Dominic speaks.
“Can I talk to you alone?”
“No.”
“Bailey, I think you should hear what I have to say.”
“If you have something to say to me, you can say it in front of Cooper.”
Dominic shoots me a wary glance, but seems to weigh his options and realizes that I’m not going anywhere.
“Bailey, I forgive you for everything that happened between us.” Her jaw hits the floor, but he doesn’t seem to notice. “Things are over between me and Pumpkin. Really over. I realized she was just a fling, that I was only using her because you hurt me so deeply, but I forgive you, Bailey, and I’m ready to try again.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?” Bailey practically screeches.
“Bailey! Language!” Her mother frowns.
“I, I forgive you,” Dominic repeats, as if that explains everything.
“You cheated on me, asshole,” Bailey whispers. “Did you forget about that?”
“Well, but that wasn’t my fault,” he fumbles, and it’s all I can do to keep from laughing out loud at this jackass. Is he for real? “It’s because you were such a prude in bed, you know. I didn’t have a choice. I had to get satisfaction somewhere, and now that you’re taking those classes about how to be a better lover, well, I think we should try again.”
I’ve heard enough.
Bailey looks like she’s in shock and Dominic takes a step forward to touch her, but I insert myself squarely between them.
“Leave,” I tell him.
“What? You can’t-“
“Leave,” I repeat. “Before I punch you in your piece-of-shit nose. You cheated on her, fucker. Do you understand that? You fucked somebody else. She doesn’t want you back. You’re scum, Dominic. Bailey deserves someone who will love her no matter what. She deserves someone who is going to put her needs first for once in her life,” I shoot Lucille a pointed look, but then I keep talking.
This is the most fucked-up family dinner I’ve ever been to, but there’s no quitting now.
“Hey, now, just you listen to me,” Lucille’s face turns red, and I wonder how Bailey has put up with her mom’s crap for so long. No wonder Kasey can’t stand the woman: she’s a beast. “I will not tolerate that kind of language.”
“And I won’t tolerate this kind of ambush. I love Bailey. I plan to spend the rest of my life with her, if she’ll have me, and I will not put up with you treating her like she’s somehow not worthy of true, honest love,” I tell Lucille. Then I turn back to Dominic. “And you need to leave. You’re a dick. You fucked her cousin, then blamed her. Why the hell should she be with you? She doesn’t take pole dancing to be a better lover, dipshit. She takes classes because she loves it, because she’s graceful, and because she cares about her own mental and physical health.”
Dominic doesn’t make a move to leave and neither does Lucille. They just stare at me and Bailey, open-mouthed, and then Professor Scranton comes into the room wearing oven mitts and a bright pink apron.
“Hey, did I hear some shouting in here?” He says with a big, stupid grin. “Would some fried potatoes make everyone feel better?”
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“Feel free to call Bailey when you’re ready to apologize for your behavior,” I tell Lucille, completely ignoring Scranton. Then I take Bailey’s hand and pull her from her mother’s house.
She deserves so much better.
Chapter 10
Bailey
I sit in silence, crying quietly until we get back to my apartment. Cooper parks the car, then looks at me.
He strokes my cheek and asks if I’m okay, but I’m completely caught up on just one thing.
“Did you just propose?”