I do.”

But I wasn’t one to back down either. Not when it came to Kennedy.

I took a breath. “I’ve never had a sister, Paul. Just an older brother who used to throw me off furniture and push me down hills for fun. So… affection? Protectiveness? All this? It’s new to me.”

I shifted my weight and glanced toward the stairs. “If anything I did came off wrong, I’m sorry. That wasn’t my intent. I just want her to be safe… and comfortable. Always.”

Paul’s jaw tightened again, then he gave a small nod. “Glad we’re on the same page.”

Just then, my mom walked back down the stairs, wiping her hands on a towel, her expression calm and amused.

Paul and I spoke at the same time.

“She okay?”

My mom chuckled, a little breathless. “Yes. Poor thing started her period on top of everything else.”

I froze. Paul looked like someone had just hit him with a frying pan.

Paul’s eyes widened. “Are you sure it’s her period? Not internal bleeding from a busted stitch?”

My mom rolled her eyes in that way only seasoned moms can. “Yes, Paul. It’s her period.”

I blinked, confused but concerned. “How do you know?”

She gave me a long look like I just asked what color the sky was. “Did either of you actually retain anything from health class? If it were internal bleeding, she’d be bleeding from somewhere else. Not… there.”

I raised a hand in surrender. “Okay, okay—got it. Uterus is like a… roundabout. What goes in comes out.”

Paul coughed into his hand and looked away. “Christ…”

“Anyway,” I said, clearing my throat and standing straighter, “I’ll go check on her. Get her cleaned up and bring her down for dinner.”

My mom patted my shoulder as I passed. “You’re a good boy, Dominic.”

As I climbed the stairs, I shook my head. That was… a lot. But if Kennedy needed me, I’d keep showing up—awkward conversations, threats, periods, and all.

No matter what.

---

Kennedy’s POV

I sat on the toilet, the dull ache in my stomach had returned with a vengeance, but now it was accompanied by something else—something I hadn’t been expecting. When I looked down and realized I had started my period, a wave of exhaustion hit me so hard I nearly cried.

I completely forgot it was due.

With everything that had happened—the surgery, the hospital, the pain—I didn’t even see it coming. Great. As if this week hadn’t already chewed me up and spit me out.

I looked at the cabinet under the sink, found the small pouch I kept my tampons in, but of course… they were out of reach. Of course they were. I cursed quietly under my breath. I tried to reach up forward, but the second I stretched even a little, a sharp pain lanced through my side. No way was I getting them. And even if I could… there was no way I’d be able to bend down enough to actually insert one.

I stared at the cabinet.

Stared at the toilet.

And considered death as a viable alternative.

Because I sure as hell wasn’t asking Dominic for help.

So I did the only thing I could do.

“Dominic?” I called out, my voice soft and hoarse.

A few seconds passed before I heard his footsteps approach. “Yeah? You okay?”

I cleared my throat, I added with as much dignity as I could muster, “Can you get… Helen?”

“Are you sure you’re alright?” he asked confused.

“Yeah, I just… I need your mom.”

“Okay,” he said slowly. “Don’t move, I’ll get her.”

His footsteps hurried away down the hall, and I leaned back slightly, utterly mortified. My cheeks burned. I wanted to crawl under the tile floor and disappear.

A few moments later, there was a gentle knock at the door.

“Honey? It’s just me.”

She cracked the door open slightly and Helen slipped in with ease, closing it behind her.

“Are you okay?” she asked, eyes soft and filled with concern.

I looked down, biting my lip. “I, uh… I started my period. I forgot it was supposed to happen. I can’t… get my tampons from under the sink. And even if I could…” My voice trailed off. “I can’t really bend that far.”

Helen smiled warmly, not a trace of judgment in her expression. “Oh, sweetheart. Don’t even worry. I’ve been there more times than I can count.” She stepped closer, brushing a piece of hair from my face. “We girls need to stick together, yeah?”

I nodded slowly, the embarrassment still clawing at my chest.

She moved gently, grabbing the pouch from under the sink like it was nothing, then helped me sit carefully. Her movements were so motherly, so kind, I didn’t even feel uncomfortable after a minute. It felt… safe.

“You remind me of myself when I was younger,” she said softly as she helped me. “So independent. So stubborn. But still sweet as pie.”

Once she was done, she helped me back into my pajama pants, then led me over to the sink.

“I got it from here,” I whispered, blinking fast as my eyes welled for some reason I didn’t even understand.

Helen just smiled. “Dinner’s ready downstairs. I made something special for you. I’ll send Dominic up in a few minutes to help you down.”

She turned to go but paused at the door. “Oh—and Kennedy?”

“Yeah?”

Her smile turned knowing. “Dominic loves you.”

I blinked. “W-what?”

She leaned against the doorframe. “I was a little worried, I’ll admit. Dominic and his older brother, Kyle, they were the opposite of affectionate. They love each other, but it’s all roughhousing and sarcasm and pushing each other off the couch.”

I almost laughed.

“But with you…” Helen continued. “You bring out something soft in him. Sweet. Gentle. It’s like all he needed was a sister to bring that side out of him.”

Then she gave me a wink, opened the door, and disappeared.

I stood there, stunned. Sister.

Sister?

I stared at my reflection, my heart suddenly thudding louder than before. Was that all I was to him?

That thought stung more than it should have.

Especially after everything. After the kiss. The way he held me in my bed. The way he looks at me when he thinks I’m not paying attention. The way he ran to me like he’d fight the world if it meant keeping me safe.

I don’t think that’s how brothers look at sisters.

At least… I hoped not.