Page 15 of Velvet Varnish

Should have just taken what he offered. I got to see his apartment, and his shelves of books. Got to sleep in his bed surrounded by his scent for one night, even though he wasn’t there with me. Why did I have to blow it by kissing him?

“Isla.”

At least I got to kiss him once. Feel his soft lips against mine, the heat of his tongue, and finally plunge my fingers through his hair. I wrap my arms around myself, tugging his shirt closer to shield me from the wind.

“Isla.”

Maybe I should call the guy I went on a date with a few months ago. It was supposed to be a double date, but Chloe had found Lachlan by then. I blow out a breath. Considering I don’t remember either of their names, it’s probably not a great idea. The only reason I set up the double date was to get over Dom. All it did was remind me why I want him. The idea of getting over him when I can still taste him is devastating.

“Isla!”

I jump when I hear my name. I glance around the beach but can’t see anyone looking for me. There’s a family ahead of mewith a little girl. Maybe they’re calling her. Turning my back on the sand and the expensive houses, I face the ocean. Must have walked longer to end up on this side of the beach. The water crashes higher on me, soaking my rolled up leggings, but I can’t bring myself to care.

I need to go home, change into pyjamas, and turn on mindless TV. To get home, I have to walk past Dom’s place. There isn’t a way to avoid it. I’ve been walking past his home every day for years. It’s worse now, knowing that.

I turn towards home and crash into something hard. I stumble backwards and shriek. A hand reaches for mine, hauling me upright before I fall in the water and I smack against a hard chest. Once I catch my breath, I lean back to thank them.

“Dom?” I yank my hands off his chest as if they burn and step back, tripping slightly on a shell.

“I was calling you.” His eyes are wild like the sea beside him, his gaze intense, drawing me in.

“I didn’t hear you. What are you doing here?” Why does he look so good? He doesn’t even look tired. He’s probably here to let me down easy. To let me know he’s only ever seen me as a friend.

“What’s this?” He’s holding a piece of paper with a book clenched in his hand. His hand blocks the cover of the book.

I clear the thickening in my throat and the impending sense of doom. “It’s my note.”

“Why did you write it?”

My brow furrows. Is he honestly going to make me explain why I wrote the note? Forcing me to express feelings I know will be rejected. I stay silent, my mind racing, attempting to find a way to tell him. “I shouldn’t have kept the appointment. It was selfish.”

“Why?” he demands, stepping closer. “Why is it selfish?”

“You don’t like getting your nails done. I know you do it as a favour to me. It’s unfair to force you.”

“Do you really believe that?”

“Believe what?” I say sharply. “I get it, Dom. I can read between the lines. I’m giving you an out. I’ll see you around.” I bite the inside of my cheek to keep tears at bay and brush past him. He grabs my arm, preventing me from leaving. “What?”

“I don’t want an out,” he breathes.

My head turns to meet his. “What?” He can’t possibly mean what I hope he does.

“I look forward to seeing you every month. I count down the days, Isla.” He steps in front of me and takes my cut hand gently, his other hand holding the note and book. “It’s selfish of me to keep coming when I want more from you. I remember the day you opened your store. You came to introduce yourself. Your hair was out and your nails were painted a bright blue.” He rubs his thumb over my nails. “We were talking about books and you offered to paint my nails as a joke. I couldn’t turn it down. It meant I got to spend time with you. There was no way I was going to turn that down.” He tucks hair out of my face the wind is blowing everywhere. “My love, why did you write the note?”

My breath catches at the endearment. I search his eyes for a clue, to see if he really means what he’s saying. I breathe in the ocean air tinged with cedar, attempting to swallow my tears and take a chance. “Because I’ve been in love with you for three years and when I kissed you, you told me to stop. I thought I could carry on like normal, but I woke up and you were gone and I?—”

Dom cuts me off by wrapping an arm around my waist, pulling me into his chest and crushing his lips to mine, swallowing my words. The book digs into my back, but I don’t care. I gasp and he darts his tongue inside my mouth, lifting me up, getting as close as possible.

He puts me down and grins, releasing my waist and leaving me cold. He drops the note, and it flutters to the sand, waves quickly disintegrating the paper.

“That’s littering.”

“I’ll plant a tree.”

I roll my eyes, and Dom twists the book around to show me the front cover. My eyes dart to his. “Is that?—”

“The book I gave to you last night? Yes. Did you read any of it?” His fingers crush the cover, denting the pages.