“What is this place?” I grip Dominic’s hand in my mittened one and look around at all the food stands, displays of merchandise, and decorations. So many decorations.
“It’s the Christmas market.” Dom lifts his hand to wave back to someone.
“Well, yeah. I mean, I know that’s what you said on the drive over.” I can’t stop looking around. “But I didn’t know it was like this.”
“You like it?”
I nod, noticing a whole bunch of people in line to get—I squint my eyes—apple cider mini donuts. “Holy shit. We need that.”
Dom chuckles, seeing where my eyes are focused. “The food is the reason I come. That and my mom would throw a fit if I didn’t.”
“Your mom is here?!” I nearly choke on my gasp.
Dominic looks down at me, a brow raised. “I know I told you that. Are you alright?”
Am I alright?
No. No, I’m not alright.
I nod my head again anyway.
Dom squeezes my hand, his fingers bare, apparently unaffected by the evening chill. “We’ve got a bunch of family here that will want to see you, but if you ever feel too crowded by them, just point to something you like, and everyone will fall over themselves to buy it for you.”
I look up at Dominic, letting him see my incredulous expression. “I’m not doing that.”
He smirks. “Figured as much. But that’s okay. I transferred some money into your account.”
I stop, making him stop with me. “You what?”
He tugs on my hand, forcing me to keep walking into the market. “I haven’t had time to get you your own credit card yet, but I will.”
“Dom, that’s not the problem.”
“Then what’s the problem, Shorty?”
My sigh is loud. “You don’t need to give me money. I have my own credit cards.” I lift my purse, shaking it for good measure. “With my own money.”
“Valentine, you’re my wife. I’ll give you whatever the fuck I want.”
Eyeing him, I let go of his hand so I can slip my phone out of my purse.
I feel like he probably did tell me that his family would be here, and maybe he mentioned his mom, but I was too stressed out to pay attention.
It’s not that I hate Christmas. I don’t.
Or rather, I don’t want to. But my brain won’t let go of bad memories long enough for me to enjoy the holiday in the present.
And I made such a shitty first impression on his mom at my birthday party… I almost cringe thinking of it.
Nearly breaking into tears at the table… Fucking her son in the bathroom… I’m sure she thinks I’m real classy. So I really can’t have another mental breakdown in front of her. And that’s what Christmas does to me, so this should be a ton of fucking fun.
I swallow down a self-pitying groan.
As my phone opens my banking app, I rub my fingers together inside my mitten, secretly loving the feeling of having a ring to wear again. Dom surprised me with it this morning, having brought it to a jeweler so now it’s resized to fit me perfectly.
My phone screen changes, the app opens, and I nearly throw up.
“Dominic!” I yank on his hand.
“What?” He halts, looking around before looking down at me.
I hold up my phone for him to see the same bank balance I see.
And then he rolls his eyes.
This motherfucker rolls his eyes at me like I’m the one being absurd.
I lift my phone higher so it’s even with his eyes. “You gave me eighty thousand dollars.”
He finally stops walking and turns to face me. “Yeah, Valentine, I gave you some money.”
“Some?” I nearly screech.
“Yeah. Some.” He snatches my phone out of my hand, drops it into his pocket, and grabs my hand again to start walking. “I told you; I’ll get you a card soon, then you can spend whatever you want. But this will hold you over until then.”
“Hold me over,” I repeat slowly. “This is more than most people make in a year, you… you… crazy man.”
“You’re welcome to spend it or hoard it however you want.”
“It’s…” I can’t even think of the right words to explain how insane this amount is. “Why eighty? Why not, like, two?”
“If you want two hundred grand, just say so. I just chose eighty because it was more than the seventy-five your dad gave you.”
My mouth opens, and I have to hurry to keep up as my arm stretches out between us.