They talked all night. Literally all night. Dom drove Letty home at 6 am both sleepy and smiley. They stayed at the club for about an hour. Long enough for two glasses of champagne and a few dances. Eventually Dom shouted in Letty's ear "Wanna get out of here?" She smiled up at him and quickly nodded. He guided her out of the club as quickly as possible. Both knew their friends were going to give them such a hard time.
Once they finally make it outside they embrace the quiet and look at each other. "Now what?" Letty asked.
"I was thinking ice cream or liquor store run then a walk in the park. Letty, I am so interested in getting to know you. We have found each other twice in one week. I think it's fate."
She laughs out loud and it is music to his ears. "I know the perfect spot and it is not too far from here."
So the duo sets off on foot. They end up at Wanderlust Creamery- it's boozy ice cream. "Best of both worlds," Letty said as they walked out. Around the corner from the small shop was the Echo Park skate park. "Sorry but I need to take my shoes off. These are not for walking. Or dancing really." They sit on a bench, Dom holds her ice cream as she unbuckles the strappy high heels. They talk for hours. About hopes. Dreams. Childhood. Letty has never felt this way.
Letty takes her Sunday reset very seriously. Cleaning. Laundry. Bathing her black lab Knight. Groceries. Phone on do not disturb. This was her routine, every single Sunday. Every once in a while she would shoot Dom a text but she explained to him she would not be fully available.
Dom sat in the skating arena bleachers as his son and nephew took their lessons. After going to an LA Kings game, they both wanted to play hockey. But step one was for them to learn to skate. So here Dom sat watching the boys wishing Letty was next to him.
Monday morning Letty walked into the teacher's lounge with 3 pairs of eyes on her. "Good morning" she stated sweetly as she placed her lunch in the fridge.
"Mmm, definitely a good weekend I would say." Suki joked. "I haven't heard from you since you so rudely left the club without a single goodbye."
"You were busy."
"You left with Rome's friend…."
"Well, yes but i had met him a few days before." All the women froze at that.
"What a coincidence Letty. Tell us more." Riley spoke out. "He was delicious."
"He's a firefighter. I met him when the AirBnB caught on fire."
"Rome she is the most amazing woman I have ever met. Getting a second chance to see her….I wasn't going to ruin that man." Dom stated as he and Rome walked to his dad's auto garage.
"That's how I used to speak about my Carmen." Anthony interrupted. "Tell me about this woman who has given you hearts eyes"
"Pa, her name is Letty and she is beautiful." he lifts his phone showing his dad and Rome a picture of him and Letty with red noses from the chilly evening while they sat in his car. "Beautiful inside and out"
"Ay Dios Mio, Dominic she's a keeper. I can tell by these eyes. What does she do?"
"He is a teacher. She loves kids."
"Does she know you have a kid?"
"No…" Dom whispers. Rome and Anthony glance at each other.
Dominic was a ladies' man, always has been. But dating with a child as a single parent/sole caregiver has been not so fun.
Mondays are always the worst. But this particular Monday, Jack O'Conner was making Letty's life hell. So since his mother ignored her email, Letty decided she was going to ambush her at pickup. So she had their principal watch her class as she walked Jack to the pick-up line.
"Grandpa! Jack said taking off running. Letty tried to keep up. Once she got to Jack and his grandfather, she smiled and tried to catch her breath. Jack hid behind his grandpa, knowing that he was in trouble.
"Hi, I am Miss Ortiz, Jack's teacher…"
"Letty" Anthony stated confidently.
She smiled politely and squinted her eyes. "Yes…"
"I am Anthony. Anthony Toretto. Jack grandfather." Again, Letty squinted. "I believe you know my son Dominic." he smiled brightly. Letty was in shock. Did Dominic tell his Father about her?! Is Jack Dominc's son.