No Shame (Book 2 - No Regrets)

Chapter Twenty-Two - Never Ends

DOMINICK'S POV

  "Holy sh*t, that can't be Mini-Dude!" Linkon exclaims grabbing the phone out of my hand. His face lights up, "She has grown so much since I last saw her, next thing I know she'll be a teenager and I'll be an old man with no teeth." He whines out dramatically. I roll my eyes and give him a light knock on the head as I retrieve my phone. I had barely enough time to open the text message from Katie before Linkon snatched the phone.

I take a look at the photo and smile for a bit. It has only been a day since I last saw Mollie and I miss her. However, I am also enjoying the break from the blare of cartoons, the toddler temper tantrums, and the endless barrage of "but why"s. I love Mollie more than I previously believed humanly possible, she is my entire world and my entire heart; but there are moments where being a parent gets to be very overwhelming at times. "My daughter becoming a teenager is the last thing I want to think about." I say to him.

"Your future holds lots of hormones." Linkon teases. "She already has Nikki's attitude, imagine her as a teenager." He adds.

"Get behind me, speaker of evil." I joke giving him a light kick in the shin.

Linkon chuckles as the two of us enter the dining hall of the small recreational building on the base. "So, are you going to tell me what's going on between Tyde and you, or do I have to spend another evening of silent tense third-wheeling?" He asks getting serious.

"We can't see eye-to-eye on something involving Mollie." I answer. I go on to fill Linkon in on Mollie's recent behavior after we sit down at a table. I explain how Tyde is pushing to get Mollie seen by a specialist; while I am pushing to go more old-school and consulting the parenting books.

"Permission to give my opinion?" Linkon asks.

"Would you really hold it if i say no?"

Linkon smiles and chuckles, "Guess not." He says. "Let's get in line to get some food." He says rising from the table. He sets down his jacket on the table to mark it taken. We walk over to one of the food vendor's stalls and get in line. "No harm in doing both. Consult all the parenting books you want but also get advice from a specialist." He says.

"I feel like three years old is too young to be looking at medical intervention for behavioral issues." I reply.

Linkon shrugs his shoulders, "Maybe it is, but when does she stop being 'too young' in your book?" He points out. "And for what's worth, taking her to a specialist doesn't mean you are bad parent or you are giving up on her." I never have to say the words aloud, Linkon merely always knows when I am doubting or blaming myself.

"Linkon, because of me Mollie was-" I start to say but Linkon shoots me a sharp look.

"Don't you do that." He says in a sharp hiss. "Don't you ever say that. What those *ssh*les did to her had nothing to do with anything you have ever done. They are the scum, the monsters."

"If I had straightened up Mollie would have never-" Linkon cuts me off again by punching my shoulder. The muscle he has gained from training painfully apparent.

"Stop it." He snaps. His eyes burn in to mine, "You are a good dad. Mini-Dude has come this far because of you. Only thing you should take responsibility for is raising a great little kid. Mini-Dude is healthy, happy, and above all else, she's alive." Linkon's eyes flicker to show a deep pain. He blinks and it is gone, he puts on a small smile. "Anyway, let's get some food."

I sigh, cursing myself as a sickening wave of guilt and the selfish gratitude rise within me. Clearly it has been really unbearable for him as well. "Tyde's been feeling the weight of the loss really heavily lately as well." I say feeling completely helpless. There is nothing I can say to comfort him, no magic words, and no experience in my past has cursed me the insight to comfort him. I wish I could lighten his burdened heart even by an ounce. Linkon does not say a word as we move through the line and eventually get our food.

We eat and make light small-talk. We talk about how our classes are going, how Tyde is doing at her job, and how Katie is doing in high school. Linkon is pleasantly surprised and slightly amusement when I tell him about Sawyer and Katie dating. "Never imagined those two would ever be together. Plus after that heartbreaking rejection, I expected Katie to stay away from dating for at least a year." He says.

I sigh and nod in agreement remembering the week Katie spent mostly locked away in her room. She never cried in front of me or shared many details, but everyone knew she was devastated. After the initial week of devestation, Katie spent time healing, some days she would retreat to her room for longer periods of time than others. "She waited about eight months before she pursued the relationship. She handled things better than we would have." I tag a tease at the end.

Linkon rolls his eyes and chuckles, "Speak for yourself. You might have been weak but I have been a saint."

"Tell that to your mountain of condom wrappers at the dump." I joke. "Bet Spartan's stock shot up 50% solely because of you."

Linkon puts his hands up in surrender. "I confess to having my fun, but those were all mutually-beneficial hook ups. My heart has remained with only one." He says.

I chuckle, "What Jess from World History?" I tease thinking of the massively attractive upperclassman whose entire high school experience consisted of being bombarded with love confessions. All of which she would politely decline, citing wanting to focus on studies and also only wanting platonic relationships at that point in her life. Linkon tried to ask her to a dance, and was met with the same result as the suitors who had come before and came after.

Linkon rolls his eyes as he steals a fry from my plate. "Nope." He sticks the fry in his mouth. "You above everyone should know."

"Well, I don't. Are you going to tell me or steal more of my food?"

"Henry's mother, obviously." He says casually dipping one of his fries in ketchup.

I roll my eyes and let out a dry laugh. "Very funny." I say sarcastically. "Poke fun at me for being tied up on the girl I dated for two years and who was my first love."

"Dominick, I'm being serious." He says.

I tilt my head at him and give him a look of slight annoyance. "Yeah, sure." I say with wirg a chuckle. "The person you never talk about. You have never even told me her name." I point out.

Linkon never has talked about Henry's mother. He has never said her name, what she looked like, and where she is. The extent of information I have about her is that Linkon and her hooked up around the springtime and nine months later Henry was born.

"Dominick." Linkon says flatly giving me a look.

"No sh*t?" I ask surprised. I drop the piece of chicken I was about to put in my mouth. "You are actually being serious. You still have a thing for an ex-fling?"

Linkon shakes his head, "I don't have 'a thing' for her, Dominick. And it was not a fling. I was then and still am now, in love with her."

***AUTHOR'S NOTE***
Shorter (in comparison to previous chapters) this week. Very information heavy.

I kept to the unofficial weekly schedule, woo-hoo! Didn't think I would be able to this week because writer's block attacked but tonight I was struck with inspiration and ran as far as it would take me.

I have missed writing scenes with Linkon, so this was a real treat for me. Next chapter will center around Katie. Big things are going to be happening, I am working on laying each domino in place.

I have been reading everyone's theories, love reading theories and I feel honored that you all enjoy/care/are invested in the story enough to construct such excellent theories. Thank you so much!

I hope everyone is staying safe and doing well. If you are, FANTASTIC! Keep up the great work. If you are not, oh no! I am so sorry to hear that. Sending lots of Mini-Dude fist-bumps!

Please forgive any errors, I wrote this on a mobile device. I will come back and edit soon!

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR READING! I HOPE YOU ENJOYED!

VOTE, COMMENT, FOLLOW, do whatever you want.