Page 119 of The Replay

Dom gazes at me, letting me make up my mind. I press my lips and face my sister.

"Okay. Look," I say. "It's not a big deal. We're going to end this."

"I knew it!" She raises a triumphant hand. "You guys, I'm too smart for your attempts at discretion to be effective."

Dom chuckles. "Don't get too cocky. Lots of people have figured it out."

"Your friends, for example," Cora says. "After that hospital visit? Too easy."

"I just had to, okay?" I complain. "He was injured!"

"It's not Dom's friends or me that you have to be careful around." She pats Dom's arm like she's congratulating him for something, and I mock an offended look. "Some people are curious, but it's not been a big deal so far.So when you're ready to make things public, plan the reveal carefully, okay? Talk to HR, and make the most of the reveal to Mom and Dad."

Dom shakes his head. "We're not making anything public."

"He's not going to dinner or the game either," I add.

To do so is to make a claim about our future— the one we said we don't want. It would be going for the long, long term. Suddenly believing in forever, somehow, for the first time in my life, without the help of signatures on a paper which don't mean much at all anyway.

Only to risk a fallout the kind I've never expected with my parents. For if I tried this relationship with Dom, I would have to stay in Seattle, and prove they were right to doubt me from the start.

Cora steeples her hands. "Mom and Dad asked me about Dom's injury the other day."

"What?" I exclaim.

Dom's eyes turn heavy, but I don't get to wonder why. He crosses his arms and stares at Cora.

She gazes from him to me, back and forth a few times. "They— well, Mom asked if it was serious, and if he's going to be okay."

"Why did she want to know?" I ask. "I swear, if they're in any way mean about that, I have no qualms calling them out. I may not want them to know Dom and I are indulging in some casual fun, but I won't accept disrespect for either of us."

"I'm not sure why she wanted to know," Cora says. "But with everything coming up, you'll have a chance to respond however you like. Maybe she'll ask you during the hockey game. Maybe she'll keep an eye on you guys during the Partners' Party on Sunday. Later. Who knows."

Dom purses his lips.

Cora studies us. "Regardless, you'll have to figure out how you'll act in front of them, if you want them to act cordially while keeping this thing between you two private."

Dom and I exchange a look. Cora is helping… by giving us a warning.

The holiday season may rock us, between the Strike events, the hockey game, and my family trip.

I gulp. Way too many landmines to dodge. And I'm not sure if I'm ready to face a blowup.

Chapter 38

Dom

The Partners’ Party surrounds me, with its hundreds of guests spreading through a large park. The luncheon is themed after an old-school, Gatsby-esque event. It fits the venue well, with its large main building and expansive garden at the back.

It was a risk to host the party outside in the winter, but the team's prep paid off. Several heated tents cover the space strategically, to sprawl over the lawn between trees. Low bushes add to the landscape, the kind that would pop into colorful blooms in the summer, but stay deep green during the Christmas season. Colorful, handmade garlands hang from every surface. From what I hear, the kids who will benefit from this event made them all by hand.

Due to my crutches, I stay in the large center tent that holds the auction items. The lawn isn't my best friend while I have to use mobility aids, and there's enough room to chat around the paintings, antique books, and signed sports paraphernalia. There are some festive decorations here, too, hanging from the white edges of the canopy. Mistletoe, pine garlands, and children's drawings are the perfect accents to celebrate the holiday.

So far, the event seems like a success. I would congratulate Pen and Evie again, like we did at the start of the luncheon, but the group has moved on to other topics. My friends and their significant others, and even Saint's parents and twin sisters are here. The young girls run around with Sofi, Rafa's daughter, pulling balloons and ribbons behind them and watching them dance in the air.

Sofi's presence is a shock to us all. Most shocking of all, is that Rafa has a plus one with him.

"Mina!" Sofi calls her. "Look! Got one for you. It's your favorite color."