The Tie That Binds: A Marriage of Convenience Novel

Dominic hugs me tightly and buries his face in my hair. I sigh and hug him back, patting his back gently.

I look at Daniel over Dominic’s shoulder. He looks stricken for a second before his eyes fill with resignation. He looks away, dismayed, and turns to walk to his bedroom.

I grab his wrist as he walks past us and he pauses, his eyes dropping to where I’m holding him. His stoic expression is back on his face, making it impossible for me to read him.

“Why don’t you go make a cup of tea for Nic?” I murmur. He hesitates and then nods at me. I lead Dominic to the sofa and he clings to me the entire way. He sinks down into the pillows and pulls me down with him. He hugs me tightly and rests his head on my shoulder.

Daniel looks at the two of us, and I see it clearly now. He’s jealous and insecure, but I don’t know how to make it better without letting Dominic down.

“What happened?” I ask, my voice soft. Dominic looks up at me with heartbreak in his eyes. “She just wasn’t the one for me. I tried so hard to make it work. I had to.. I had to try.” He looks at me with his heart in his eyes. Daniel puts down two teacups with much more force than required. He’s tense and I can tell he wants to walk away again but I tilt my head and indicate for him to sit down next to me. He hesitates before he sits down. I grab one of the teacups and hand it to Dominic.

“Have some. You’ll feel better.”

He takes it from me and glares at Daniel in between sips. “Why the fuck are you walking around half naked anyway? You did it at our house too, when Lucy and Alyssa were around. Don’t you think it’s inappropriate?”

Daniel inhales deeply and ignores Dominic. “I’m asking you a question, asshole.”

Dominic sits up, his tea sloshing over the edge. I take the cup from him and scowl at him. “Watch it,” I bite out. “I’ll kick you if you drop any on my sofa.”

Dominic looks at me in surprise. “Your sofa?”

I didn’t even realise what I said until he repeated it after me. “Fine. Daniel’s sofa. The sofa.”

Dominic kicks off his shoes and folds them underneath him. “We broke up because of you, Alyssa. She’s convinced I’m in love with you.”

I stare at his in disbelief. “That’s bullshit. I know she’s insecure but that’s taking it too far.”

Daniel tenses beside me and Dominic looks at me with an expression I know all too well. It’s guilt.

“Is it, though, Lyss? I started dating her shortly after you and I got drunk and you told me that you’re in love with me. I was terrified of what being in a relationship would mean for us and what might happen to our friendship if we dated and ended up breaking up. I felt like the only way to get over wanting you was by dating someone else. I guess she could always tell I wasn’t a hundred percent committed to her.”

I’m speechless. I would’ve loved to hear this before I married Daniel but it wouldn’t have mattered. I still would’ve had to marry Daniel, and in hindsight I’m glad I did. Dominic was right to worry about our friendship. A relationship between him and I never would’ve lasted, and we would have destroyed our friendship.

Daniel gets up and walks to his bedroom, not looking back at me even once. I want to chase after him and reassure him that this changes nothing. I can see his insecurity and I want to rush and take it away. I think back to when he asked me how long I’d been in love with Dominic, back when he took me out for dinner so I could escape going for dessert with Lucy and Dominic. I told him that I’d always loved Dominic. But now I know better. What I felt for him wasn’t romantic love. It doesn’t even come close to what I’m feeling for Daniel, and I already know I have yet to fall further for Daniel. I’m worried Daniel will distance himself from me now. That he’ll think Dominic and I are mutually in love and he’s the one standing between us. Nothing could be further from the truth.

“I don’t get it,” I say to Dominic. “You said you broke up with her? Why did you do that? Were her insecurities becoming too much?”

Dominic shakes his head and walks up to Daniel’s liquor cabin, raiding it for something strong. I frown. “Don’t you think you’ve had enough? You’ll be hanging like crazy tomorrow.”

Dominic takes a shot of whiskey and takes the bottle with him. He puts it on the coffee table and grabs my hand as he sits down.

“I broke up with her because I realised it wasn’t fair on her. It wasn’t fair of me to use her to get over the feelings I have for you. I know it’s months too late but I haven’t been able to think of anything but you, no matter what I did. I don’t want to put our friendship at risk, but I had to tell you. I need you to know I feel the same way.”

I take my hand out of his carefully and brush my hair with my fingers. “You’re not in love with me, Nic. Just like I wasn’t in love with you. We’re just used to each other. We’re comfortable with each other and out of that comfort came infatuation. It’s not love, and it’ll pass.”

Dominic shakes his head. “You can’t truly believe that. I know you feel the way I do, Alyssa. I’m sorry I didn’t realise it straight away. I’m sorry I made you wait for so long.”

I shake my head and get up, confused. “Where is this all coming from so suddenly? What’s gotten into you?”

Dominic jumps up and grabs my hands, a pleading look in his eyes. “It’s not sudden. I’ve known all along, but I just didn’t know what do.”

I shake my head. “What makes you think now is a good time? I’m married, Dominic. To your brother.”

“It isn’t a real marriage anyway, Lyss. Do you really think he’ll care if we date?”

I close my eyes and try to think of the best way to handle this. What do I even say to that? How can I make him see reason?

“Nic, I’m sorry your relationship with Lucy didn’t end up working out. I hardly think jumping into another one hours after ending your last relationship is a good idea, though. Besides, I won’t cheat on Daniel for as long as I’m married to him.”

Dominic looks at me in disbelief. “That’s bullshit. You might be faithful to him but he’ll never be faithful to you. Why waste those three years? Didn’t you see him in the tabloids with Giselle?”

I sigh, unwilling to get into this with Dominic. I’m not willing to listen to him tearing down my relationship with Daniel. I don’t even get to animosity between them. Dominic always looked up to Daniel. When did that change?

“I’m sorry you broke up with Lucy, Nic. But I’m proud of you for not stringing her along when you realised it wasn’t going to work out.”

He nods and looks away. I can tell he’s not ready to drop the topic, but I know we’re going to end up arguing with each other if I don’t end it now.

“Come on, let me help you to bed. You’ll feel like hell tomorrow if you don’t get some rest.”

He purses his lips and then lets me drag him along to my bedroom. I avert my eyes as he undresses and then tuck him into the sheets.

“Sleep with me tonight, Lyss. No funny business at all. Just like when we were kids.”

I sigh and lie down on top of the blankets while he’s underneath them. He stares at me until his eyes flutter closed and his breathing evens out.