CHAPTER 207: BROS BEFORE HEARTBREAK

The door creaked open before I could even knock twice.

Dominic stood there with that lazy smile, hoodie sleeves pushed up, bright eyes like he’d been waiting for me.

"Hey, babe," he said softly, reaching for my hand.

Before I could say anything, he pulled me in....right into one of the longest hugs ever. His arms were tight around me, his breath warm against my neck.

"Okay?" I mumbled against his shoulder. "Weird. What’s happening? Did you burn the house down or something?"

He laughed. "Please. If something caught fire, it would’ve been Alia, not me."

I pulled back a little. "Where’s she, anyway?"

He turned to lock the door. "Knocked out. She fell asleep in the car. She had way too much fun today.... she’s gonna have an entire podcast episode about it at school tomorrow."

I smiled. "You spoil her."

He shrugged, grinning. "She’s easy to spoil."

Then he started talking....telling me about their day at the mall. How Alia made him try on ridiculous hats, how she made friends with a store clerk twice her age named melody, how she insisted he should get a jacket because "i have something similar to that"

I laughed when he showed me a selfie of them holding bubble teas, Alia flashing a peace sign, Dominic laughing.

It was sweet.

And I wanted to match his smile, I really did. But something heavy sat in my chest, and I guess he noticed.

He tilted his head. "Hey... what’s wrong?"

I hesitated, staring at the photo still glowing on his phone. "I went to see Marcus today."

His smile faded instantly. "Yeah, you told me. How did it go?"

"He’s still mad," I said quietly. "Like... really mad. He said he’s transferring schools. He doesn’t want to talk to me. Or June."

Dominic’s expression softened, guilt flickered across his face. "Wow. I caused all of that?"

He sank onto the couch, rubbing the back of his neck. "I feel bad."

I sat beside him, our knees touched. "It’s not just you."

"I know," he said. "But still... I wish I could fix it."

Silence stretched for a few seconds. Then he nudged my shoulder lightly. "Hey. He’ll come around, Ash. Trust me."

I gave him a skeptical look. "You think?"

"Yeah." He grinned again, this time a little crooked. "People fight and make up all the time. There’s this story about Ian and Ren?"

I blinked. "What about them?"

He smirked. "There was this one time in middle school....Ren liked this girl in art class named Gina. He told all of us about it, and how he kept trying to talk to her but he was shy."

I raised an eyebrow. "Let me guess....Ian did something stupid?"

Dominic burst out laughing. "He didn’t just flirt, he kissed her. At the back of the gym."

I gasped. "What?! No way."

"Yes way," he said, still laughing. "Ren found out, and dude went silent for two weeks. Wouldn’t text, wouldn’t talk, nothing."

I laughed, leaning closer. "That sounds exactly like them."

"Right? Ian kept trying to make up for it... left apology notes, playlists, even drew a comic strip about their friendship."

I laughed harder. "A comic strip?"

"Yup. A whole redemption arc. Ren pretended to hate it, but then he showed up one morning wearing the same hoodie Ian gifted him with the words ’Bros before heartbreak’ on it."

"Oh my god," I said, wiping a tear of laughter.

"See?" Dominic said, bumping his knee against mine. "People fight. They break apart. But if it’s real, they find their way back."

It was weird how easily he could make me laugh even when my chest still ached from Marcus’s words.

He was still smiling when his hand brushed against mine. He didn’t say anything at first, just traced circles on my palm with his thumb.

"Hey," he said quietly. "I missed you today."

He leaned closer. "Besides, I know a few tricks to make you forget about sad stuff."

I gave him a look. "Oh yeah? Like what?"

He smiled, slowly, brushing his thumb along my jaw. "Like this."

Before I could say anything, he kissed me, as his hand slid to the back of my neck.

For a few seconds, everything else blurred out.

Just the quiet, the warmth, the faint hum of the fridge.

Then....

A small creak.

We froze.

Then, a sleepy voice mumbled, "Dom?"

We broke apart instantly.

Alia stood there, crossing her arms. "Why are you guys being weird?" she yawned.

Dominic coughed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Uh...hey, pumpkin. You’re up."

She blinked. "I was thirsty."

I bit my lip, trying not to laugh.

"Go back to bed," Dominic said, guiding her gently toward her room. "We’ll talk in the morning, okay?"

"Okay," she said, dragging her little feet down to the room.

He turned back to me, smirking. "You were saying?"

I rolled my eyes. "Nothing."

"Yeah, that’s what I thought."

Dominic had just turned to me, with that teasing smirk still playing at his lips, when the door creaked open again.

We both looked toward the hallway.

Alia stood there, clutching her stuffed rabbit, squinting suspiciously at us.

"Why are you forcing me to go back to sleep?" she asked, narrowing her eyes at Dominic.

He blinked. "Because, princess, it’s late."

She tilted her head, unconvinced. "You sound suspicious."

Dominic stifled a laugh. "Suspicious?"

"Yeah," she nodded. "Are you guys planning something secretive behind me? Are you trying to order pizza without me again?"

I couldn’t help it, I laughed so hard I nearly fell against the couch.

Dominic groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "Alia, we’re not ordering pizza."

"You always say that before the pizza comes," she shot back, pointing an accusatory finger.

I grinned. "You’ve got him figured out."

"Exactly!" she said, stomping closer, her energy level was suddenly back like she’d never been asleep. "Anyway, look!"

Before either of us could respond, she plopped down beside me, already digging into the shopping bags Dominic had dropped near the door.

One by one, she pulled things out.....a glittery keychain, a pink cap that said "ICON," two bracelets, and a polaroid photo of her and Dominic making ridiculous faces.

"Look at this!" she said, shoving the photo in my face. "We did a photoshoot at the photo booth, and Dom said I look like a superstar!"

"You do," I said, smiling as I brushed a hand through her hair. "You look amazing."

She giggled, clutching the photo to her chest. "I know."

Dominic chuckled, leaning against the doorframe. "You’d think she won an Oscar."

"I did!" she yelled back. "For best little sister performance!"

I laughed again, watching her jump from story to story.... about how she made a new friend in the store, how Dominic almost tripped carrying her shopping bags, how they got free lollipops because "the cashier said she had a contagious smile."

Her joy filled the whole room.

And as I watched her, talking so fast she barely breathed.... something inside me softened.

God, she was so happy.

I reached over and patted her head gently, smiling without even trying to fake it this time.

How I wish things could stay like this forever.

Just her laughter, Dominic’s quiet smile, and the kind of peace that didn’t need to be earned.

If only it could stay this easy. If only we could always be this happy.