Almost Perfect Read online

  “Promise you’ll visit soon. Both of you.” She looks back and forth between the two of us.

  “We will,” I promise, and with a satisfied smile, she lets him go to hug me.

  “See you soon,” Dominic assures her and takes my hand in his to lead me out to the car.

  “Right babe, one down and one to go.” He laughs when I roll my eyes at him.

  “Don’t remind me,” I groan.

  Chapter Nine

  The past couple of months since Todd and Mia’s wedding have been busy with school and Dominic’s band practice. But this Saturday, we are going to visit my mom and Lincoln. It’s been far too long since I saw her, so I even offer to go dress shopping, just the two of us. It is her wedding, after all; it’s time I took an interest. Even though I’ve warned him that he’ll be bored, Dominic insists on coming with me.. Somehow, my mom even got me to agree to a family dinner.

  Dominic’s classes finish later than mine on Friday, so after I drop Iris off, I head home, looking forward to an early night with my man ahead of a long drive tomorrow. When I let myself into the apartment, I dump the mail on the breakfast bar, grab a drink, and then settle down on the sofa to read.

  Thirty minutes later the door swings open. “Honey, I’m home,” Dominic calls out, announcing his arrival, and I wave an arm over the back of the sofa.

  “Hey.”

  “I got a movie for tonight.” I hear the shuffle of papers as he looks through the mail.

  “Sounds good.” I sit up and watch him over the back of the sofa.

  “For our early night.” He raises his brow suggestively, and I have a feeling we won’t get as much sleep as we should. But then his smile disappears. “There’s something here for you.” He plucks an envelope out of the pile and turns it over.

  “What?” I ask, suddenly wary as he holds out an envelope and walks over. I freeze and stare at it but don’t take it. I know what it is, and I don’t want to see what’s inside. I force myself to meet Dominic’s steely gaze.

  He nods at the envelope. “Open it,” he commands in a soft voice.

  “I don’t want to.” My voice quivers and I slowly shake my head.

  “It’s okay. Open it.” He leans forward and kisses my forehead.

  Without further hesitation, I rip open the envelope and slide out the photograph. A feeling of revulsion washes over me as I look at it. Just like the first one, it is me at a party with some guy; I can’t make out his face because it is buried into my neck. My back is to his front with his hand up my top. At my gasp, Dominic takes the photo out of my hand and stares at it, his face contorted with anger. Both hands grip the photograph tightly, and I expect it to rip in two at any moment.

  To my horror, I start to cry. Tears slide down my cheeks. Emotion rushes forth, and I bawl like a baby. Dominic is around the sofa in an instant to sit beside me and lifts me to sit on his lap. Cradling me in his arms, he strokes my back as I cry.

  “Don’t cry, babe,” he mumbles into my neck. “We’ll work it out.”

  “Why now?” I wonder out loud. “It’s been months since the last photo, before Christmas.”

  “They’re not going away,” he states in a flat voice, tight with anger. His words make my stomach plummet. “We need to do something about it.” I cry harder. “Shh, when we come back.” I nod and sniff loudly, letting him hold me tighter. I know he is right, but I don’t want to go through the humiliation of telling someone else about these photographs.

  “It’s maybe a good thing we’re away tomorrow. It’ll keep your mind off it.” He kisses the top of my head, and I don’t feel as scared when Dominic is with me.

  • • •

  My mom is already outside waiting for us when we pull into the driveway of Lincoln’s house. I stare up at the impressive, two-story house, and I can understand why she jumped at the chance to move here. It is totally different from the little house we grew up in. Dominic parks Daisy in front of the double garage and kills the engine, letting out a low whistle at the sight of the Aston Martin car sitting in the drive, which I’m guessing belongs to Lincoln.

  Before I can even unfasten my seatbelt, my mom reaches for the handle of the passenger door and yanks it open.

  “I’m so happy to see you both. It’s been too long.” She about drags me out of the car and grabs me in a bone crushing hug that Iris would be proud of. “I missed you at Christmas,” she says in a low voice before releasing me.

  “Me, too.” I swallow the sudden lump that has formed in my throat, I really did miss her over the holiday period. Dominic walks around the car, and she steps toward him to give him a hug too, her eyebrows rise knowingly when she looks over at me. I’m well aware that she too thinks he’s gorgeous.

  “House looks nice.” I jerk my head in the general direction of the house and her face lights up.

  “Wait until I show you around. Come on, Lincoln is waiting inside for us.” She links her arms through ours to lead us inside.

  Instead of finding Lincoln, Mom gives us the grand tour first. Starting with the downstairs living room and study, she points out one of the many bathrooms and leads us up the stairs. There are five bedrooms and even more bathrooms; which she doesn’t bother showing us all of them. Back on the ground floor, she leads us through to a large open-plan kitchen and dining room that has a cozy den off it. Tri-folding doors lead out to a decked area and then a huge garden, complete with a pool. By the time we sit down in the kitchen my head is spinning from the sheer size of it and gratefully accept the coffee mug she hands me.

  Lincoln sits at the table with his newspaper, smiling indulgently as she continues talking about the house and the wedding, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

  “So you girls are going dress shopping?” Lincoln asks and I nod, taking a sip of my coffee.

  “Is your daughter coming?” I ask out of politeness, I really just want some time with my mom. I can’t explain it. When she phoned and asked me to come visit on such short notice I jumped at the chance. For the first time in a long time, I really just want my mom. I’ve missed her.

  “No, she’s out of town,” Mom supplies and I’m relieved it will be the two of us.

  “My son’s around here somewhere.” Lincoln looks around, and at that second a guy, who I’m guessing is Lincoln’s son, enters the kitchen. He is shorter than Dominic, with light brown hair, neatly cut and styled with a ton of product. Smartly dressed with navy chinos and a shirt.

  “Ah, here he is.” Lincoln holds out his hand. “This is Simon. He went to school with you, Charlotte.”

  “Hi.” He raises his hand in greeting at all of us, but his pale blue eyes rake over my body from head to toe. Not in an appreciative way either. He’s checking me out—the knowing look in his eye as he remembers who I am and the way he nods his head gives me the creeps. “I remember you from school, Charlie.” Outwardly, he appears friendly enough as he smiles at me, but something about his tone is off. And I don’t like the way he calls me Charlie, it’s too overfamiliar.

  “Yeah, hi.” I sip my coffee, racking my brain trying to remember him from school, but I fail. I don’t remember him at all. I really wish he would stop looking at me like that, as if he knows something I don’t know. After a few long seconds, his eyes skip over me and settle on Dominic.

  “You must be Charlie’s boyfriend.” In a split second his demeanor changes and extends his hand to shake Dominic’s.

  “Yeah, pleased to meet you.” Dominic says.

  “Are we ready?” My mom claps her hands, eager to get going, and picks up her purse before stopping to kiss Lincoln on the lips. Their kiss lasts a little longer than necessary, and Simons face twists into a hard scowl. Okay, I’m a little uncomfortable but nowhere near as awkward as Simon finds it.

  “Let’s get this over with,” I mutter. Getting up, Dominic puts his arm around my shoulders and draws me into his side. Simon’s scowl deepens. Odd.

  “I’ll follow you out. I want to check out some shops, too.” Dom
inic says with a wink.

  “What shops?” He’s never said anything about wanting to go shopping, but his answer is a sly smile before he kisses me on the head. “Text me when you’re finished,” he murmurs in my ear, and I give him a swift nod.

  “We’ll see you at the restaurant,” Lincoln reminds us and quickly gives Dominic directions. Mom and Lincoln had thought it would be a good idea to have a family dinner and I’d agreed, but that was before I’d met Simon. .It’s obvious he remembers me from school but I’m drawing a blank. After another strange look that sets my teeth on edge, I wish I hadn’t agreed to a meal, but I need to make the effort for my mom. And he will be my stepbrother. Why couldn’t I get a stepbrother like the ones from Fallen Crest High? At least we’re driving back tonight. I have too much school work that needs finishing.

  • • •

  Mom asks about Iris and Bryan and school on the short drive to the bridal shop. I’m quite happy to sit and answer questions on neutral topics. Dominic stops outside, and my mom calls good-bye as she hops out of the car, leaving the two of us.

  “Call me when you want picked up.” He cups my jaw and lowers his lips to mine. My stomach reacts immediately, flipping over and making me feel as if I’m on a rollercoaster. His tongue flicks against mine, and I sink into him, my hands moving to grasp hold of his shoulder. The kiss lasts way longer than it should, and I could sit here all day kissing him. It isn’t until my mom taps on the window that I reluctantly pull away.

  “I’ll see you soon.” I kiss him quickly and open the door. I feel his eyes watching me as we walk into the shop and I turn for one last look before I let the door close. Yep, he’s still watching me with his lazy smile on his lips. The door swings shut and my heart sighs.

  Once inside, I plant myself on a chaise lounge while my mom makes her way over to the racks of dresses wrapped in plastic garment covers. While she rummages through them, I pick up a magazine and flick through. I’m not interested in the slightest at the content, but it gives me something to do. Mom chatters on and I make noises every so often.

  “Charlie,” she calls out sharply and peers over her shoulder at me.

  “Huh.” I look up from the magazine in confusion.

  “Are you listening to me?”

  “What? Yeah, I was listening. Something about you liking the blue one.”

  “What’s wrong with you? You’ve been really… I don’t know. Not with it, distracted, ever since you got here.”

  “I’m fine. Tired, I guess.”

  “You never said how the wedding was? That was months ago.” She lets go of the dress she was holding and comes to sit beside me on the uncomfortable chaise, resting a hand on my shoulder.

  I shrug and continue to flick through the magazine. “It was okay as these things go.”

  “Did you meet Dominic’s family?”

  “Yeah, his mom was really nice, and his dad, well… his dad is complicated. His brother was nice and his new wife, well… it was awkward.”

  “Awkward how?”

  “Well, you know Dominic and Mia used to date. Friends were there who kept telling stories about when Dominic and Mia were together and…” I’m at a loss; I’m not exactly sure what my problem is. “I guess I wasn’t expecting to hear all about their relationship and witness that he loved someone else.”

  “But you know Dominic loves you.”

  “I know. It’s just hard when they have so much shared history.”

  “I know, sweetheart, look at Lincoln and me. He has an ex-wife and they had two children. That’s a lot of shared history,” she points out. I had never thought about that. “Has Dominic given you any reason to doubt him?”

  “No, it’s just…”

  “You’re worried that he still has feelings for her?”

  “I know he doesn’t. Maybe it’s jealousy, that there was someone there before me, someone who knows him better than I do.” Someone who didn’t have a past she was ashamed of.

  “She used to know him. It didn’t work out with them, so the two of them obviously weren’t right together.”

  “I just have to get over it.” I turn and look at her. I don’t remember my mom ever being this perceptive before. When I was growing up, she was so wrapped up in herself to notice anything going on with me. The funny thing is, there isn’t anything wrong with Dominic and me, not really. It is all my insecurities—seeing evidence of his past relationship with Mia and hearing how she was his first. There are no skeletons in her closet, and it’s made me feel more insecure about mine.

  “Give it time.” She pats my knee. “It will work out. You and he are making your shared history.” Even hearing her say it makes me feel better.

  “Come on. Try on some of these dresses and indulge your mom. Then you can text him and go and create some more of your shared history.” She winks at me and I crack up with laughter, still not entirely comfortable talking in innuendo about my and Dominic’s sex life.

  “Right,” I groan and push up to stand. “Which one do you want me to try on first?”

  For the next couple of hours, I feel as if I’ve tried on every dress in the shop in an array of different colors. They have all started to blur into one, and god knows how my mom can keep track of them. It’s as if she has a mental short list. Looking up when I emerge in yet another dress, she quickly stores away her phone and smiles at me.

  “Which one was your favorite?” She puts me on the spot. Does she honestly expect me to remember any of the ones I’ve tried on?

  I stand with my mouth gaping. But she is watching me expectantly, waiting for an answer.

  “Eh…” My brain is frantically trying to keep up and I scan the dresses draped over the sofas in the bridal shop. My eyes settle on a pale pink strapless dress that flares out slightly from the waist and has a ribbon around the waist that hangs down the back. It is knee length and felt the most comfortable out of all of them. “That one.” I pluck if from the pile on the back of the sofa nearest to me and hold it up. My mom's eyes light up.

  “I like that one, too.” She raises off the chaise and takes the dress from me, pulling me in for another hug and a kiss on my head. My god, what is happening to us?

  “I think we’ve found the bridesmaid’s dress. Go change and text that man of yours. Tell him to come pick us up.” She pulls her own phone out of her handbag, frowns at it, and then drops it back in her bag.

  “Everything okay?” I jolt her out of a trance, and she gives me a weak smile.

  Distracted, she waves away my concern. “Of course.” She kisses me and walks away to find the sales assistant, who got bored about ten dresses ago. From then on, she let us to try on whatever we wanted.

  Silently, I nod but pull my cell out of my jeans pocket and text Dominic.

  Save me.

  My mom is arranging to come back in with Lincoln’s daughter when my cell buzzes, and I look down to see a message from Dominic.

  I’m here.

  A smile spreads across my face, and I look over to where my mom is watching me.

  “Are you ready?” she asks and I nod, feeling lighter since I’ve spent time with her and talked to her.

  “Let’s go then. We’ll meet Lincoln and Simon at the restaurant.” She links her arm with me and smiles widely. There is a change in her too, but I’m not sure what it is. She looks more beautiful than ever, and it’s not just the clothes she wears now. It must be Lincoln’s influence because she’s dressed more her age than she has before. Sure, her clothes are more expensive, and I suspect most of her wardrobe is designer, but it’s not only that. All the time I was growing up, she dated guys that were no good for her, too young, or just a waste of space. But then she met Lincoln, someone who loves her and can look after her and treat her properly. She is happier, and it shows.

  I spot Dominic before he notices me. Waiting next to his truck, arms folded over his chest as he chews his bottom lip. Kinda like he does when he’s playing the guitar or is deep in thought. A smile curves ove
r Dominic’s mouth when I burst out the door, closely followed by my mom, and I can’t stop the way my heart flutters in my chest when I see him. The feelings coursing through the rest of my body are a different matter altogether.

  Despite my mom standing there, his arms envelop me and pull me close to his chest. He is one person I’ll never tire of hugging, and I hold him even tighter. With a chuckle, he leans back to look at me.

  “You have fun?”

  And I nod, feeling choked up with emotion. I did have fun, more fun than I thought I would. I’m glad we made the trip.

  “We found her bridesmaid dress.” My mom beams at me and takes my hand. “She looks beautiful in it.” And to my surprise, I feel my eyes blur with unshed tears. Dominic smiles and unlocks the doors on his truck.

  Lincoln is waiting outside the restaurant when we arrive, and my mom leaps out of the car before Dominic has cut the engine. Lincolns wraps his arms around her and leans down to kiss her. His behaviour is more reserved, but he hugs her tightly and there is no denying how he feels. The look in his eyes gives it away, and I turn to Dominic, who gives me a wry smile.

  Simon is already seated at our table and greets us with a mumbled ‘hello’ as we sit down. A weird tension descends on the table and no one talks while we study the menu. Once the waiter has left us, Lincoln asks us about school. Simon doesn’t contribute much, and I realize that I don’t know what he does. I assumed he went to college too but maybe not. Mom has gone strangely quiet and doesn’t mention any of the wedding plans that I’d gotten used to hearing. Instead, Lincoln asks Dominic about Supercharged and their upcoming gigs.