Ask Me to Stay

Chapter Fourteen

DOMINIC'S POV
------
"How's it feel to back home and seventeen?" I joked, wrapping my arm around Vera's smaller frame.

"Same as it was before, dork." She replied, taking a lick of her ice cream while keeping eye contact with me. I rolled my eyes, ignoring her blatant sexual innuendo. We had been home for over a week, everything seeming to fall back into place...all except Vera and I's relationship. I knew more than anyone how risky our relationship was, but it's her, and right now...I would do anything for even the smallest amount of her.

"If anyone here is a dork, it's the girl who passed her junior year with straight A's and extra class credits," I spoke with pride, looking down at the girl who seemed to be making me happier than anyone else ever could.

"So not the nerdy architect who secretly only likes Halloween because it's an excuse for him to cosplay?" She quipped back, pulling my hand down to take a lick of my ice cream. "And eats coffee ice cream..." She added, licking her lips and letting go of my hand.

"Like you can judge, Miss mint chocolate chip." I retorted, grabbing her hand playfully to take a bite of her ice cream, instead, she rubbed the cone against my chin and lips, leaving a cold, pale green stripe across my face.

"It's the only flavor you won't eat..." She said with a grin, holding her cone proudly.

"If we were home...alone...I would make you clean this up yourself," I said lowly, using a napkin to wipe my face. " But I guess we'll have to wait," I said more chipping, using my free hand to gently push her along by the small of her back.

"So if I cover myself in ice cream...you'll lick me clean?" She turned to face me, walking backward for a few paces. "Because that is all I'm hearing."

I ignored her nudging her with my elbow since we were close to home and couldn't do anything more. That has been the big drawback of being home, I can't even look at her in the way I want to around here because someone would most definitely get the wrong impression...or I guess the correct impression. The only thing saving us is Kara's work schedule, She works nights most days so Vera and I usually spend that time together.

We soon reached the house, our relationship being forced back into its natural "friendship" ways. Kara was sitting at the counter still dressed in her usual work scrubs. She looked up at me with a sweet smile and I returned it strictly out of politeness. Sometimes I catch myself thinking about how things used to be, romanticizing about what Kara and I used to be, hoping I can convince myself to go back to her. And then I see her. Vera has become my drug of choice, taking over my mind so she's the only thing I can think about, and I'm okay with it. I will take whatever she decides to give me.

"Hey, honey..." She cooed, pulling me down for a kiss. I gave her a quick peck, rounding the counter to get to the sink so I could wipe away the sticky mess that Vera was so kind to leave behind.

"Hey," I returned, turning my back to her while I grabbed water from the fridge.

"Where did you guys go?" Kara asked, more out of curiosity than nosiness. I watched as she pulled her younger sister into a side hug, nuzzling into Vera's arm.

"The creamery a few blocks away," Vera answered. She pulled away from Kara and came to my side. She took my freshly opened water bottle and headed towards the stairs. "Thanks for the water, Dominic. I'll be in my room if you guys need anything."

With that, Kara and I were left alone in the kitchen. I hated when Vera would do this, leave me to my own devices to navigate Kara. I would never tell her that though.

"I started a new project at work, we closed the Torrin building so all that's left is the opening party. It's gonna be like an art gallery-type thing." I explained, idly leaning against the counter.