29th November- Canary Islands, Spain
Dom’s beach house
Dom’s POV
After apologizing to Leon I left it at that for a couple of days offering to take Ava every couple of nights to give her a break and to spend as much time with my daughter as I could. Apologizing to Leon had helped a little bit but only enough to stop us arguing whenever we spoke to each other. I was sitting on the beach one day just thinking but nothing was coming to me. I was so frustrated that I couldn’t think of a single thing, we had family dinners, we all sat around and talked…well us more so then her. I had four weeks to do something and I was fucking stuck.
“Hey can I join you?” I looked up smiling at Elena as she sat next to me.
“Sorry lost in thought.”
“It’s okay, I figured as much.”
“You’re not here to tell me you’re leaving are you?” I said quietly but she smiled softly and shook her head.
“No, I love it here. It’s beautiful.”
“Yeah it is.”
“I keep forgetting to show you this.” I looked down at the camera she had passed me and I smiled as I took in the picture of me and Ava.
“When did you take this?” I asked quietly.
“The other night, I didn’t have the heart to wake you or move her.”
“Thank you.” She smiled at me and I frowned as I noticed her smile fall a little.
“What’s wrong?”
“Oh no nothing sorry just… thinking.” I raised an eyebrow.
“I know you better than that.” I pointed out and she sighed turning away.
“I wanted to ask you a question the other night but you fell asleep with Ava.”
“What?” I asked softly raising a hand to tuck a piece of hair behind her ear on instinct.
“Sorry old habits die hard.” I muttered pulling away as we stared at each other.
“I want to know why you asked me to stay.” Sighing I looked out to the water.
“To keep you safe, because I feel guilty about putting you in this situation…” I named.
“Is that all?” I stopped and stared at her as she stared back evenly.
“I care about you Elena but I love her. I don’t want to put you in danger.”
“I know sorry I’m not trying to make this hard I just…”
“You just what?” I asked softly.
“I know I said I wouldn’t do this but I can’t help it. Watching things between you and Letty it makes me think there might be a chance for us yet…” I was quiet and she turned away.
“Elena I…” I paused not really sure what to say.
“I just need to know if things between you and Letty don’t work out, is there any chance for us?”
“I don’t know…” I answered truthfully and she nodded leaning forward placing a kiss on my cheek resting her head on my shoulder for a moment.
“I’m sorry I just had to know.” She whispered before pulling away and leaving me alone again.
Sighing I stood too and headed for my car to drive to Mia’s.
Mia and Brian's beach house
“Mia?” I called as I walked into the house.
“Kitchen.” I walked through the house and into the kitchen finding Mia putting the last of the dishes away.
“Morning.” She said as I kissed her cheek.
“Morning.” I said sadly and she looked at me.
“Here to talk?” I smiled loving how she read my mind.
“Where’s Brian?”
“With Alexis, they ran to the store for a bit.” I nodded and took a seat on the bar stool waiting for her to do the same.
“I was just talking with Elena…” she raised an eyebrow and nodded so I continued.
“She asked me if there was any chance for us to be together if things between Letty and I didn’t work out.”
“Is there?”
“I don’t know. I care for Elena and I love Letty… it’s just things aren’t working out.”
“Dom you can’t rush it. As for Elena I thought you said you’d put an end to things.”
“I did.” She looked at me thoughtfully.
“Don’t get me wrong I like Elena but if you and Letty can’t work things out can you see yourself with her for the rest of your life?” Thinking about it I bit my lip.
“I used to think about it before I found out about Letty.”
“And?”
“Yeah I guess I could. I told her over time I would have fallen for her.”
“I think you already have.”
“No I haven’t.” I said quickly.
“Then why ask her to stay?”
“Because I want her safe and I feel bad for putting her in this situation.” I said firmly.
“But you didn’t ask anyone else and you put everyone in this situation back in Rio.” I shook my head and she sighed.
“Okay fine, if you’re sure.”
“I’m sure.” I stated and she nodded.
“I miss Letty, I love her Mia. I’d do anything to have her back in my arms.” I said sadly.
“I know that Dom but the question is how much? How much are you willing to fight for her and Ava, you know nothing about her anymore. You fell in love with the ‘old’ Letty and you’re in love with this Elena-“ I shook my head madly.
“Don’t say that…I’m not in love with her.” I stressed and she smiled sadly.
“Right sorry I forgot…” I rolled my eyes but let her comment slide.
“What do I do then Mi?” I begged.
“Just go with your heart Dom, learnt to trust it again. I know patience isn’t your strong point but at least give it a try. She’s obviously been through a lot and lets face you were horrible right after you were released from prison. Take your time and just let her guide you.” I nodded and kissed her on the cheek again before leaving. Maybe a long drive would help me clear my head.
I drove to the nearest lookout point and sat on the hood of my car looking out at the view in front of me. It was beautiful and it made me think of the nights I spent in LA with Letty at the beach. That was our place away from everything, it was where we ended up after our first date and the second. What I wouldn’t give to go back and relive those moments before I went and started ruining things. We were so good back then; the cheating hadn’t started until I was released from prison. That place had ruined me. There were so many things that I wished I could forget about that place. Pausing I thought about it for a moment, would she be willing to come out here with me? No probably not, not yet anyway. Sighing I pushed the thought away and instead focused what I was going to do. I wanted to patch things up with Letty it didn’t matter to me what she’d been through anymore I just wanted a chance to fix things.
If that didn’t work however could I have a future with Elena? Did I even want a future with Elena? Ava was going to be a big part of my life and I knew how much Letty hated Elena so I had to think about what was best for Ava. No Elena and I were done, I was sure of it. I wanted and needed Letty and I wasn’t going to give up until I had her again.
Taking an impromptu stop I stopped by a take away place on my way back to hers to grab lunch even going as far to include Leon hoping they hadn’t eaten. Paying for the food I made my way past a shop window on the way back to my car when a stuffed pink puppy caught my eye. Smiling I walked in and I paid for it as well before walking out of the store and back to my car.
“Hey.” I said quietly as Letty answered the door. She half smiled letting me pass and I stepped in looking around for Ava.
“She’s in the lounge room.” I smiled in thanks and walked into the next room seeing Ava sitting on the floor playing with blocks. I placed the bag down on the table before I sat down on the floor behind Ava waiting for her to turn and when she did turn around she let out a smile and a loud giggle as she crawled over onto my lap. Placing kisses all over her face listening to her giggle I held up the dog so she could see and I was thrilled when she let out a loud squeal taking the toy and cuddling it close.
“Say thank you daddy.” Letty said quietly as we listened to Ava babble to the dog cuddling it and placing kisses on it.
“You didn’t have to do that.” Letty said and I nodded my head.
“I know but I wanted to.”
“Well she loves it by the looks of things.” I nodded smiling as I held Ava close.
“I got you something too. Have you eaten?” I asked as I smiled at Ava as she held up the dog.
“No.”
“I got Chinese if you’re hungry.” She was silent for a moment as we studied one another but then she nodded.
“Thanks, again you didn’t have to.” I shrugged.
“I got Leon some too, is he here?” I asked quietly.
“No he went sight-seeing, I didn’t want to go.” I nodded.
“I’ll put it in the fridge then.” She nodded as I stood setting Ava back down on the floor for a moment while I went to stick Leon’s away. Coming back I picked up Letty’s handing it to her and as well as a set of chopsticks before grabbing mine sitting down on the floor leaning back against the lounge.
“Thank you.” I heard faintly as I opened my box. I paused and looked up beside me where Letty was sitting on the lounge.
“No problem.” I returned her small smile and felt a little pleased with myself for getting something right. We didn’t speak we just ate and watched Ava play with the blocks, the pink dog never leaving her grasp.
“Are you going to Mia’s at all today?” she asked suddenly and I looked over at her.
“I was there for a bit this morning, I might go over later to see Brian and Alexis. Why is there something you need?”
“No I was just wondering.” I nodded and turned away again as Ava crawled over dragging the dog with her.
“Hello princess what are you doing?” I asked as she looked at me with interest.
“She wants your food.” I laughed a little at Letty’s words.
“Can she eat it?”
“Never given it to her.”
“Has she got lunch, I can feed her while you’re eating.” I asked placing mine on the table out of her reach as I pulled her into my lap.
“Yeah it’s just a jar of baby food in the cupboard.” I nodded and stood up bringing Ava with me as I walked into the kitchen.
“BAH!”
“Yes baby I know, just wait one minute.” I said as I placed her into the high chair. I started feeding her making sure I wasn’t taking too long so she didn’t take the spoon. A habit of hers I found out.
“I’ll finish so you can eat.” Letty said and I handed the food over to her taking my lunch.
We were silent again Ava the only one talking and making noises. Finishing my lunch I stood and packed up all the rubbish placing it in the bin. Rubbing the back of my neck I watched as Letty cleaned up Ava placing her on the floor again handing her the pink dog from the table. I hadn’t even realized she brought it out.
“I should probably head off.” I said quietly and she looked over at me confused for a moment before it vanished.
“Okay.”
“Can I come by tomorrow?” I asked quietly and she nodded.
“Why ask now, you’ve always just come over.”
“I thought maybe I should ask from now on.” I smiled a little at the surprised look on her face.
“Well…okay then.” Reaching down I picked up Ava giving her a kiss and a hug. She showed me the dog and I smiled.
“It’s very pretty, daddy’s glad you like it.”
“Say thank you daddy.” She scrunched up her face at Letty’s words and I laughed giving her another kiss before placing her back down on the floor to play.
“I’ll see you later.” I said quietly looking at Letty sending her a small smile before letting myself out.
‘Well that went better than expected.’
Letty’s POV
To say I was shocked would have been an understatement; never in a million years did I think Dom would ask permission to come over out of the blue after coming over constantly unannounced. And lunch…that was certainly unexpected, Ava’s present... I frowned he still needed to ask Elena to leave, it didn’t take a genius to work out he ‘cared’ for her more then he realized. It was just a waiting game on my end to see when or if he realized what needed to happen and who he would choose and then it would all come down to me.