I slipped on my dirty t-shirt and shoes and was just about to head out of the front door when Dom stopped me.
“Hey man, wait up,” he said, jogging towards me. “I’ll walk you down.”
Ah, I knew where this was going. Though the whole “What are your intentions” conversation was usually reserved for fathers and big brothers, I could respect Dom for looking out for Kami. I could tell he really cared for her.
“Kam told me what happened last night,” he began as we made our way down the hall to the elevator. “Thank you. Seriously. I should’ve been there. I should’ve brought my ass home last night. Fuck! Dude, thank you for helping her. I owe you.”
I shook my head. “You don’t owe me anything. I was just glad I was there in time before…shit. I’m just glad I stopped that fucker in time.” I felt my fists tighten at my sides and my face flame with rage.
“She also said you stayed with her. To make sure she was ok.” Dom cleared his throat, clearly uncomfortable. “She said nothing happened.”
“Yeah, and?”
“It’s just…even though nothing’s happened yet, I see how you look at her. And how she looks at you. And I just want you to know… Kami is special. She’s unlike any chick you’ve probably ever dealt with. And because of how special she is, she needs to be treated delicately.”
“Ok…?” What the hell was he trying to get at? I knew Kami was special, but he was making her sound special in a totally different way, as if she was disabled or slow.
“Bottom line, she needs a lot of patience and understanding. She needs someone that can protect her, mostly from herself. And if you’re not that type of dude, walk away now. I won’t judge you; I won’t be upset. Don’t show up for your date tonight. I can even cover for you or something. Just get out now, and don’t look back.”
I frowned with disgust, furious at his words. “What the fuck… Do you have this talk with every guy she dates?”
Even after seeing the violent expression on my face, Dom chuckled and shook his head. “Only with ones she actually likes.”
“Hmph,” I snorted. “And is she ok with this shit?”
“Wouldn’t know,” he shrugged. “You’re the first.”
His words cooled the anger I felt just moments before.
I was the first.
I wasn’t just imagining it; Kami had feelings for me. Feelings as real as the ones that had kept me up at night for the past month, picturing those bright green eyes and pouty lips. Feelings that I needed to explore. We needed to explore.
“Let her know I’ll be back at 6. And tell her to dress comfortably.”
I stepped onto the elevator, the doors sliding closed on Dominic’s nod of acceptance. I already knew Kami was special. I knew she was unlike anyone I had ever met since the day she came into Dive, blinking away tears and in search of an escape. I knew she was running then. And thankfully, she had run straight to me. And I was hell-bent on making it so she never felt the need to run again.
“You’re nervous.”
I looked at Angel lounging on my bed like the princess she claimed to be and rolled my eyes. “You think?”
“Mmm hmm,” she remarked, her eyes glued to a gossip magazine. It was a good thing too; she couldn’t see me flipping her off.
“Maybe this is a mistake. I said I wouldn’t get involved with coworkers again. I need to call and cancel. I should cancel, right? Oh, holy fuck, what am I doing?” I rambled, wringing my hands in front of me. The room shifted before my eyes, throwing off my equilibrium. A panic attack was on the horizon.
“Calm down and breathe, Kam,” she gently admonished, tossing her magazine to the side. “It’ll be fine. Blaine is a gentleman. You’ll be fine.”
“She still freaking out?” Dom asked as he entered my bedroom. He flopped down next to Angel.
“I am not freaking out,” I insisted, crossing my arms in front of me. “And don’t think I’m speaking to you again. First, you totally blow up my spot last week at my job, and now you’re having secret pow-wows with Blaine? Not cool, dude.”
Dom let out a heavy sigh and scrubbed a hand over his face. “I explained and apologized for last week, Kam. I just…I don’t know. Got caught up in stupid guy talk. I’m not used to being around other people outside of you two. For once, I wasn’t caught in a huge estrogen fest and I lost my head. Shit, you know I’m sorry.”
“That doesn’t explain your little talk with Blaine earlier,” Angel chimed in, earning a hard glare from Dom that screamed, “Mind your own damn business.”