26 | Walking in

"At least our paths have crossed."

Dominic

𓇼𓇼𓇼𓇼

I'm barely able to think, too caught up in the feel of Willa pressed against me, her body soft and warm against mine as I ride my bike, carrying us both through the streets.

Her arms are wrapped tightly around me, and I can feel her smile against my back every time she laughs, sending a surge of something good through my chest. It's like I can finally breathe again.

For the first time in a long time, I'm not consumed by anything but her—her laughter, her energy, the way her body fits against mine like it was always meant to be.

When we pull up outside my house, I kill the engine and let the silence settle in. Neither of us moves, both of us too caught up in the moment to care about anything else. Her fingers slide down my hoodie, slipping under the hem as she teases, her fingertips brushing against my skin.

"You're dangerous, you know that?" I mutter with a chuckle, my eyes locking onto hers as I catch her smirk.

"Me?" she gasps dramatically, a teasing glint in her eyes. "I'm just being playful."

I roll my eyes, but the smile on my face can't be hidden. She's always got that effect on me, like she can't do any wrong.

Before I can even think, she presses a kiss to my neck—soft, slow, sending a pulse of warmth through me—and I lose all control.

"Fuck, Willa," I groan, turning in my seat to face her properly. She's already leaning in, and I don't waste another second. My lips crash onto hers, and the world outside of us vanishes. It's just the two of us.

Her lips are soft against mine, her hands moving up to thread through my hair as she deepens the kiss. I pull her onto my lap, her weight settling perfectly against me. She straddles me, her hips rolling instinctively, and I can't help but groan into her mouth.

She pulls away just slightly, breathless, eyes locked onto mine. "Dom," she whispers, her voice thick with need.

"Hmm?" I murmur, my lips trailing down her jaw, loving the way she shivers at the light touch.

"My house," she breathes out, and there's something in the way she says it—like a command, but also a plea.

I don't think twice. My hands move to her thighs, lifting her up with ease, carrying her in my arms as she lets out a small, surprised laugh.

We make it to the front door, and I'm still not ready to let go of her. My lips are back on hers before I even find the handle, and we both stumble inside, too caught up in each other to notice anything else.

And then—

"Oh, fuck—"

"OH MY GOD!"

I freeze, hearing the unmistakable sounds of bodies shifting in a very unpleasant way. It takes a second for my brain to process what's going on, but when it does, I feel the blood drain from my face.

In front of us, sprawled across the couch in a tangled mess, are none other than Willa's parents.

My jaw drops. Willa's eyes widen, and for a moment, she doesn't move—her body stiff in my hold. Her mouth is open, her breath catching in her throat.

The only sound in the room is the sharp intake of breath from Lizzie as she scrambles to pull the blanket over herself, Luke doing his best to shield her with his body.

"Holy shit," I mutter, instantly turning away, but it's too late. The damage is done.

I feel Willa's body tense in my arms, and she slowly—so slowly—looks at me. Her eyes are wide, a horrified expression plastered across her face.

"Baby," she whispers, her voice small and completely drained of all emotion. "I think I've gone to hell."

I can't help it—I choke on a laugh. There's no other response to this, no way to recover from the horror that just unfolded in front of us.

Willa's eyes dart from her parents back to me, and I can see the panic setting in. "I... I can't. I can't unsee that, Dom. I just can't."

Luke finally reacts, groaning loudly and dropping his face into his hands. Lizzie, though, seems to be the most composed of the bunch. She pulls the blanket over herself and looks up at us. "Well, I'm glad you two are back together. You couldn't wait to do that somewhere else, huh?"

"Oh my God," Willa groans, squeezing her eyes shut as she dramatically leans back into me. Her hands are clutched against her chest as if she's holding herself together. "My eyes are scarred! Do you see this? Do you see this, Dom? I just—I can't even."

"Your eyes?" Luke mutters, still mortified, glancing up at us. "You two were practically devouring each other at the front door. What am I supposed to think, huh?"

Willa throws her hands in the air, her expression full of mock horror. "Ohmigod! In the goddamn living room! Where I sit! Eat!"

Lizzie sits up properly, looking between us and then narrowing her eyes at Willa. "Wait, wait, wait." She leans in slightly, trying to make sense of it. "You two are—together?"

There's a beat of silence, where all I can hear is the sound of my heart pounding in my chest. My eyes flick to Willa, and I can see her tense up. Then, in the most Willa way, she casually wraps herself around me like I'm a teddy bear, I adjust her position as her eyes lock with her mom's.

"Well," she says with a completely deadpan expression, "meet my boyfriend, Mom and Dad."

I watch as both Lizzie and Luke just sit there, looking between the two of us. Lizzie's face is a mix of exasperation and amusement, and Luke just shakes his head, muttering something under his breath.

I feel like I'm stuck in some twisted reality show—one that I can't escape from. This whole situation is way too much for me to process right now.

But, of course, Willa being Willa, she lets out a dramatic sigh, slumping against me. "Well, I guess this is what I get for thinking my parents wouldn't traumatize me."

Luke looks like he's about to explode, but Lizzie just lets out a laugh, finally getting herself together. "Alright, alright. Whatever. But for the love of God, next time, maybe find somewhere else to—"

"Oh my God, please," Willa groans. "Let me forget this."

I just stand there, still holding her, completely at a loss for words.

Reluctantly, I let Willa slip out of my arms, setting her down onto her feet. She pouts up at me, her hands still loosely curled into my hoodie, like she doesn't want to let go either. And, fuck, I don't want to let her go either. Not now. Not ever.

Luke clears his throat. Loudly.

I already know what's coming.

"Willa," he says, his voice firm, his eyes locked on mine. "Go upstairs. I need to talk to Dominic."

Willa's brows knit together, and she looks at me as if asking if I'm okay with it.

I give her a small nod, brushing my fingers against her waist. "It's fine, butterfly. Go."

Lizzie takes that as her cue to guide Willa up the stairs, but not before Willa tilts her chin up and presses a kiss to my lips, slow and soft and completely unbothered by the way her dad is standing right there.

Luke fumes.

I smirk.

Willa pulls away with a cheeky grin, whispering, "Good luck," before disappearing up the stairs with her mom.

I watch her go, the warmth of her lips still lingering on mine, but that warmth dies the second Luke steps closer.

I turn to face him, shoving my hands in my pockets. "So," I mutter, my smirk fading. "What's this about?"

Luke sighs, crossing his arms over his chest. His face is unreadable, but there's something in his eyes—something deeper than just the usual protective dad thing.

"Are you serious about her?" he asks, his voice low and steady.

I blink. "What?"

He doesn't repeat himself. Just stares at me, waiting for an answer.

I don't hesitate. "There's nothing on this fucking earth I'm more serious about."

Luke studies me for a long moment, his eyes searching mine, looking for something—maybe doubt, maybe hesitation. He won't find it. Because there's none.

"Good," he finally says. "Because if you hurt her, Dominic—"

"I won't." I cut him off, my jaw tightening. "I won't, Luke."

"Are you still getting high?" He asks, I don't respond only clench my jaw.

"You're not dragging my daughter down with you. I don't care, godson or not. She is my little girl, and I would destroy everything that would hurt her."

His shoulders ease slightly, and for the first time, the hard lines of his face soften. He exhales, rubbing a hand over his face before looking back at me.

"You remind me of myself when I was younger," he admits, and I freeze. "I've always seen it. The way you carry yourself. The way you look at her." He shakes his head. "But Willa is my daughter, and she always comes first."

I swallow, nodding. I already knew that. Hell, I respect that.

Luke turns on his heel and starts to walk away towards the backdoor where his wife has just exited from. He freezes in the middle of his path and  looks away for a second, his gaze distant. Then, quietly, he says, "This world is quick to judge and too late to understand."

His words hit somewhere deep inside me.

He glances back at me once more before turning on his heel and striding out the door to join Lizzie in the garden. I watch them for a moment—the way he moves toward her like it's instinct, the way she leans into him without hesitation. The quiet understanding between them, the certainty of their love, is so obvious it makes something tighten in my chest.

Shaking the thought away, I push off the wall and head upstairs, my steps quick and sure. It doesn't take long to find Willa's room—I've known the way for years. When I reach her door, I knock twice before pushing it open.

She's sitting on her bed, her knees pulled up to her chest, but as soon as she sees me, her face lights up. "That was quick," she teases.

I close the door behind me. "Told you it'd be fine."

She grins, tugging me forward, and I go easily, climbing onto the bed with her, pressing my mouth to hers the second I'm close enough.

Her fingers thread into my hair, tugging me closer, and I groan, deepening the kiss, my hands tightening on her waist. She tastes sweet—like she always does—and the little noises she makes are enough to drive me fucking insane.

But just as I go to pull her completely onto my lap, she stops me, her hands pressed against my chest, her breathing uneven.

"Dom," she whispers.

I shake my head. "Don't stop."

She lets out a breathy laugh, but her eyes are apologetic. "I have ballet."

I groan, dropping my forehead against hers. "Skip."

She gasps, pulling back slightly. "I can't skip."

I tilt my head, brushing my lips over hers again. "Can't or won't?"

She bites her lip, looking tempted, but she shakes her head. "I'll see you later."

I sigh, pressing one last kiss to the corner of her mouth before pulling back. "Fine."

I leave her house, already feeling the absence of her.

Then I go back to mine.

The second I step through the door to my house, I know something's off.

The air feels... lighter. The tension that usually suffocates this house isn't there.

And then I hear it.

"Dominic," my mother's voice calls from the kitchen, full of something I rarely hear-joy.

I frown, stepping inside. She's standing by the counter, practically beaming, and my dad is next to her, his hands in his pockets, looking proud of himself.

My stomach twists.

"What's going on?" I ask cautiously.

My dad clears his throat. "I quit my job," he says, like it's supposed to mean something. "I want to focus on our family."

Silence.

I blink at him, processing.

Then, I laugh.

Not because it's funny. But because it's fucking ridiculous.

He wants to focus on us now? After all the shit I've been through alone?

My mother steps closer, hopeful. "Isn't this good, sweetheart?"

I shake my head, scoffing. "No. It's too fucking late."

The words seem to surprise my dad, guilt and shame cross over his features. "Dominic—"

I turn on my heel, already heading for the door. I can't do this. I can't fucking do this.

"Where are you going?" my dad demands.

I don't answer.

But he already knows.

"Don't you walk out that door to go get high," he snaps. "Handle this like an adult."

I laugh again, bitter and sharp. "That's rich coming from you."

I hear him curse under his breath, but I don't stop. I step outside, slamming the door behind me.

And then I do exactly what I shouldn't do.

Because the pain is too much. Because it's too fucking hard to stay here, to listen to him, to even think about what he just said.

And worst of all? I feel guilty.

Because of Willa.

Because I know she wouldn't want me doing this.

But tonight, I just need to forget.

𓇼𓇼𓇼𓇼

don't have a lot to say for this chapter except it starts going downhill from here.....

I want to prepare u as best as I can but I can't without giving major spoilers😞😞😞😞