No Shame (Book 2 - No Regrets)

Chapter Twenty - Light Me Up

KATIE'S POV

The rest of the week passed by irritably slow. The closer this evening came around, the slower time seemed to pass and the more flips my stomach performed. After getting home from school today, I spent several minutes piecing an outfit together that was casual but also made it clear I put thought into my look. However, because the movie is a team outing, I did not want the outfit to look too date-like. In the end, I picked out a simple red shirt with white polka dots, blue jeans, with a small black purse that straps across my chest, and have pulled my hair into a ponytail. I put on light makeup to cover the dark circles under my eyes from late nights and early mornings and some plus to prevent looking completely dead.

As I am leaving my room, I catch sight of headlights shining in from the driveway. I walk into Dominick's old room, now turned into a guest bedroom, and over to the window. Dominick's car is sitting in the driveway. I didn't know they were stopping by. I head out of the room shutting the door behind me, I grab my phone out of the bathroom where I did my makeup. I find a text from Sawyer letting me know he is about to head to the movie theaters and checking to see if I want him to pick me up.

  I smile as I reply, "And miss out on a chance for driving practice? Nope! Can't wait to see you." "Dad, are you ready to go?" I call out as I start downstairs.

"Need to put on my shoes and then I will be!" Dad calls from the master bedroom upstairs.

"I'll be waiting outside!" I call back, I grab his car keys from off the key tree.

"Not without saying goodbye to me, you're not." Mom says getting up from where she is seated in the living room. She smiles as she holds her arms open for a hug. I give her a one-armed side hug, which earns a bit of a scoff from her. "Both arms, you silly." she says. I wrap my other arm around her and give her a quick squeeze.

"You look beautiful, Katie." she says. "Have fun."

"But not too much fun, right? Mollie is all the grandchild Dad and you need right now." I joke.

Mom rolls her eyes and gives me a playful bop on the head. "Oh hush now." she says with a laugh as she returns to watching her show. I open the front door, I make my way to the end of the driveway where Dominick's car is parked. I can see Tyde and he are in the midst of a fiery conversation. Tyde is using her hands as she speaks while Dominick has a tight grip on the steering wheel, they are both talking at the same time. Tyde notices me approaching first and gestures toward me as she turns back to finish saying something to Dominick. I knock on the driver's side window and give a small wave. "You are acting so unreasonable." I hear Tyde say angrily as Dominick rolls down the window.

He lets out a scoff, "That's rich coming from you." he replies in a sharp tone before turning his attention to me. "Hello Katie." he says, his tone is softer but still carries leftover hints of annoyance.

"I thought you two would be on the road by now. Is Mollie with you?" I ask looking toward the backseats.

"No, she is already at Aria's." Dominick answers right as I see the empty carseat. "And we planned to be on the road but we needed to stop by to talk to the parents."

"You look nice, Katie. Are you headed somewhere?" Tyde asks from the passenger seat. She gives me a tired smile as she unbuckles her seatbelt.

"Thank you. I am actually heading to the movies, I'm driving so Dad will be coming with me. I hope everything is okay." I say worried. I walk over to the passenger's side.

Tyde opens the car door as Dominick rolls up his window. "Won't be driving with a learner's permit for too much longer." Tyde says. Dominick shuts off the car engine ands steps out of the car.