Chapter 41

Bree’s POV

The night stretched before us in the most carefree, unexpected way, and instead of heading home, Dominic drove us to a small pizza joint on the corner of a quiet street. This place felt much more comfortable than the high class restaurant we had just left. He was right when he said he had just the perfect place in mind. I would have loved it if he brought us here first but I didn’t mind as long as I was spending time with him.

We got down from the car and walked towards the building. Immediately we opened the door, we were greeted with the smell of baked dough and cheese and I could tell it was going to.be a yummy treat.

We walked in and sat at a table towards a far corner. The table was small but cute with its pizza themed table cover. The waitress came over to take our order and Dominic ordered a half and half pizza and I laughed as the waitress teased him for not knowing which he wanted.

“You have got to keep your options open,” he said as he joined me in laughing.

The place was not crowded but it was filled with a few customers who were talking happily and seemed to be enjoying their pizza. The atmosphere was easy and warm, it was also inviting- we could be ourselves without any eyes on us unlike at the restaurant.

“Okay so what do you do for work?” I asked as the waitress left with our order. I folded my hands on the table, genuinely curious.

“Nothing big, I work in finance,” he replied as he played with the pepper and salt shakers.

“I know it sounds boring but I love my job. It has always been my dream and well I’m quite good at it.” he said, pride beaming in waves from him..

“Finance,” I mused.
“That sounds… intimidating.” I sai.

He laughed. “Only if you let it be. What about you? What are you studying again?”

“Journalism,” I said with a smile. “I want to tell people’s stories. Maybe travel the world while doing it.”

“Ah, I see, that sounds cool,” he let out and I could tell he was being genuine and not just trying to seem interested.

“I really like people who have a passion for telling stories. I can barely get through a text without butchering it.” he said with a chuckle.

I grinned. “Aren’t you a lucky one? Well, I am good at reading and summarizing things, but I'm an even better listener.”

He smirked in response.

We talked about a lot of things. The topic changed from school to what we did for fun and then about family. When I asked him about his family, his smile widened as he shifted in his chair.

“Well my parents are still very much alive,” he let out in a quiet voice. “I have a younger sister too. But my older brother died when I was in my final year of high school.”

“Oh-“ I said as I started feeling sorry for him. “I am really sorry about that.”

“It’s nothing,” he said as he shrugged but I could see that he was sad. “It was a long time ago. And as time passes, you learn to live with things. But it never really goes away.”

I gave him a small nod as I felt the weight of his words settle in on me. “I cannot imagine what losing him must have felt like,” I let out.

Dominic exhaled softly. “He was my best friend and when I lost him, I realized just how short life is and to make the best of it while you can. That is one of the reasons why I do not let things really bother me.”

I leaned slightly closer to him and rested my hands on the table.
“I get that,” I admitted. “Well I mean, I am an only child and I have never lost a sibling nor do I have one to lose, so maybe I don't fully get it”

“But I can at least understand how it must have felt. I never really met my mom. She left when I was just a baby.” I explained

He looked up at me with soft eyes. “Wow, that must have been hard.”

“It is but since I don’t really know her it doesn’t matter,” I said to him. “But it is weird at times though- when people ask me if I miss her and I do not know what to say to them. I mean how do I miss someone I never really knew?”

“I guess you don’t,” Dominic said quietly. “You just imagine what it could’ve been like.”

I smiled a little at his understanding. It was rare to meet someone who got it without offering some hollow platitude.

Just then before we could say anything else, the waitress arrived with our pizza and we started eating. We laughed as we fought over the last piece. I didn’t know what it was but something about him put me at ease and he looked like he was truly interested in getting to know me more than the surface level. I have grown to like him more as I spent more time with him and it was not just about the physical attraction.

When we were done eating, he paid for the pizza and ignored my offer of us splitting the bill.

“Don’t worry, you can pay next time,” he said as he winked at me and I let out a laugh not minding that his words meant that there might be a next time.

We went back to the car and the windows were wind down as we made our way back to my house. The breeze blew through my hair and I felt so refreshed. I leaned back into the seat as I enjoyed the cool breeze and the hum of the engine.

Dominic turned on the radio and a song I like started playing through the speakers of the car and I sat up as I let out a small laugh.

“Oh my goodness, I love this song!” I whisper-yelled.

Dominic looked at me with a smile on his lips as he spoke up. “No way- me too.”

Soon enough, we were both singing along to the song as we drove through the streets. Our voices blended together through the cool night. Everything felt perfect and dream like, I didn’t want the night to end.

We eventually got to my house after the long drive and Dominic parked the car and put off the engine. I felt calm and happy, I was about to get down and I moved to open the door but he held my hand.

“Stop,” he said to me with a soft voice. “Let me get that for you.”

I blinked, surprised by the gesture, but nodded. “Uh… okay.”

He opened his door and got out of the car before jogging over to my side and opening the door for me. As I got out of the car, I felt self aware and shy like I was just meeting him for the first time.

“Thank you,” I said to him, my voice barely audible.

“Don’t mention it,” he replied me with a warm smile.

For a while, we stood there looking at each other intently. I was waiting- I expected him to lean in to give me a kiss. It was the usual script- what every man I went out with always did. This was the moment he would lean forward and try to kiss me and I would allow it.

But, he did no such thing. Instead, Dominic just kept smiling at me.

“I hope you had a great time spending your evening with me,” he let out in a gentle tone. “I hope we can do this again soon.”

His words caught me off guard and I was surprised at how different he was from other men I had encountered.

“Oh… um- y-yes,” I stuttered, my voice shaky from how flustered I was. “Me too.”

He nodded, still smiling. “Goodnight, Bree.”

I held back a bit, unsure of what to say or do. “Goodnight.”

I was still expecting him to lean into me and kiss me or something. But he didn’t. Instead, he gave me a warm smile and left my way so I could walk to the house.

“Oh, uhm… bye,” I said and giggled awkwardly as I turned away and walked to the door.

When I got to the door, I opened it and turned to look at him one last time but he was still watching me. “Bye Dominic. Drive safe,” I said again.

“Sleep well, Brianna,” he replied with a smile.
The way my name rolled off his tongue. Goodness.

I opened the door and walked inside and rested against the door and let out a huge sigh. I ran to the window to see him. He finally turned around after he was sure I was inside, he got inside the car, turned on the engine and drove off.

I pressed my head against the window as I watched his car disappear from my sight.

Why was he so different?

Other guys would have tried to kiss me or invite me to sleep with them or something but he didn’t do any of that, he didn’t even hug me.

Who the hell was this guy?