Chapter Two

Once Dom gets settled we all sit around the dining room table that night for a home-cooked family meal. Grilled burgers and chicken of course. What else would we have? Dom is the first to reach for a hamburger bun and I laugh. He gives me a funny look and my dad clears his throat.

" You reached for the food first Dom. You know what comes next. " My dad says smiling.

Dom laughs a little and grabs mine and Mia's hands. " God, thank you for bringing me home safe. And for the good food and family that are all around this table. Amen. "

" Amen! Let's eat. " My dad says taking a drink of his Corona.

Dom looks at the empty spaces at the table and says, " where are Vince and Letty? "

Mia looks at her plate and my dad just keeps on eating. I guess that means that I have to tell him. " Letty is visiting her aunt. And Vince... Well, he got picked up for stealing a car. He was supposed to be out months ago, but he kept getting into fights. If he's good he'll probably be out by summer. "

He blows hot air out of his nose. Vince is his best friend and he's locked up and he knows what that feels like. I hate being the bearer of bad news.

Later that night my dad turns in early leaving us on the couch watching some crappy western. Mia had fallen asleep ten minutes in and I can feel fatigue-fighting its way through me.

" I'm gonna get some sleep. We had to get up early and there's school tomorrow. " I say standing up to stretch.

Dom gazes at me through hooded eyes and nods. He looks just as tired honestly. I go to wake Mia up so we can go upstairs but Dom picks her up before I can.

" Show me the way. " He says softly.

I show him to her room and go to the linen closet. Taking some blankets and a pillow out I take them downstairs to the couch. Spreading a thick blanket over the couch I put the pillow at one end and leave the other blanket folded on top.

" Thanks. " I hear from behind me.

He changed into a pair of hoop shorts and a white beater while up there. My stomach flutters uncontrollably at the sight. I've had crushes before, but never on older guys. Hell, almost five years ago he was such a scrub...

He wasn't on my radar at all before he got locked up. Then again seventeen sounded ancient compared to me at age thirteen. Now at almost sixteen and him being freshly twenty... It doesn't seem so gross anymore.

" Umm, you're welcome. Dad said he'd get a bed for you sometime this week and then you can have some privacy in the basement. " I babble and try to slide past him and end this humiliation.

" Wait. " He says grabbing my arm.

I turn and look up at his deep brown eyes. Okay, that's so not helping my heart rate. " What? " I manage without sounding like an idiot.

He grabs my shoulders and sighs. " Thank you for being there for Mia. She looks happy and from what she wrote to me, you are a big part of that. Letty too. You didn't have to but you did. "

" Family doesn't always equal blood. " I say shrugging my shoulders.

I'm so bored! All I do is sleep, eat, and do homework anymore. I might as well be Mia. Come on Letty! She has been gone for way too long and I have so much to tell her that I can't talk about with anyone else.

Dom has been home for a few days and he's getting into a routine. He's already found a job at Harry's auto shop and things have quieted down. And much much more that I need to discuss with my BFF. Too bad I can't get an answer at her aunt's house.

So here I am bored to my wit's end and summer has only just started. very bored so I get up from my bed and leave my room. Mia's studying so I'll leave her alone and go downstairs and see if my dad is home. Maybe we can get ice cream before he goes to work. When I get to the dining room I can hear my dad talking in the kitchen. I know eavesdropping is wrong, but I can't help myself. Crawling under the table I can hear everything without being caught.

" I'm glad Harry is giving you a chance Dominic but is slinging parts really what you want to do? "

Hell no. All he ever really wanted was to be racing with the big boys. But after the Linder thing, he's banned from any and all professional tracks for life.

" It's just until I can save some money. After that my dad's shop will open back up along with the store. You've taken care of Mia for two years and I need to pull my own weight and get the business going again. After that, we can move back into our house. "

At least he isn't gonna sell it and move away. Then again Dom has always been about family and we are all he has left. He'll never go too far.

Hearing the front door open I almost knock my head against the bottom of the table.

" Honey I'm home! "

Letty shit! I can see my dad's feet come from the kitchen and go into the living room. Slowly I crawl from under the table and right into Dom's legs. I look up at him sheepishly hoping he won't want an explanation.

" I don't want to know. " He says helping me up so we can greet Letty.

I run and hug her tightly with both my arms and legs.

" Thanks for calling me back! " I say playfully.

" Sorry, chica I spent a lot of time at the hospital. " She says setting me down. " Hey, it's good to see you at home. " She says settling her eyes on Dom. "

He nods all manly like. " It's good to see you haven't been getting Beaut and Mia in trouble while I've been gone. " He jokes.

She gives a look of pure innocence. " Who me? I'm an angel. "

My dad laughs. " Sure Let. Alright, I have to get to work you kids be good. " He says grabbing his coffee and keys.

" Bye, daddy. " I call after him.

Once he's gone I looked at Letty. " An angel Let? Do we need to be reminded of that one time? " I remind her without giving too much info.

Letty glares at me. " Don't you dare speak of that one time in mixed company. " She say seriously while eyeing Dom. " Come on chica we have a lot to talk about. " She says dragging me upstairs.

" I don't want to know anyway! " We hear him call after us making us giggle like elementary school girls.

Once my door is closed she looks at me with wide bright eyes. " Damn what the hell happened to Dom? "

See, this is why Letty is my best friend. " I know right? He so did not look like that before he got locked up. "

" He tops all the fools in school and the racers around the neighborhood. " She says flopping on my bed.

This girl has never lied. The dudes around here suck. Which is why I'm saving my V-card for marriage. Call me old fashioned if you want, but I'll never get played for a fool in that way that I promise you.

" Yeah, but I heard he already has a little piece down the street. " I say rolling my eyes just like I did when Mia told me.

She laughs like it really all that funny. " Damn and he's already playing the field? Go, Dom. "

Facepalm. So not the reaction I was expecting. We pretty much do nothing but sit around and down guys like that and here she is cheering him on. Oh well, I guess after years away he does deserve to have a little fun.

" So next week is the big 1-6... What are we doing? " She asks changing the subject.

Grinning wide I saunter over to my bed. " Fun, sun, and girl time! "

" How'd I know you want to go to the beach? " She asks rhetorically.

Flopping down on her I say, " because that's what I want every year duh ".

" Well, at least this year you're old enough to drive... Speaking of, do you think your dad is getting you a car? " She asks seriously.

Hmm, I haven't really thought of it. " I don't know, it could go either way. "

" Well, hopefully, he does. I mean does he think taking the bus is safe these days? " She lectures like a mini adult making me laugh.

Rolling over I lay on my back. " I hope I get one. But I'm not gonna make him feel bad if I don't. "

" Yeah... I know. " She says not knowing what else she can say.

A silence falls over us so we both end up falling asleep.