It wasn’t the worst idea. That way, if Mitch crushed her again, her friends would be right there.
“Okay, fine. I’ll tell him Saturday at eleven at Marquis…” Her fingers were already moving to reply when they heard a man’s voice bark out Avery’s name.
“Avery! What are you doing?”
“Taking a smoke break,” Avery yelled back at him. Her voice was slightly muffled when she whispered into the phone. “Oops, gotta go.”
“You don’t smoke.”
“Then I’m taking an air break. Chill out, Nick.” The line cut out, leaving both Domi and Rae hanging.
They looked at each other.
“Did not expect her to be a brat,” Domi said before returning her attention back to her phone.
“Maybe he brings it out in her,” Rae suggested, dragging her laptop back atop her thighs and giving Domi an idea.
“You know, I’m thinking maybe I gave in a little too quickly,” Domi said, putting down her phone without sending the message. “How about… I’ll meet with Mitch on Saturday at Marquis if you self-publish a book.”
“What if I don’t care if you meet up with Mitch?” Rae asked, crossing her arms over her chest, her expression even more stubborn than usual.
“Oh, no, I’ll still meet up with him, but not at Marquis, where you’ll have Avery to help you overhear everything. I’ll go somewhere you have to watch from a distance and guess what’s going on.”
“Oh, you’re good,” Rae muttered, frowning down at her laptop. She stared at it for a long moment before shaking her head. “Okay, fine.” She moved the mouse and clicked. “Done.”
Domi blinked. “Wait, seriously?”
“I’ve had it set up for about two weeks now, I just hadn’t pressed publish,” Rae admitted sheepishly.
“What?! Rae, that’s amazing!” Domi was about to throw her hands up in the air and hug her friend when Rae pointed at her.
“Set up your date with Mitch, then celebrate with me.”
Sighing, Domi settled back down into her spot and pressed the send button.
“It’s not a date.” She tossed her phone back onto the coffee table and tackle hugged her bestie. “I’m so proud of you!”
Hell, if Rae could do something as scary as finally self-publishing her work, Domi could have brunch with the guy who had broken her heart.
Mitch
Nervous as hell, Mitch waited in the booth the hostess had escorted him to. He was fifteen minutes early and extremely uncomfortable. Suits weren’t his thing. He’d actually had Zach and Kincaid go shopping with him last night, which was crazy but… he was feeling a little crazy.
After talking to his dad, Mitch realized he was right. He had to do something his dad would never do. At least, his dad never would have done in the past, though he might now.
Reach out.
Talk.
Grand gesture.
Still working on that last one, but Mitch had watched enough romance movies with his mom to know he was going to have to do something big to make it up to Domi—something that wasn’t flowers. The new suit was part of that gesture, though it wasn’t exactly grand, more like uncomfortable. At least Zach had let him get away with not wearing a tie or a vest. Zach’s personal style was a little too GQ for Mitch.
He did look damn good today, though, in a grey suit that fit his shoulders and a button-down blue shirt exactly matching the color of his eyes. He’d wanted to dress up a little, so it wasn’t only his words showing Domi he was serious, but he looked like he was taking this seriously.
Never taking his eyes off the door, he saw her the moment she walked in and jumped to his feet. To his surprise, Rae wasn’t with her. He’d figured he’d be facing both of them together.
Wearing black pants, a red shirt, with her makeup and hair done—though not as dark as she would for Stronghold—Mitch knew she hadn’t dressed up for him. She’d dressed up for herself. This was Domi with all her armor on, and it made his chest ache. She looked beautiful but distant, without her usual warmth.
Part of him wanted to pull back, to hide his own emotions… but that’s what he’d done wrong before. He’d held back without realizing it, thinking everything would fall into place, then he could be all in. But that wasn’t how it worked.
After Wednesday night, Domi had good reason to fear being hurt, to hold back. If Mitch was going to show her, she didn’t need to be, he was going to have to give her a little more of himself.
The hostess waved her over, and Domi’s eyes widened when she saw him, her gaze flicking over his body. Appreciation glimmered in her expression before she hid it. Mitch preened.
Yeah, she liked the suit.
“Domi,” he said by way of greeting when she reached him, holding out his hand to help her into the booth.
“Mitch.” Her tone was a little terse, but she took his hand and let him help her sit down.
“I haven’t been here for brunch.” Sitting across from her, studying her expression, he tried to get a feel for where she was mentally and got the impression, she was extremely guarded. He couldn’t really blame her. He was a little envious, in fact. Right now, he felt very exposed and not in a fun, sexy way.
“Me, either, but I heard it’s good.” She didn’t look at her menu, warily keeping her eyes on him.
Their server came by to get their drink order, and Mitch ordered coffee, while Domi opted for an espresso. She still didn’t look at her menu, which was making him nervous. Wasn’t she planning on staying to eat?
“Yeah, the menu looks good,” he hinted, nodding to where she had her arms crossed over hers. Her plump lips twisted.
“Why don’t you tell me why you wanted to meet, and I’ll decide whether or not I should bother looking at the menu.” Her tone was tart, but there was something in her eyes—Mitch couldn’t define exactly what—gave him the tiniest bit
