She's Fast and She's Furious

④

New Beginnings

The morning after church with Dom felt lighter than usual. For the first time in a while, I woke up without the heavy cloud of worry hanging over me. I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, replaying yesterday in my head—Dom’s quiet strength, his thoughtful gaze, and the way we had silently agreed to take things slow. There was something about him that made me feel safe, like I didn’t have to pretend or hide behind walls anymore.

I stretched, finally getting out of bed, and headed to the kitchen. The sun streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow over everything. As I poured myself a cup of coffee, I couldn’t help but think back to the barbecue. Everyone seemed to admire Dom, and I understood why. He wasn’t just a man of action; he was someone people could rely on. His family traditions, like the weekly church services and gatherings, reminded me of everything I never had. And maybe that’s why I was so drawn to him.

But there was still this lingering question—how could I help him without making him feel like a charity case? I knew he was struggling, but I didn’t want to step over his pride. I wanted to be there for him, but on his terms. The problem was, I wasn’t sure how to walk that fine line.

Just as I was lost in thought, my phone buzzed. I glanced down to see a message from Dom.

Dom: Morning. Got some errands to run, but I’ll swing by later if you’re free?

I smiled, texting back quickly.

Me: Sounds good. I’ll be here.

I spent the next few hours doing odds and ends around the house, my thoughts occasionally drifting back to Dom. It was strange, really—how quickly I’d gotten used to having him around. But there was also this part of me that hesitated. I’d been betrayed before, and every time I let someone in, things always seemed to go wrong.

Just as I was finishing up some paperwork, another message popped up on my phone. This time, it was from Neville.

Neville: Hey, just checking in. Any updates on Ron?

I sighed, a small knot of tension forming in my stomach. Neville had been a good friend, practically a brother to me, but I knew that Ron’s relentless search for me wasn’t going to end easily. After escaping from that life, I didn’t want to go back to dealing with the constant fear of being found.

Me: Nothing new. I think he’s still looking, but I’m staying low. Don’t worry, I’ve got it under control.

Neville: If you need anything, you know I’ve got your back. Don’t hesitate to call.

I smiled at his message. It was good to know that, despite everything, I still had people who cared. And now, with Dom in the picture, I felt like I wasn’t facing things alone anymore.

The rest of the day passed quietly, and by early afternoon, I heard a knock at the door. I opened it to find Dom standing there, his familiar, comforting presence filling the doorway. He wore that same relaxed smile I’d come to love, but there was something in his eyes—maybe curiosity or concern—that told me he wanted to talk.

“Hey,” I greeted, stepping aside to let him in. “Everything go okay with your errands?”

“Yeah,” he said, glancing around my place as if seeing it for the first time. “Nothing too exciting, just the usual stuff.”

We settled on the couch, a comfortable silence between us before Dom finally spoke. “So, I’ve been thinking,” he began, his eyes locking with mine. “About what you said yesterday—about not carrying everything alone.”

I nodded slowly, wondering where he was going with this.

“I appreciate you wanting to help,” he continued. “But I’ve never been good at accepting it. Not when it comes to... well, things like money or taking care of my family.”

“I know,” I replied softly. “And I get it. I don’t want to step on your pride or make you feel like you owe me anything.”

He studied me for a moment, his expression softening. “But you’re right. I don’t have to carry it all by myself.”

The admission surprised me. Dom wasn’t the type to admit when things got tough, and hearing him say it made me feel like maybe, just maybe, we were moving forward in the right direction.

“I’m not saying I need a handout,” he continued, “but maybe we can help each other in other ways. I’m still figuring things out, but I want you to know that I trust you.”

I felt a warmth spread through me at his words. This wasn’t just about money or fixing problems. It was about the fact that he trusted me with something deeper—his vulnerability.

“I’m not here to fix everything,” I said quietly, reaching out to take his hand. “But if you ever need support, you know I’m here.”

Dom smiled, his grip tightening around my hand for just a moment. “I know, May.”

The rest of the afternoon passed in a haze of quiet conversation and comfortable silences. We didn’t need to talk about the heavy stuff anymore. For now, it was enough to just be in each other’s presence, knowing that we had each other’s backs.

As the sun began to set, Dom stood up to leave, his familiar grin back in place. “I’ll see you soon,” he promised, and with a quick kiss on my cheek, he was gone.

I stood in the doorway for a moment, watching as his car disappeared down the street. There was something different now—something solid and real between us. I wasn’t sure what the future held, but for the first time in a long time, I wasn’t afraid to find out.