1st February- Canary Islands, Spain
Dom’s beach house
Letty’s POV
“You’ve been quiet.” I looked up from my place in the sand as Leon sat down heavily next to me. I gave me a small smile before I turned back to the open water. It was just on sunset, everyone else was further up the beach drinking and talking as Dom and Brian manned the grill.
“I’m fine.”
“I’m calling bullshit, and if Lotty were here she’d be calling it too.” He snapped immediately and I sighed as I turned to face him.
“I’m trying to cope it’s just… this situation, it takes me back.” I finished in a whisper and he nodded in understanding.
“Have you spoken to Dom about this?” He asked and I nodded my head before resting my chin on top of my knees.
“But today’s been hectic.” I shrugged, blowing off the question.
“Yeah it has, but I also know he’d want to know.” I didn’t answer. Deep down I knew Leon was right about Dom.
“Anyway dinner’s ready, I offered to come and get you.” I nodded but didn’t move from my spot.
“Come on Let.” He pleaded quietly, his hand squeezing my arm softly in reassurance.
“Go, I just need more time.” He sighed but shook his head, not moving from his position.
“Leon go, Elena will be wondering where you are.” I whispered. Saying Elena’s name had gotten easier and it helped now that I knew she wasn’t still after Dom.
“She’ll be fine, she can handle herself.”
“Leon.” I muttered in annoyance but he just smirked and shrugged.
“I’m not leaving without you so if that means we sit here all night and miss dinner then so be it.” The silence that settled after his words was tense. I could feel my muscles begin to tense and tighten. Frustration and anger beginning to set in.
“I need you to go look after Ava.” I forced out, my hands pulling my legs closer to my body so I was folded into a tightly locked ball.
“Roman had her, besides Dom’s there looking over her.” He explained, his eyes never leaving my body but I refused to look his way.
“Leon.” I warned once more feeling the onset of tears about to flow. I needed to get away and just be alone for five minutes. Five minutes to calm down and sort my emotions out.
“Still not leaving. You think I don’t know what you’re doing? I’ve been here before, remember?” He spoke softly.
“I’ll be fine in five minutes I just… go please?” I pleaded softly, my eyes clenched tightly shut.
“If I leave it’ll be to go and get Dom.” I huffed, lifting my head to send a watery glare to Leon. His eyes softened slightly as he shifted closer.
“It’s different this time.”
“No it’s not.” I argued as I shook my head.
“Yes, yes it is. We’re all here Letty, we’re together. A family. None of us are leaving, we’re not splitting and he’s not going to leave you again.”
“Mexico was the same remember? We were there together, half a family but he still left then. Then there was the D.R, it was the same. We had Rico, Leo and Han, but he still left.” I bit out as the first tear escaped my eye.
“I thought you worked through this? You said you two were good, that the past had been laid to rest.” Leon sighed heavily.
“We did, we still are.” I muttered softly.
“Let this time’s different. We’re all different, we’ve grown up and learnt from past mistakes. That was something we hadn’t learnt back then.” I mulled over his words but said nothing. Leon was right, part of me knew that, but my fear was still there and I wasn’t sure it would ever leave. Dom knew that and it was something we were working at.
“Everything okay?” An all too deep familiar voice asked out of nowhere. Leon traded a glance with me before he stood but I didn’t move.
“Nothing your reassurance won’t fix.” I heard him whisper to Dom before he walked away.
Dom’s POV
I couldn’t help but watch the scene that was playing out in front of me. Dinner had been announced ready five minutes ago, Leon had offered to go and get Letty but they hadn’t returned. I knew it was stupid to worry, but it was the nagging feeling in the back of my mind that told me maybe I had a good reason.
Everyone was sitting around waiting for the food to be served and for the last two to join the table. Mia had Ava and Lexie settled in and Rosa had Nico sorted so it was just the adults getting fussy.
My eyes had met Elena’s and I could see the worry etched into her features. It took us less than two seconds to understand each other before both of us had stood and excused ourselves. Which had led us to this. Leon and Letty were sitting in the sand talking quietly. Leon was frowning and leaning in close whispering something while Letty held herself together.
Seeing them together like that made my heart pound and I knew with a quick glance at Elena she must have felt the same way. They had shared something neither of us had been a part of, and I guess that worked for Elena and I too. But seeing it laid out in front of me was hard to watch.
“Everything okay?” I hadn’t even known I’d walked the few meters that had separated us but until I was standing right above them. I watched as Leon gazed at Letty who barely returned the gaze before he stood. My eyes went straight to Leon’s and he gave me a small smile as he dusted himself off.
“Nothing your reassurance won’t fix.” He spoke lightly giving me a subtle nod in Letty’s direction. I got the hint and nodded back towards Elena silently. His eyes flew over my shoulder and his smile widened. Seeing that sight made my heart beat slower and my earlier fears fade.
I waited until he had walked a few steps away before I closed the distance between Letty and I.
“Reassurance huh? What’s wrong with my girl?” I asked softly as I made myself comfy behind her.
“Just the usual.” She whispered as she lay back against me. My arms immediately wrapped around her, pulling her close as I rested my chin on her shoulder.
“The usual could be a few things.” I spoke lightly and she nodded.
“True.”
“But I’m going to take a guess, is this about the situation? You’re afraid I’m going to leave again?” I asked and her silence confirmed it. I pulled her tighter, lowering my head to her neck so she could hear me better over the waves.
“I’m not leaving you again. I’ve made you that promise remember? I don’t want to leave you or Ava again, this thing with Hobbs hasn’t changed anything.” I whispered sincerely.
“I can’t make the fear go away.” She whispered and I held her tighter as I placed a kiss on her cheek.
“I know. Just like I can’t make the fear of you and Leon go away, but we can work on putting it behind us.” I offered and she nodded.
“I know and we are, it’s just gunna take some time. Time I thought we’d have before something like this went wrong.” She confessed quietly.
“I know, me too. Are you hungry?” I asked as I kissed her slightly damp cheek. A salty taste made me frown and I realized she must have been crying before I got here.
“A little.”
“Let’s go eat then.”
“Okay just give me a minute.” I said nothing, instead I used my strength to turn her body around so she was facing me. One of my hands tangled into her hair and held her in place while the other brushed her cheek.
“If you want a minute you can have it but I’m not going anywhere.” A soft shy smile made its way onto her face and I took the chance to place my lips gently on hers. Her lips were soft against mine and completely unhurried. After a few seconds our lips opened at the same time, our tongues meeting one another in a dance we had perfected years ago.