Ask Me to Stay

Chapter Twenty-Four

Vera's POV

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Hide the test.

Old shoebox...good choice.

Call the doctor...fucking hell!

Ring...Ring...Ring...hello?

Somehow that was okay.

Wipe off the tears.

Take a breath.

There's a cigarette in the desk drawer...

That's no longer an option.

Breathe...just breathe.

You've been up here for too long.

You need to show him it's okay.

You need to lie.

The test was negative.

The doctor will prove that.

"I have an appointment tomorrow morning," I announce calmly as I enter the kitchen. He's already gotten out the cutting board and washed the produce. "See, It's okay."

"I'll drive you."

"I'll be okay on my own. I'm sure Maddy would love to skip our morning classes." I say with false cheer.

"I'll drive you." He repeats, meeting my eyes for a long moment.

"You're not coming in with me," I add in an equally sharp tone. He returns with a nod as if that was already inferred.

For a few minutes, we move around each other in silence. Prepping the meal together with silent communication. It's clear what we're both thinking about it.

"We need to talk about it, Dominic. It will eat us away if we don't." I finally say, laying down the knife and looking up at him. He reluctantly meets my eyes. "I've let you shut down long enough, It's time we talk."

"There isn't much to say on the topic, Vera. That..right now, is not an option. Personally, it's not something on my radar at all. That would ruin the sliver of hope we have for ourselves right now. Clearly, we need to be more careful, this shouldn't have been an option at all." He rants, running his hands through his hair and keeping his eyes steadily trained on me.

"See? There's a lot to say about it. Now can we just have a civil conversation about our future? Maybe it would be a good thing to outline our priorities and goals before we go through the dumpster fire that will be getting through this." I shout, taking a step back from him. "Fuck!" I hiss. Keep it together...

"Fine...fuck sorry." He sighed apologetically, slowly returning to his cooking. I picked up the knife and continued to cut potatoes.

"Actually..." I sigh, feeling defeated by today. "I'm not in the mood for this." I sat down the knife once again and turned to face him. "I'm tired, I still don't feel well, but we know the test was negative. That's enough reassurance for me to get to tomorrow." I reached out and absently smoothed the wrinkles in his shirt, warm taut skin hiding beneath. For once, I want nothing to do with this man's skin. "Finish dinner for Kara, I'm gonna go lie down..."

"Vera..." He whispered in a pained tone as I walked away, I mumbled a goodnight in return, making my way to my room.

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"I can drive myself, Dominic." I hissed, the keys to his car held tightly in my fist.

"I. Am. Driving. You." Dominic returned, blocking the door with the solid form of his body. I rolled my eyes, trying to calm myself down.