The Things I Love About You Part 2 (Completed)

C h a p t e r S e v e n

As Scott and I walk in to Starbucks, I spot my former best friend of eighteen years through the glass windows and break out in a huge grin. My hand is yanked from Scott's as I sprint over to Dominic and jump into his open arms, my legs instinctively wrapping around his waist as I tuck my face into his neck. He folds his arms around my back and says, "Hello, darling. It's been a while."

"Too long." I say, my voice muffled by his neck. I can practically feel Scott's jealousy against my back. "I missed you."

"And I, you." Being wrapped in Dominic's arms, feeling the warmth of his neck against my face, the way our breaths are falling evenly with each other brings back so many memories all at once that I physically shudder. I let my feet fall to the ground and step back a little to stand next to Scott and lace our fingers together. I see his shoulders fall a little as he relaxes and wraps his arm around my waist. "Let's sit. We have a lot to catch up on."

****

After Scott offers to go and order our drinks for us after dedicating Dominic's order to memory and already knowing mine, I set my hand on the table and say, "How did you end up up here? It's a long way from Arlington."

"I could say the same to you." A slight smile tugs at his lips, barely turning the corners of his mouth upward in the manor that is solely his. "I followed work and my girlfriend here." Girlfriend. For some reason, hearing him say the simple word stings. I quickly push it away when he continues. "What about you?"

"You know I moved to Florida for college." He nods. "Well, there was sort of an...incident and Scott and I already had a house up here, so here we are. We actually only moved in a few days ago."

"Let me see your ring." he says suddenly, green eyes glimmering with excitement as he grabs my hand and observing the ring closely. "This is beautiful." I hum in agreement, looking over my shoulder at Scott. He blushes when I see that he was staring at me and I mouth, "I love you." He smiles and does the same. A few seconds later he returns with the three cups and places mine carefully in front of me, turning it so I see the name. After he sets Dominic's cup down and his own, I pull him down to kiss him. Along the cardboard is written Dearest fiancé. He sits next to me and slips his hand underneath mine.

"So, you guys are tying the knot, huh?" Dominic says, watching us with a slightly-too-calm gaze. The look makes my stomach churn; I know it too well. He's mad. Scott, who doesn't know him as well, answers.

"Yeah."

"How long have you guys been together?"

"A little over a year." I answer, turning to look at Scott again. Then I look back at Dominic and see the calmness flicker. I question him silently, but if he understands what I'm asking, he doesn't show it. We spend close to three hours at Starbucks, just talking. It feels good to just talk to him when I haven't even seen his face in a few years. When the time comes that he has to leave, we stand up and hug for a little longer than we probably should. He whispers in my ear, "I missed you a lot." My heart flutters without my consent. "Like, a lot."

"I missed you, too."

"We'll have to meet up again soon. I can't go that long without you again."

"Same here." His arms tighten around my back for a millisecond before he releases me.

"Good to see you again, Scott."

"Yeah...yeah, you too." Scott is watching him skeptically, and the angry calmness has returned to Dominic's gaze.

"Bye, guys." He pushes between me and Scott, breaking our hands apart, as he leaves.