Chapter 2
"What can I get for you?"
Dom looked around the bar at the beers on tap. Miller Lite. Shitty. Yuengling. Shit. Coors Lite. All shit.
"We got a 2.00 Corona special," the bartender offered, seeing Dom was indecisive.
"I don't drink Corona," Dom said sternly, almost yelling it. The bartender was taken aback, but handled it well.
"Well, how about a..."
"How bout a shot of Jack," Dom interrupted, "make it a double."
"You got it buddy," the bartender said as he grabbed the Jack Daniels bottle and poured the shot. He placed it in front of him. Dom stared at the shot for about a minute, knowing that he was headed down a one way street to hell. He picked up the shot glass and quickly swallowed the shot, the Tennessee whiskey burning his throat the whole way down. He set the glass out in front of him and motioned for the bartender to pour another.
He looked around.
What the hell was he doing? In some dive bar just outside LA? Was he really this pathetic? Did she really just cause him to go back there?
"Fuck her," he muttered to himself as he kicked back the second shot.
He was pissed now, thinking about the last time he headed down this road. It was that night. Four fuckin years ago. April 21, 2003. 8:23 pm.
"I can't do this anymore Dom."...
"Do what Letty?" he asked as he walked into their bedroom, rolling his eyes. He'd had it up to here with her fuckin mood swings.
"This Dom. This right here. This is what I can't do anymore," she said calmly.
Her calm attitude threw him off. When they fought, it was never calm. It was then that he noticed...
"What the hell is THAT?" he yelled, pointing to her suitcases on the floor.
She crossed her arms and stood tall, feet firmly planted.
"Letty?" he asked again.
"What the hell does it look like Dom?" she said snidely.
"Don't fuckin do that."
"Do what?"
"Answer my question with another fuckin question!" he yelled.
"See! This is what I'm talking about Dominic!" she yelled back.
"What? What are YOU fuckin talkin about Letty, huh?" he yelled back even louder.
"This! This constant fucking fighting! It's all we do Dom! I'm sick of it. And I'm fuckin done," she said, her voice slowly regaining it's calmer tone.
Dom rubbed his head in frustration. He felt bad. She was right. They did fight a lot. Ever since...
"Letty..." he said calmly as he walked over to her, placing his hands on her crossed arms, bringing them down to her side.
"Dom please. Don't make this any harder than it already is," she said quietly, her voice almost a whisper.
"What are you sayin Letty?"
"I'm saying...I can't do this anymore," she whispered, staring at her luggage on the floor.
"So what, you're leaving?"
She nodded.
"Fine. If you need a break, fine. Go," he said, dropping her arms.
"This isn't a break Dom. I'm...done," she said sternly.
"Are you fucking kidding me Letty?!" he yelled, almost laughing.
She bent over and began gathering her bags. He stormed over to her and grabbed them out of her hands.
"Gimme my fuckin bags Dom," she yelled and proceeded to snatch one back out of his hand. He threw the other bag down and grabbed her by her arms once again, but gently.
"Letty, please, we can fix this," he said quietly, almost begging.
Her eyes softened a little. Deep down she wanted nothing more than to stay. To work on things. But there was way to much damage to undo. Things had been so different since they'd gotten back from Mexico. Nothing but constant fighting with almost no making up. Blame, guilt, sadness surrounding them. She didn't have anymore fight in her. Her eyes softened a little, but she wouldn't relent.
"I have to go," she said, breaking free from his embrace. And with that she gathered her bags yet again.
Dom never did handle rejection well, from anyone, especially her. He felt the anger start somewhere deep in the pit of his stomach, and work it's way up. Finally, he just exploded.
"You wanna go Letty? Huh? Fine! Go!" he yelled, tossing the rest of her bags into the hallway. "You wanna give up on us? After EVERYTHING we've been through?! Fine. Get the fuck out! You're a fuckin slut bitch anyway," he added.
Shit. Bad idea.
"What did you just call me?" Letty muttered through clenched teeth.
Dom rubbed his head.
Stupid. It was stupid. He didn't mean it.
"Look, Let..."
He should have seen it coming. But she was fast. He didn't really feel it until about ten seconds after her fist left his face. It wasn't a slap. Letty didn't slap.
They stood there. Silent. Staring each other down. She spoke first.
"Fuck You Dom."
...three little words...
And with that, she gathered her bags for the final time and walked out of the bedroom, slamming the door behind her.
...three little words...
How could three little words have so much power?
But it wasn't the words that hurt. It was the look in her eyes when she said them.