Dom
Please tell me you’ve got a date to the ROF auction
And please tell me she’s high-class and deserves you
Mina deserves me
Annnnddd…you’re right back where you started when I found you
What is it with you and these charity cases
Chances are you’re nothing but a giant fucking dollar sign to her
You know that, right?
Need I remind you of the shitshow known as Blossom?
You’re tiptoeing close to a line you shouldn’t cross.
Fine. Fine. This is me, stepping away from the line
But…
Let me ask one question
To make my point clear
What’s she gonna wear? The thrift shop bargain bin shit she always does? What about her hair? Her jewelry? Her makeup?
Your point makes you sound like an asshole
That was never in dispute
I slam my phone down on my desk. I don’t know who I’m madder at, Dom for making the point about Mina’s clothes, me for not seeing it first, or Mina for…
What?
Why would I be mad at her?
It’s not her fault finances are tight. Her dad abandoned her. Her mom got sick. Mina’s doing everything she can to keep her family afloat.
Despite the logical side of my brain recognizing that truth, I still feel a great deal of agitation in her direction. I don’t like knowing she’s scrimping and saving. I don’t like knowing she lives in a cheap apartment surrounded by assholes. I don’t like her driving a shitty car. I don’t like her wearing thrift shop clothes. She deserves so much more.
For as wrong as Dom is, he’s also right. I can’t let her show up to the gala in anything she currently owns. She’ll stand out like a sore thumb. I already did that to her once at my birthday party. I won’t let her be humiliated again. A quick text to Aunt Maisie gets me the name of a reputable women’s clothing store that carries dresses of a certain quality. And then I call Mina.
“I was just thinking of you,” she says and the warmth in her voice goes straight to my dick.
“I’m pretty much always thinking of you,” I mumble, then swipe a hand over my mouth. Dom’s wrong about her. I know he is, because I know her. But I thought I knew Blossom and I promised myself I’d never let someone catch me off guard like that again.
But Mina’s not like that. She’s not keeping things from me. And I can’t be a jaded fuck the rest of my life.
“I’m taking you shopping tonight,” I say with a smile.
There’s a long pause and then, “Shopping?”
“You need a dress for the gala.”
“I have dresses.”
“Not like this. There are certain expectations about presentation at these things.”
“And you don’t want me to let you down.”
Why does it sound like she’s offended?
“No, dammit. I don’t want to let you down. I want you to feel like you belong there.”
“Nathan…” Again with the pregnant pause, the silence too heavy for a fucking shopping trip. “I’m not comfortable with you spending money on me.”
“Let me do this for you.” I close my eyes. “I want to do this for you.”
The admission drips with meaning. I want to take care of her. I want to make her feel beautiful. I want to shove Dom’s words in his face. I want Mina to be as good and true and honest as she seems. I want her to step onto that stage and for everyone to gasp because they see how truly spectacular she really is. For once in her life, I want her to have more than enough.
Mina takes a breath and I brace for a fight. “Nothing too expensive.”
“No promises. I’ll pick you up at seven.”
I end the call just as an alert on my name comes in.
