CHAPTER THIRTY SIX

Drastic Move

Love makes you do stupid things. I believe that now.

It was easy to find Dominic's grandparents' house, and I still couldn't believe I'd sneaked out in the middle of the night to come here.

My heart pounded as I stood outside the compound. It was beautiful and warm. Flowers lined the terrace, and the lights were still on.

I let out a breath and started towards the door. Alice had mentioned that her grandmother was easygoing and wouldn't mind me showing up this late.

Tomorrow felt so far away.

For most of my life, I'd always had to put in some effort to make people love me. My parents, my boyfriend. There was always something I had to do to feel wanted.

But with Dominic, it was different.

It just happened.

Every touch felt magical.

Every moment felt important.

When Mom handed me that letter, I thought it would be nothing more than a confession. Maybe an explanation for some of the things he'd done. I wasn't prepared for what I read.

I couldn't stop thinking about it.

And now, here I was, standing outside his grandparents' house in the middle of the night because waiting until morning felt impossible.

I pressed the doorbell and took a long breath.

Then I let it out and nervously ran my fingers through my hair.

Footsteps approached the door.

Here goes nothing.

The door creaked open, and my breath caught as a petite figure stepped out. An elderly woman with a lovely face stood before me. Her eyes scrutinized me before she adjusted her glasses.

“Who are you, child? Did you get lost?” she asked, glancing behind me.

I managed a small smile. “I'm Dominic's friend. I came to see—”

“Are you Catherine?” she cut in.

Dominic's grandmother ushered me inside after confirming I was Catherine. I kept wondering what was going through her head. She hadn't even told me whether Dominic was home or asleep.

She sat opposite me, her eyes glued to the book she was reading, as if having a stranger show up at her door in the middle of the night was the most normal thing in the world.

It was awkward. We sat there for over twenty minutes without saying a word.

“Do your parents know where you are? Did you tell them before you left?” she asked.

Suddenly, the couch had the most interesting colour I'd ever seen.

I had no idea how to explain that I'd sneaked out of the house with the help of her granddaughter.

“Dominic is asleep,” she continued. “He told me about you. I don't know why you've come here tonight, but if it's to vent your anger on him, you'll have to wait until tomorrow morning.”

She paused, closing her book.

“Dominic has been crying a lot.”

My heart sank.

“It's not my intention to make him sad. I just want to clear things between us.”

Our eyes met.

“You don't blame him?” she asked.

I shook my head. Dominic was already blaming himself enough for the both of us.

“That's not my intention. I'm older than him, but he's more responsible than I could ever be.”

His grandmother nodded.

“That's the problem with our family. We have a history of making a mess of things when it comes to matters of the heart.”

She stood and approached me.

“You're a beautiful girl, Catherine. Don't let temporary pity push you into making decisions you might regret later.”

I kept my voice steady, “I'm not doing anything because of pity.”

She just stood up.

“I'll show you to the guest room. Dominic will see you tomorrow.”

*

*

*

I fell onto the narrow bed and let out a loud groan. Dominic's grandmother didn't seem to like me very much. She'd hurried away after showing me to the room, leaving me alone with the old wooden furniture and the ticking clock on the wall.

The room smelled faintly of lavender and freshly washed sheets. A little bedside lamp cast a warm glow over the faded curtains, and somewhere outside, I could hear crickets chirping. The house had that old-fashioned charm, with wooden floors that creaked whenever someone walked past and framed family photographs lining the hallway.

Alice used to tell me how sweet her grandma was. I guess she just wasn't that way with me. Or maybe she couldn't stand seeing her grandson so upset, even though I wasn't the only one hurting.

I rolled onto my back and stared at the ceiling. The old clock kept ticking, reminding me of how late it was. I could hear the occasional creak from somewhere in the house, followed by the faint sound of the wind brushing against the windows.

I closed my eyes and tried to fall asleep, but sleep was the last thing on my mind. Dominic was somewhere in this house, probably sleeping just a few rooms away from me.

I wondered if he was really asleep. If he'd stopped crying. If he was thinking about me, too.

Maybe I could see him.

The thought crept into my mind, and I turned towards the door.

I knew I should probably stay where I was, but I'd come all this way. I couldn't spend the entire night inside here.

Before I could talk myself out of it, I was already at the door.

I pulled it open slowly, wincing when the old hinges let out a little squeak. I poked my head out and looked down the hallway. After making sure no one was around, I stepped outside.

I walked as quietly as I could. The last thing I needed was Dominic's grandmother catching me sneaking around her house in the middle of the night.

There were two bedrooms along the hallway before the living room. Dominic occupied one, and his grandmother occupied the other. At least, that was what I assumed.

But which one was his?

I studied both doors. They looked exactly the same, right down to the old brass handles. Nothing about either room suggested it belonged to a teenager. No shoes scattered outside.

What had I expected? A sign on the door that said Dominic's room?

I almost laughed at myself.

Maybe I should just go back to my room and sleep until morning. I could talk to him when the sun came up, like a normal person who hadn't travelled halfway in the middle of the night to see a boy.

I turned towards my room.

But my feet didn't move.

I took one drastic move and pushed open the door after mine.