Dominique rode to the club with me the next night. I was going to take her back to my house, and she could leave from there if she wanted to. There was disappointment coming from Dominique several times while she had stayed with me. It was almost as if she wanted me to do something, but my promise was stronger than that. I opened her door and put my arm around her shoulders as we walked in. We walked in, and I sat at our usual table.
Dominique began setting up the system and ran some songs through it. We played, and I could tell Tim was watching Dominique all night. It was hard not to. She was so into the music when she played and sang. Dominique came and sat with me. As the songs played, Tim walked over and held his hand out to Dominique.
I watched as Dominique looked at him for a minute and then looked at his hand. She looked at me, but I didn't say anything. She took Tim's hand, and he led her onto the dance floor. I felt jealousy rear its ugly head. I had promised Dominique that I wouldn't push her on this. It didn't mean that I had to like that he was holding her close, and she had her head on his shoulder. I almost came out of my seat when his hand trailed down to her hip.
They were close enough that I could hear Dominique's heart speed up. I watched as Tim just stood there looking at Dominique. My heart clenched. He wasn't out of the game. He just wanted Dominique to feel bad for him, and then he could come swooping back in.
"I know I'm an asshole, Dom, and I have messed things up with you yet again. But the song said how I really feel, so I asked you to dance to it. I wanted to hold you close even if it is the last time. I'm sorry for everything. I have thought about everything for the past couple of days. I don't want to lose you again."
Dominique frowned and said, "You are so damn confusing. I just don't understand how you could get what you wanted and then walk away from it. I gave myself to you willingly. We were connected, even if it was just for a short time. I felt like we were actually getting somewhere. I told you before that I can't do this back and forth with you. I mean, honestly, what do you want from me, Tim?"
"I want you. I want all of you. I don't want to share you. I don't want to hear you say you are in love with someone else. I want you to choose me even though I can't ask that of you. I want you in my life, but I can't ask you to deal with the shit that happens in it because you wouldn't understand," Tim said as he pulled her closer.
"Make me understand then. You tell me things, you make me feel things for you I have pushed aside for a long time, and then you walk away. You say you want me in your life, but then you don't. You don't want me to love someone else, but you push me away right after telling me you love me. Who wants to deal with that when they can have something uncomplicated?"
"Do you really think being with Nathaniel is uncomplicated?" Tim asked.
"Yes. He doesn't make me choose. He doesn't confuse me by saying one thing and then doing another every time I'm around him. He is somewhat evasive about his life, but that's no different from you. Frankly, I am getting to the point that I just want to be left alone altogether. And then when one of you gets your shit together, you can come to talk to me. I will be here when you are ready to tell me everything. You told me once when I was ready to hear the truth, to come to talk to you. I thought that's what we were doing, but you still held back and then left. I want to hear the truth, every single detail of what I am missing. And if you can't actually do that, don't bother saying you are sorry or trying to get back into my good graces."
Dominique stepped back from Tim and walked to her office. I watched her walk away and was surprised. I had heard everything she said. She was ready to tell us both to get out of her life. I had to act fast. She stayed in her office until the end of the night. When it was time, she came out and made sure everyone left safely. Once she was done, I walked up to her.
"Are you ready to go home?" I asked.
"Yes. I'm ready to go home," Dominique said.
When we got back to my house, I got out and opened her door for her. She walked into the house and straight into the bedroom she had been staying in. She started gathering her things together. I walked into the bedroom and wrapped my arms around her. I pulled her against my chest and just held her for a minute. I knew she was ready to leave. I could feel her frustration, knowing it was because of Tim and me. I tightened my grip on her as she tried to pull away.
"Please don't go. I know you want to go home, and I told you I wouldn't stop you, but I want you to stay with me," I whispered.
"I can't. I feel like I can't breathe here. You and Tim are suffocating me. I'm tired of hearing excuses about why you two can't tell me about yourselves. I'm tired of being in the dark with no light at the end of the tunnel in sight," Dominique said as she turned in my arms and looked at me.
"I promised to tell you all about myself when the time was right."
"Which is never going to happen, apparently. I don't know when you think the right time will be, but you have already had too long to tell me. Six months is plenty of time for me to get to know you, the real you. I will tell you like I told Tim. Get your shit together and come talk to me. When you are ready to tell me everything, I will be here. Until then, I'm done."
My heart dropped. She was telling me goodbye. If I didn't tell her the truth about myself, then she wouldn't stay. All the other times, she had run from me when I had told her the truth. All the past lives had shown me not to move too fast. This go-round was different. She was telling me she was tired of waiting. This time had felt different from the start, but I think I may have waited long enough. According to Tim, Dominique did love me after all. That had been my whole plan. There was just a little more that I needed to show her in the dreams.