29th November- Canary Islands, Spain
Letty’s beach house
Letty’s POV
Sure enough the next day Dom was back over with lunch again and it made me jumpy and cautious because this wasn’t what I had meant by proving himself. Leon had given me a look and told me to be nice and go with it when I had mentioned it to him. Don’t get me wrong I had nothing against this as such it was just not what I needed. Though it did remind me of his more tender side, the one I knew when we first started dating.
“Can I take her for the night?”
“Depends…” I said quietly.
“On?”
“Is Elena going to be there?” He seemed to struggle for a moment.
“Does she really bother you that much?” I frowned and shook my head at his words.
“I’ll take that as a yes so no Dominic you can’t.”
“Hang on a second I never said she was, she’s at Mia’s. I was just asking a question.”
“You can have her only if she’s not there. I told you I don’t want Ava left alone with her.”
“Fuck Letty she won’t be geez.” I rolled my eyes at his words ignoring his comment.
I watched Ava who was cuddled up to Dom, her head on his shoulder. She was happily laying there staring into space sleepily as she played with the chain on his necklace.
“You can have her, I’ll pick her up tomorrow.” I said quietly.
“Thank you.” I nodded and that was the end of our conversation as I went to get a bag ready.
Leon’s POV
All afternoon I had been watching Letty as she wound herself up tighter and tighter withdrawing into herself on instinct and I sighed recognizing the signs as her walls went up around her. It was almost dinner time when she seemed to shut down almost completely and I knew what I had to do but I really didn’t want to.
“You seem tense.” I commented as I sat dinner down in front of her.
“I’m not.” She said quietly pushing dinner away as she stood pacing next to the window looking out at the beach. They’d been her first words since Dom had left with Ava and I watched her carefully. I couldn’t work out if it was Dom taking Ava for the night or the fact that she was worried Elena was there that had her riled up.
“Letty you need to eat.” I insisted as I took in her small frame pacing anxiously back and forth in front of the window.
“Later.” She said dismissing the thought.
“No now.” I snapped as she turned to glare at me and I sighed pushing away my own dinner coming to stand in front of her making her pause midstride. I watched as she raised her hand to push me away but I caught it easily and pulled her towards me holding her there tightly so she couldn’t escape.
“How about you tell me the real reason you’re so wound up?” I said gently as I felt her tense and rigid frame against me.
“Let go Leon.” She growled angrily but I shook my head holding her tightly not giving her the chance to get away.
“No.”
“Leon…”
“I’m not letting you go Letty.” I said firmly as she struggled.
“Why the fuck not?”
“I know you, I know what you’re doing and I can’t let you do it.”
“I’m not doing anything, I’m not hungry that’s all.” She yelled and I stared down at her evenly as she stopped struggling when she realized I wasn’t going to let her go.
“Let.” I warned and she leaned heavily against me suddenly.
“I’m not wound up.” She whispered her voice cracking as I stood there staring down at her.
“Yes you are, I know you remember I’ve seen it all before.” She didn’t say anything and I bit my lip following her stare that was still looking out at the beach.
“Fuck you Leon.” She whispered sadly as she started shaking and I smiled sadly at her.
“I don’t want to do this anymore then you do but you can’t bottle it up Let.” I said gently as her tears started flowing. Leading her into the lounge room I sat us both down as she curled into my side. It was a long silence that followed the only sounds where Letty’s cries as she finally let everything out.
“Is this about Elena?” I asked gently as she calmed down.
“No.”
“Really?” I asked not trusting her words but she stayed silent.
“Then what?” I asked softly as she turned her face to look at me.
“It wasn’t meant to feel like this.”
“What?” I asked need her to say the words.
“Being around him, seeing Ava with him, being around everyone…”
“He won’t chose her.” I stated quietly calling her out on the real reason.
“You don’t know that.” She whispered sadly.
“No you’re right I don’t know that for certain but I see the way he is with Ava, I see how he looks at you. He hasn’t been around Elena today she’s been at Mia’s, he’s been here with you instead.”
“That doesn’t mean anything.” I stayed silent for a moment not knowing what to say.
“I know you, I know why you do the things you do but Letty are you sure you’re ready for him to choose you?”
“What do you mean?” She said quietly.
“I know you still care for him and I know deep down you need him, but are you ready to be with him again?”
“I’m willing to be friends and to try and work towards something else.”
“So why aren’t you offering him friendship now?” I asked quietly.
“I don’t know…”
“I do.” I said softly and she sighed heavily nodding.
“I want to see him choose first.”
30th November- Canary Islands, Spain
Dom’s beach house
Letty’s POV
“Have you got any plans for today?” Dom asked as he sat with me and Ava on the beach outside his house for a change seeing as I had come to pick up Ava.
“No not really.”
“Would you like to stay for dinner? I’ll cook.”
“Dinner? Since when do you cook?” I asked lightly as I rolled a ball over to Ava who was sitting between Dom’s legs.
“For a while now, doesn’t compare to Mia’s though.”
“I can believe that.”
“So will you? Stay for dinner I mean, Leon can come too if you like.”
“Thanks but I think I should get her home.” I said quietly.
“It’s just dinner, I’m not asking for anything else Let. I just want more time with both of you.” I was silent as I thought about it.
“We’ll stay for dinner.” I said quietly thinking back to mine and Leon’s conversation last night.
“Thank you, I appreciate it Let.” I nodded and smiled as Ava used Dom as leverage to stand up looking around.
“I can’t wait till she starts walking.” He said quietly as he placed a kiss on her nose smiling as she giggled.
“You say that now.” I said smiling lightly at him.
“True, I’m sure it’ll be different once she starts.” We were silent again the only noise was the waves rolling in and the sound of Ava’s babbling.
“You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to but have you given anymore thought about leaving?” he asked me suddenly.
“I gave you till Ava’s birthday Dom.” He nodded and stared at me.
“I know it’s just… I don’t want you to leave, I want to be able to see you and Ava every day. I just don’t know how to make you stay.” He said sadly.
“I won’t tell you Dom, I need you to work it out on your own because it has to be your choice.”
“Choice?” I said nothing too afraid I had already given too much away.
“I’ll go and get Leon, can I leave her here while I’m gone?” I asked and he nodded still looking at me confused.
“Of course just promise you’ll come back.”
“We’ll be back.” I said as I stood dusting myself off walking back towards my own house. Leon was standing on the porch when I got there and he frowned when he saw I didn’t have Ava.
“Where’s Ava?”
“Dom’s, he invited us to dinner and I said yes.” I explained quietly and he nodded.
“Are you sure about this?” I paused but I nodded again.
“You’re right I do need to start giving him a chance to fix things, how can I do that if I keep pulling away?”
“I’m proud of you Let, I know how hard it is for you.” I smiled lightly.
“Come on he’s waiting.” He said as he locked up the house and we left heading back down the beach talking quietly.
Leon didn’t knock as he walked in and I had to shake my head at him as I followed behind him. Ava was happily playing on the floor in the lounge room with Dom as they sat there building a tower out of blocks. Looking around his house I noticed there were a few changes that hadn’t been here the last time I had been in. Toys were one of the changes as I caught sight of the small pile in the corner of the room.
“I went shopping for things for Ava seeing as she’s here quite a bit now and it saves you packing things every time she comes over.” He said quietly obviously catching what I was looking at.
“Oh.” I said quietly.
“I was thinking ravioli for dinner?”
“Is it Mia’s recipe?” Leon asked getting excited and Dom laughed a little and nodded.
“Then hell yes.” He said as he joined Ava on the floor as Dom got up to start making dinner. I was still standing awkwardly in the hall until Dom motioned for me to follow him into the kitchen.
“Are you okay?” He asked carefully and I nodded.
“Yeah I just….I don’t know what I was doing.” I said smiling slightly as he laughed quietly.
“Do you need a hand?” I asked watching as he started to set up.
“I’m meant to be cooking you dinner remember?” He said as he pointed to the chair next to me so I sat.
“Ava…what’s she going to eat?”
“Uh she can try some of it, see how she goes with it.” I said quietly.
“You’re right about the formula by the way, she hates the stuff. I forgot to tell you.” He said and I grinned.
“Yeah how did she go?”
“Well she went to sleep. Here.” I took the camera he offered me and looked at the picture of the two of them asleep on the bed and I couldn’t help but smile.
“I’m going to have to start weening her off soon, I can’t be everywhere at once.” We talked as he made dinner and we laughed with each other and for a moment I forgot who I was with. He seemed to notice my change in mood and stayed silent.
“Sorry.” I said quietly but he nodded.
“It’s okay.” But I could tell the way his voice lowered that it wasn’t and I sat quietly. I looked back down at the pictures on the camera and frowned.
“Who took these?” I asked and he paused looking away from me.
“Elena.” I closed my eyes and took a deep breath as I heard him utter her name.
“Letty I’m sorry I-“ He was interrupted when we heard someone come through the front door followed by talking. I sent Dom a look as I heard a particular voice and he looked surprised.
“Hey Dom we…Oh sorry did we interrupt something?” Rosa asked quietly.
“Um well…”
“No you’re fine.” I said staring straight ahead.
“Are you sure?” She asked uneasily.
“Yeah you’re fine.” Dom said sighing heavily.
“Do you mind if we stay the night here? We wanted to give Mia and Brian a break.” He looked at me for a moment but I turned away and he sighed.
“Yeah that’s fine Rosa. We’re having ravioli for dinner.” They must have gone into the lounge room after that because it was quiet as Dom and I stood quietly in the kitchen staring at one another.
“I’m sorry I had no idea.” He started but I shook my head cutting him off.
“Forget it.” I said coldly getting up with the intention of leaving the kitchen.
“Wait you’re not leaving are you?”
“I said we’d stay for dinner.” I stated as I left heading into the lounge only to come face to face with Elena on my way out. We both paused and the tension in the room doubled as we stared at each other. No one moved for a while as we both stared at each other silently sizing each other up. Glaring coldly at her I stepped to the side as I cast a cold look back at Dom as I walked away not wanting to cause a scene in front of Ava.
Dom’s POV
I was shocked when I heard the front door open and the voices of Elena and Rosa floated in. I swallowed hard as I saw Letty tense and stare straight ahead.
“Hey Dom we…Oh sorry did we interrupt something?” Rosa asked quietly.
“Um well…” I started unsure of how to say yes nicely.
“No you’re fine.” Letty interrupted still staring straight ahead. I glanced at her unsure of what she was playing at.
“Are you sure?” Rosa asked uneasily noticing the tension in the room. Sending Letty another look I sighed heavily nodding.
“Yeah you’re fine.” I said heavily sad that my plans for the night had been ruined.
“Do you mind if we stay the night here? We wanted to give Mia and Brian a break.” Again I glanced at Letty wondering what her reaction would be but I got nothing back as she turned away.
“Yeah that’s fine Rosa. We’re having ravioli for dinner.” I sighed and they nodded leaving the kitchen and going into the lounge room. It was silent in the kitchen after they left and Letty met my eyes as we stared at one another but unlike before her eyes where cold and I felt a sense of dread wash over me.
“I’m sorry I had no idea.” I started but I stopped as she shook her head at me.
“Forget it.” She stated coldly getting up with the intention of leaving the kitchen and I freaked wondering what she was going to do.
“Wait you’re not leaving are you?” I asked hurriedly.
“I said we’d stay for dinner.” I relaxed a little at her words as she turned again to leave but I froze as Elena suddenly came through the door stopping as she and Letty came face to face. I swallowed loudly as I felt the tension in the kitchen rise rapidly as they stood staring at one another.
Looking back and forth between the two nervously I caught sight of the glare she sent Elena before stepping to the side turning back to glance at me as I received her cold look before she disappeared.
Frowning I gazed at Elena as she stayed staring into thin air at the door frame where Letty had left her.
“Are you okay?” I asked quietly breaking into her thoughts and she nodded slightly stepping into the room fully. Elena stayed and helped me cook dinner neither one of us saying a word both lost in our own thoughts. Working side by side with Elena I felt devastated because the woman next to me wasn’t the one I wanted to be doing this with.
Letty’s beach house
Letty’s POV
Sure enough the next day Dom was back over with lunch again and it made me jumpy and cautious because this wasn’t what I had meant by proving himself. Leon had given me a look and told me to be nice and go with it when I had mentioned it to him. Don’t get me wrong I had nothing against this as such it was just not what I needed. Though it did remind me of his more tender side, the one I knew when we first started dating.
“Can I take her for the night?”
“Depends…” I said quietly.
“On?”
“Is Elena going to be there?” He seemed to struggle for a moment.
“Does she really bother you that much?” I frowned and shook my head at his words.
“I’ll take that as a yes so no Dominic you can’t.”
“Hang on a second I never said she was, she’s at Mia’s. I was just asking a question.”
“You can have her only if she’s not there. I told you I don’t want Ava left alone with her.”
“Fuck Letty she won’t be geez.” I rolled my eyes at his words ignoring his comment.
I watched Ava who was cuddled up to Dom, her head on his shoulder. She was happily laying there staring into space sleepily as she played with the chain on his necklace.
“You can have her, I’ll pick her up tomorrow.” I said quietly.
“Thank you.” I nodded and that was the end of our conversation as I went to get a bag ready.
Leon’s POV
All afternoon I had been watching Letty as she wound herself up tighter and tighter withdrawing into herself on instinct and I sighed recognizing the signs as her walls went up around her. It was almost dinner time when she seemed to shut down almost completely and I knew what I had to do but I really didn’t want to.
“You seem tense.” I commented as I sat dinner down in front of her.
“I’m not.” She said quietly pushing dinner away as she stood pacing next to the window looking out at the beach. They’d been her first words since Dom had left with Ava and I watched her carefully. I couldn’t work out if it was Dom taking Ava for the night or the fact that she was worried Elena was there that had her riled up.
“Letty you need to eat.” I insisted as I took in her small frame pacing anxiously back and forth in front of the window.
“Later.” She said dismissing the thought.
“No now.” I snapped as she turned to glare at me and I sighed pushing away my own dinner coming to stand in front of her making her pause midstride. I watched as she raised her hand to push me away but I caught it easily and pulled her towards me holding her there tightly so she couldn’t escape.
“How about you tell me the real reason you’re so wound up?” I said gently as I felt her tense and rigid frame against me.
“Let go Leon.” She growled angrily but I shook my head holding her tightly not giving her the chance to get away.
“No.”
“Leon…”
“I’m not letting you go Letty.” I said firmly as she struggled.
“Why the fuck not?”
“I know you, I know what you’re doing and I can’t let you do it.”
“I’m not doing anything, I’m not hungry that’s all.” She yelled and I stared down at her evenly as she stopped struggling when she realized I wasn’t going to let her go.
“Let.” I warned and she leaned heavily against me suddenly.
“I’m not wound up.” She whispered her voice cracking as I stood there staring down at her.
“Yes you are, I know you remember I’ve seen it all before.” She didn’t say anything and I bit my lip following her stare that was still looking out at the beach.
“Fuck you Leon.” She whispered sadly as she started shaking and I smiled sadly at her.
“I don’t want to do this anymore then you do but you can’t bottle it up Let.” I said gently as her tears started flowing. Leading her into the lounge room I sat us both down as she curled into my side. It was a long silence that followed the only sounds where Letty’s cries as she finally let everything out.
“Is this about Elena?” I asked gently as she calmed down.
“No.”
“Really?” I asked not trusting her words but she stayed silent.
“Then what?” I asked softly as she turned her face to look at me.
“It wasn’t meant to feel like this.”
“What?” I asked need her to say the words.
“Being around him, seeing Ava with him, being around everyone…”
“He won’t chose her.” I stated quietly calling her out on the real reason.
“You don’t know that.” She whispered sadly.
“No you’re right I don’t know that for certain but I see the way he is with Ava, I see how he looks at you. He hasn’t been around Elena today she’s been at Mia’s, he’s been here with you instead.”
“That doesn’t mean anything.” I stayed silent for a moment not knowing what to say.
“I know you, I know why you do the things you do but Letty are you sure you’re ready for him to choose you?”
“What do you mean?” She said quietly.
“I know you still care for him and I know deep down you need him, but are you ready to be with him again?”
“I’m willing to be friends and to try and work towards something else.”
“So why aren’t you offering him friendship now?” I asked quietly.
“I don’t know…”
“I do.” I said softly and she sighed heavily nodding.
“I want to see him choose first.”
30th November- Canary Islands, Spain
Dom’s beach house
Letty’s POV
“Have you got any plans for today?” Dom asked as he sat with me and Ava on the beach outside his house for a change seeing as I had come to pick up Ava.
“No not really.”
“Would you like to stay for dinner? I’ll cook.”
“Dinner? Since when do you cook?” I asked lightly as I rolled a ball over to Ava who was sitting between Dom’s legs.
“For a while now, doesn’t compare to Mia’s though.”
“I can believe that.”
“So will you? Stay for dinner I mean, Leon can come too if you like.”
“Thanks but I think I should get her home.” I said quietly.
“It’s just dinner, I’m not asking for anything else Let. I just want more time with both of you.” I was silent as I thought about it.
“We’ll stay for dinner.” I said quietly thinking back to mine and Leon’s conversation last night.
“Thank you, I appreciate it Let.” I nodded and smiled as Ava used Dom as leverage to stand up looking around.
“I can’t wait till she starts walking.” He said quietly as he placed a kiss on her nose smiling as she giggled.
“You say that now.” I said smiling lightly at him.
“True, I’m sure it’ll be different once she starts.” We were silent again the only noise was the waves rolling in and the sound of Ava’s babbling.
“You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to but have you given anymore thought about leaving?” he asked me suddenly.
“I gave you till Ava’s birthday Dom.” He nodded and stared at me.
“I know it’s just… I don’t want you to leave, I want to be able to see you and Ava every day. I just don’t know how to make you stay.” He said sadly.
“I won’t tell you Dom, I need you to work it out on your own because it has to be your choice.”
“Choice?” I said nothing too afraid I had already given too much away.
“I’ll go and get Leon, can I leave her here while I’m gone?” I asked and he nodded still looking at me confused.
“Of course just promise you’ll come back.”
“We’ll be back.” I said as I stood dusting myself off walking back towards my own house. Leon was standing on the porch when I got there and he frowned when he saw I didn’t have Ava.
“Where’s Ava?”
“Dom’s, he invited us to dinner and I said yes.” I explained quietly and he nodded.
“Are you sure about this?” I paused but I nodded again.
“You’re right I do need to start giving him a chance to fix things, how can I do that if I keep pulling away?”
“I’m proud of you Let, I know how hard it is for you.” I smiled lightly.
“Come on he’s waiting.” He said as he locked up the house and we left heading back down the beach talking quietly.
Leon didn’t knock as he walked in and I had to shake my head at him as I followed behind him. Ava was happily playing on the floor in the lounge room with Dom as they sat there building a tower out of blocks. Looking around his house I noticed there were a few changes that hadn’t been here the last time I had been in. Toys were one of the changes as I caught sight of the small pile in the corner of the room.
“I went shopping for things for Ava seeing as she’s here quite a bit now and it saves you packing things every time she comes over.” He said quietly obviously catching what I was looking at.
“Oh.” I said quietly.
“I was thinking ravioli for dinner?”
“Is it Mia’s recipe?” Leon asked getting excited and Dom laughed a little and nodded.
“Then hell yes.” He said as he joined Ava on the floor as Dom got up to start making dinner. I was still standing awkwardly in the hall until Dom motioned for me to follow him into the kitchen.
“Are you okay?” He asked carefully and I nodded.
“Yeah I just….I don’t know what I was doing.” I said smiling slightly as he laughed quietly.
“Do you need a hand?” I asked watching as he started to set up.
“I’m meant to be cooking you dinner remember?” He said as he pointed to the chair next to me so I sat.
“Ava…what’s she going to eat?”
“Uh she can try some of it, see how she goes with it.” I said quietly.
“You’re right about the formula by the way, she hates the stuff. I forgot to tell you.” He said and I grinned.
“Yeah how did she go?”
“Well she went to sleep. Here.” I took the camera he offered me and looked at the picture of the two of them asleep on the bed and I couldn’t help but smile.
“I’m going to have to start weening her off soon, I can’t be everywhere at once.” We talked as he made dinner and we laughed with each other and for a moment I forgot who I was with. He seemed to notice my change in mood and stayed silent.
“Sorry.” I said quietly but he nodded.
“It’s okay.” But I could tell the way his voice lowered that it wasn’t and I sat quietly. I looked back down at the pictures on the camera and frowned.
“Who took these?” I asked and he paused looking away from me.
“Elena.” I closed my eyes and took a deep breath as I heard him utter her name.
“Letty I’m sorry I-“ He was interrupted when we heard someone come through the front door followed by talking. I sent Dom a look as I heard a particular voice and he looked surprised.
“Hey Dom we…Oh sorry did we interrupt something?” Rosa asked quietly.
“Um well…”
“No you’re fine.” I said staring straight ahead.
“Are you sure?” She asked uneasily.
“Yeah you’re fine.” Dom said sighing heavily.
“Do you mind if we stay the night here? We wanted to give Mia and Brian a break.” He looked at me for a moment but I turned away and he sighed.
“Yeah that’s fine Rosa. We’re having ravioli for dinner.” They must have gone into the lounge room after that because it was quiet as Dom and I stood quietly in the kitchen staring at one another.
“I’m sorry I had no idea.” He started but I shook my head cutting him off.
“Forget it.” I said coldly getting up with the intention of leaving the kitchen.
“Wait you’re not leaving are you?”
“I said we’d stay for dinner.” I stated as I left heading into the lounge only to come face to face with Elena on my way out. We both paused and the tension in the room doubled as we stared at each other. No one moved for a while as we both stared at each other silently sizing each other up. Glaring coldly at her I stepped to the side as I cast a cold look back at Dom as I walked away not wanting to cause a scene in front of Ava.
Dom’s POV
I was shocked when I heard the front door open and the voices of Elena and Rosa floated in. I swallowed hard as I saw Letty tense and stare straight ahead.
“Hey Dom we…Oh sorry did we interrupt something?” Rosa asked quietly.
“Um well…” I started unsure of how to say yes nicely.
“No you’re fine.” Letty interrupted still staring straight ahead. I glanced at her unsure of what she was playing at.
“Are you sure?” Rosa asked uneasily noticing the tension in the room. Sending Letty another look I sighed heavily nodding.
“Yeah you’re fine.” I said heavily sad that my plans for the night had been ruined.
“Do you mind if we stay the night here? We wanted to give Mia and Brian a break.” Again I glanced at Letty wondering what her reaction would be but I got nothing back as she turned away.
“Yeah that’s fine Rosa. We’re having ravioli for dinner.” I sighed and they nodded leaving the kitchen and going into the lounge room. It was silent in the kitchen after they left and Letty met my eyes as we stared at one another but unlike before her eyes where cold and I felt a sense of dread wash over me.
“I’m sorry I had no idea.” I started but I stopped as she shook her head at me.
“Forget it.” She stated coldly getting up with the intention of leaving the kitchen and I freaked wondering what she was going to do.
“Wait you’re not leaving are you?” I asked hurriedly.
“I said we’d stay for dinner.” I relaxed a little at her words as she turned again to leave but I froze as Elena suddenly came through the door stopping as she and Letty came face to face. I swallowed loudly as I felt the tension in the kitchen rise rapidly as they stood staring at one another.
Looking back and forth between the two nervously I caught sight of the glare she sent Elena before stepping to the side turning back to glance at me as I received her cold look before she disappeared.
Frowning I gazed at Elena as she stayed staring into thin air at the door frame where Letty had left her.
“Are you okay?” I asked quietly breaking into her thoughts and she nodded slightly stepping into the room fully. Elena stayed and helped me cook dinner neither one of us saying a word both lost in our own thoughts. Working side by side with Elena I felt devastated because the woman next to me wasn’t the one I wanted to be doing this with.