Chapter Thirty one

Catherine's Pov

Dad’s face twisted in a full three sixty. I shifted my gaze from the unholy mess in the pot to him, and, weirdly, his expression was satisfying.

I love my parents, but sometimes I feel like they think the world revolves around them.

Mom jabbed Dad’s shoulder. “Babe, what’s wrong?” she asked, like the pasta she usually eats looked like this.

I joined in. “What’s wrong, Dad?”

He started sweating. “Nothing. I… uh…”

“Babe, you said it tasted good,” Mom pressed.

He swallowed nervously. “I did… I did eat it already.”

“Dad… eat it up.”

He shot me a pleading look. I shrugged and dumped the… monstrosity—not even worthy of the name pasta—back into the pot.

The kitchen lightened a little, but the heat was still brutal.

I fanned my face and glared at Mom. “Do you know how to cook, Mom?” I arched my brow.

She finally seemed to realize the disaster she’d unleashed and shifted uncomfortably.

“But you said it was okay,” she protested, hitting Dad’s chest. “How bad is it?”

She marched over to the pot and scooped up a spoonful, bringing it to her mouth.

“Babe, don’t!” Dad panicked.

She scoffed and bit down. I bit back a smile, watching in horror.

Dad froze. Time slowed.

Then came the scream.

“Babe!” Dad shouted.

Mom spat it out. “Water!”

I grabbed a glass and a bottle from the fridge, dumping it in. She chugged it down. Dad fanned her face frantically, muttering something about never letting her cook again.

“Seriously, I don’t care if you two are my parents, but clean up your mess. I’ll order something humans can actually eat.”

I marched out of the kitchen, grabbed my bag off the floor, and climbed the stairs to my room.

Time was ticking.

After placing an order for dinner, I stepped into the bathroom for a quick shower. The steam barely masked the lingering smoke from downstairs, but I didn’t care.

I grabbed a dress and took a steadying breath.

You got this, Catherine.

A blush crept across my cheeks. Dominic would be here soon. The thought sent an unfamiliar flutter through me, one I couldn’t quite tame.

I hadn’t even managed a proper talk with him earlier, despite promising I would. The principal hadn’t mentioned the event would be streamed, and I’d been too caught up to notice him until the fight broke out.

Dominic—fierce.

I had never seen him like that before.

The memory made my stomach twist. And now… he was on his way.

I got dressed and added a touch of mascara and lip gloss before heading back downstairs.

Mom was already setting the table.

Takeout had arrived, thankfully.

She frowned and let out a dramatic hiss.

I chuckled. “I ain’t your husband, Mom.”

Her eyes rolled, and she clattered the plates louder.

“I’m your mother, Catherine. You don’t get to talk to me like that just because I can’t cook. Can’t you see I’m trying?”

I nodded, realizing she really was putting in effort—even if the results were catastrophic.

“Sorry, Mom,” I said softly.

She let out a long sigh, the corners of her mouth twitching as if she was half annoyed, half relieved.

“When are your guests arriving?” Mom asked.

“Soon,” I murmured, already running upstairs to grab my phone.

It was almost seven, and they should be here.

I dialed, just as the doorbell rang. I ended the call, knowing it must be them.

I smoothed my dress and hurried back down.

“Welcome, my dear! You haven’t even come by to say hello,” Mom said, opening the door for Alice.

“I’m so sorry. School’s been hectic, and Catherine barely invites me over anymore,” Alice said, effortlessly shifting the blame.

I let my gaze wander, scanning the living room. Dominic wasn’t with her.

Alice caught my eyes and slowly shook her head.

He wasn’t coming.

I nodded and forced my feet toward the dining table.

He didn’t even bother coming.

“You should come over more, just like old times. Have a sleepover,” Mom insisted, already heading upstairs. “Let me go and call your father!”

Before she could return with her husband, I grabbed Alice’s wrist and dragged her outside.

The cool evening air hit my face.

Dad had been getting stricter lately—especially whenever my relationship came up. One wrong move and he’d start preaching about no dating until college, dragging Mom along with him.

I wasn’t ready for that tonight.

Not when Dominic hadn’t even shown up.

We stopped near the porch.

I crossed my arms. “You said Dominic would come.”

Alice sighed. “I know. He was supposed to.”

“Then where is he?” My voice cracked before I could stop it.

“When I got home…” she hesitated. “He was already gone.”

Gone.

Just like that.

I stared at the ground, my throat tightening.

“Gone where?” I whispered.

“To his grandma’s,” she said quietly. “He goes there whenever things don’t go the way he wants.”

My brows pulled together. “What do you mean?”

Alice shrugged. “A fight broke out between him and Patrick. They were teasing him about you and Asher… about you two getting back together.”

My heart dropped.

“Getting back together?” I repeated.

“Yeah,” she sighed. “Patrick wouldn’t let it go. Kept joking about it until Dominic snapped.”

I swallowed.

“So he just… left?”

“After the fight,” she nodded. “He went home. Packed his things and went to grandma’s.”

I pressed my lips together, guilt creeping in.

“The principal told me Asher’s dad paid a lot for him to be visible during the stream,” I said quietly. “I didn’t mean for Dominic to think we were getting back together.”

Alice sighed, folding her arms. “Dominic’s been closed off ever since Mom left.” She looked at me. “I don’t want your relationship with my brother to ruin what we have.”

My lips curved into a small laugh. “So if something happens… whose side are you taking?”

She shot me a glare.

“Don’t even think about breaking up with my brother.”

I raised my hands in surrender. “Okay, okay.”

Before I could say anything else, the door creaked open behind us.

“Catherine. Alice.” Mom’s voice floated out. “Dinner’s getting cold.”

We both turned.

She stood at the doorway with her arms folded, trying—and failing—not to look suspicious.

“Are you two planning to camp outside?” she added.

Alice cleared her throat. “No, ma’am.”

I forced a smile. “We’re coming.”

Mom gave us one last look before turning back inside.

“Let’s go.”

“Wait.” I grabbed her wrist. “I need to see Dominic. And you’re going to help me.”

Her eyes widened. “No.” She shook her head. “Your dad would murder me.”

I held her gaze.

The stare.

The one that always worked.

She shifted uncomfortably, then groaned. “Gosh, Catherine. Something is seriously wrong with you.”

She spun around and stormed back inside.

I watched her go, a slow smile spreading across my face.

“I’m coming for you, Dominic,” I whispered.