Love in the Storm

e was, sitting on her couch, staring at the flaky layers of pastry Dominic had brought her. It was ridiculous, r

re at it?" Dominic teased

eyes. "I'm ap

o know it's meant

bite. The buttery, soft texture melted on her tongue, the sweetness

chuckled

owing before sayi

See? I told you. A little

sitation, the slight stubble on his jaw that he hadn't bothered shaving, the way his pre

oing this?" sh

replaced by something mo

them. "Being here. Acting l

"Because it doesn't have to be complicated

. "I'm bein

ered, "you're

don't get it, Dominic. You don't have to wake up every day won

at I wake up every day wondering if tod

retched be

wanted to argue, to tell him he was wrong, but the words

as af

er. Afraid of what it would feel like when-becau

ed hollow even to her own ears. "Yo

tched. "I've

nished the croissant, licking a stray crumb from he

asked, raisi

. "Just thinking how cute you look when you're actu

shoving his a

, Rita let herself forget about the pain, the uncertainty, the in

-

her like a weight, making it hard to even sit up. She hated this part-when her

door made her groan.

en, "It's n

ch clenched.

ened it, her mother stood there, perfectly put together as always-her blonde hai

, barely masking

er her, lips pressing into a

o see y

inside, clutching her designer purse li

w. I just... haven'

xcuse, Rita. I w

ly lead to another argument. Instead, she

sitting beside her. "Are y

es

eating

s,

xhaled sharp

up. "I know I'm sick. I know I need to be careful

le

her's eyes-the same worry that had been there since the diagn

ing her temple. "I just

at tightene

neither knowing

er hand, squeezing it lightly. "Just pr

wed hard. "

-

, Dominic sh

im in, "you're here so much, I

'd miss me if I

r eyes but di

he owned the place, stretching his

aust

ur

ghed.

you. Even if she shows it in t

"That's an un

t. Then Dominic turned to her, a mischievou

oaned. "I don't

d. "A dis

inic

od up, grabbing her hand. "W

n eyebrow. "

ed. "Tr

ome reaso

-

g on a rooftop, staring out at the breat

a proud grin on his face.

ment. "You broke into a roo

e term 'borr

d, shaking

cool breeze carrying the distant sounds of life below. It was bea

ust about surviving, Rita. Sometimes, you

ng. "And what happens when life do

ntle but firm. "Then we make th

't know how to respond, so she did the only thing she co

he let herself believe that maybe, just maybe