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The next day, I asked Dominic out for breakfast.
Having breakfast with Dominic made half my day even better. We talked—well, mostly I talked, trying to find out more about her. She avoided some questions while answering the ones she thought were worth it.
I saw how she relaxed more, how her face softened when she looked at me, and how her lips pulled into a playful smirk whenever I said something flirtatious. I was just having fun with her.
I needed fun after my breakup with my ex. Dominic made it easy for me to be myself, even though we'd only spent a short amount of time together.
She paid the bill, despite me wanting to pay since I was the one who'd asked her out. She didn't want to hear it.
As we walked across campus, I don't think Dominic noticed she was walking with me to my class. There was a silence between us, but not the awkward kind where you feel the need to fill it with conversation.
I slowed down and stopped outside my department building. People were coming and going. Dominic looked around, gripping the straps of her shoulder bag, and then realized how far she'd come with me.
"Shit," she muttered. "It's not like I was walking you to class or anything, so don't get the wrong idea. I just... wasn't paying attention."
"But you still followed me," I teased.
Dominic smiled—a cute smile. She had dimples that weren't too noticeable unless you were looking closely. I didn't want to leave her yet. I still had a few minutes before class started.
"By mistake," she threw out.
"You don't just follow someone by mistake."
"Well, I did," Dominic said.
"Sure," I laughed. "Anyway, how's the kitten doing? I'm going to the pet store after school. Maybe we can go together? To get some stuff?"
"You're taking that thing home, right?"
"See, about that..."
"Hell naw, it's not staying with me!"
"Well, my cat's super old, and she's not going to want to be bothered by a kitten."
Dominic shook her head. "I'll just throw it out."
"No, you can't do that!"
"It was a stray when you decided to play Captain Save-A-Kitten. It can go back to being a stray."
I made a hurt expression, holding my hand to my chest. "Have a little compassion, will you?"
"It's not staying with me."
"Please."
"No."
"Please, please, please," I begged. "I'll even take the kitten on the weekends. How's that sound?"
