Chapter 12 - THE DATE WITHOUT A BET
Their first real date lasted four hours.
Coffee became lunch.
Lunch became a walk along the river.
Dominic told Audrey about his childhood.
About his father.
About inheriting responsibilities he hadn't understood.
Audrey listened.
Then asked difficult questions.
He answered.
Sometimes slowly.
Sometimes painfully.
She didn't excuse his past.
And he didn't ask her to.
When they reached the river, Dominic stopped.
"Audrey."
She turned.
"I can't promise an easy life."
She smiled faintly.
"I didn't ask for one."
He swallowed.
"But I can promise I won't lie to you."
Audrey studied him.
"That's a start."
He nodded.
She stepped closer.
"And Dominic?"
"Yes?"
"If you ever try to solve my problems without asking, I'm leaving."
He smiled.
"Understood."
She laughed.
Then took his hand.
May you like
For the first time, Dominic Serrano felt that someone was choosing him without needing anything from him.
And for Audrey, that mattered more than any grand gesture.
