No Shame (Book 2 - No Regrets)

Chapter Thirty-Four - Calm Waters

DOMINICK'S POV

Take-out food, popcorn, and a rented movie are usually how Tyde and I celebrate anything together. Our two year anniversary, we celebrated by popping open a bottle of apple cider and watching an episode of a sitcom together after Mollie went to bed. Valentines Day, we celebrated with getting pancakes from a fast-food joint a couple blocks from the apartment. I bought Tyde a small bouquet of flowers from the grocery store and she bought me a nice card. Our simple way of celebrating is not primarily in the interest of saving money. Our lives have had and still have enough excitement, we find happiness in the calm that we have found with and in each other.

However, there is still a charm to spontaneously going the extra mile. Earlier this week, Tyde returned to work; and though she has been carrying on as normal, I can see something weighs on her mind. I asked Aria if she would be willing to let Mollie spend the night since tomorrow we had already scheduled for Mollie to spend most of the day with her. Aria was more than happy to help and take Mollie for the night.

On the way home from school, I went to the barber to get cleaned up with a haircut and shave. I spray a couple sprits of cologne on my shirt under my arms and on my chest. "Are you almost ready?" I call out to Tyde.

"Yes." Tyde calls back from the bathroom. A minute later, the bathroom door opens and Tyde steps out. She is wearing a black short sleeved shirt with ruffles at the chest and on the sleeves and matching dark blue jeans. Her straightened hair frames her face, her light eyeshadow and eye liner bring out her hazel eyes, and the dark lipstick perfectly contrasts her smile. "How do I look?" she asks when she sees me admiring her.

I reach out and take her hand and give her a little twirl, "You are breath taking." I say. Tyde smiles and kisses me.

"You're sweet." she says. She leans in and sniffs, "You also smell nice, handsome." She walks over and grabs her purse of the bed. I grab both of our jackets off the hook on the back of our door.

Tyde makes sure all but the kitchen light are off before the two of us make our way out of the apartment. I keep my arm draped around her shoulder as we walk to the car, only removing my arm to to open the passenger side door for her. Tyde laughs with amusement, "Thank you, sir." she says giving a small curtsey. Tyde takes the keys to start the car.

I roll my eyes and chuckle, "A couple seconds won't make the car any warmer." I tease as I get in on the driver's side.

"That's a couple seconds closer to a heated car." Tyde counters.

We drive to a Mexican restaurant closer to the downtown area. Fortunately, the dinner crowd that comes in closer to six in the evening has not flooded in yet and we are able to get a table without having to wait too long. We order an appetizer of nachos and an entree of steak fajitas to split. While we wait for the nachos, we begin devouring the complementary tortilla chips and salsa.

"This is nice." Tyde comments as she scoops a big helping of salsa on to her chip. She looks around our surroundings taking in the decor.

"I know, I'm surprised not more people talk about this place." I say.

Tyde reaches out across the table and takes my hand, "I am especially loving the company." I smile and take her hand in my own, my thumb stroking her the back of her fingers.

"I love you." I say to her.

"I love you too." she says.

I give her hand a squeeze, "Do you want to share what's been on your mind?" I ask. She lets out a sigh and places her other hand on top of mine.

"Nothing really new or unexpected." she says. "Just been thinking about Linkon, all the stuff with our father and the baby, and all the stuff with Aria."