SweaterVest Nation

“I know. Let’s not tell that story to my parents, okay? We’ll go with the eyes-locked-across-the-bar cliche. It’s very magical.” Dominic wraps himself around Carmine like he fits there, and looking pretty pleased with the position they’re in. “We can’t be tardy. Don’t get a boner,” he instructs, running his hand through Carmine’s hair before kissing him. “Okay, let’s go. The uber is down.” 

[at the dinner]

Dominic Sr. is an exact copy of his son id you add three decades to it. Helen Priestly is visibly younger and the more attractive of the two. Dominic has her eyes and most of her charm, which makes his face a lot more alluring than his father’s. 

They are already at the table when the boys arrive at the Four Seasons, and no one bothers to get up and offer a greeting.

“Darling, you’re late,” Helen mutters, looking at the other two with boredom. 

“We’re actually five minutes early,” Dominic says, kissing her cheek and shaking his father’s hand. “This is Carmine.” But the introduction doesn’t earn more than a hmm from his father’s side. “Lovely,” Dominic says dryly, pulling a chair for Carmine. 

“Can I be drinking a Manhattan?” Carmine asked “I sound so classy giving you the eyes while sipping one” Chuckling, he leaned up to kiss Dominic “Too late” he said “the second I saw you in that suit it was game over, but I’ll control it until we get back”

Despite Dominic saying that he was more worried about Carmine’s reaction than his parents Carmine still felt a little nervous. He wanted to make a good impression, because he was in this for as long as Dominic wanted him. 

Walking beside his boyfriend he smiled when he saw his parents and the resemblance was evident.

“Pleasure to meet you” Carmine smiled politely at Dominic’s mother  and then at Dominic’s father “Both of you”

Dominic wasn’t embellishing about the lack of warmth, but it didn’t throw Carmine off his game. 

The kiss is quick, but so needed. And to think this sweet guy had it in him to punch you in the gut when you playfully risked his scholarship. “I’m not worried about the impression you’ll make, idiot. My parents are snobs. They can be rude and unpleasant, and what if you see traits of me in them and decide this isn’t worth it?” God, it’s so sappy. Dominic makes a knot a little tighter than necessary, just to torture Carmine a bit and ease his nerves. “If this doesn’t go well, you can’t dump me for at least a week after. Okay? I have to have a chance to fix it.”

“Why would I ever introduce them to Martin? I’m allowed to play with whoever I want without supervision.” Dominic loops the tie of his choice around Carmine’s neck and starts tying the knot. “I’ve never introduced them to someone who’s close to me before. This is a big deal.”

What happens next is tacky and fluffy and Dominic is half-repulsed by his own behavior. 

[one week later]

“Okay. Okay,” Dominic tosses the tie and tries to match another to Carmine’s shirt. “Are you sure I don’t want to call Martin and force him to pretend to be you? It’s not too late to back out, I’ll understand.”

Dominic runs his thumbs over Carmine’s prominent cheeks, looking at the face that held nothing but sincerity. “You’re so weird.” He huffs and kisses the jock. “Fine. If you’re dropping the l-bombs, then you’re ready to meet my folks. I doubt they’ll like you and I’m sorry about the experience in advance.”

“Yeah, because I intruded,” Dominic says, adjusting himself better in Carmine’s lap. “I–” he sighs, kissing back. The feeling of being loved was so intoxicating Dominic’s IQ was drastically dropping. “But— I don’t know if I love you back,” he says, feeling a little bit sad but mostly too overwhelmed.

As much as Dominic wanted to bite back on the first clapback, he stayed silent, because Carmine’s impromptu speech had rendered him speechless. “That’s a ballsy statement to make. You haven’t even said me you loved me, or anything like that.” Under all the layers of money and rudeness, Dominic’s romantic heart skipped a beat. “Listen, if this turns out to be some stupid bet between you and your jocky boys, I will seriously get you expelled.”

“I’m going to assume that’s a cool comparison, since I’m not a nerd bitch like you.” Dominic pulls off Carmine’s neck, once he’s gotten it nice and kissed all over, to tare suspiciously at the other’s face. “You know, jocks are usually not big on commitment conversations. Are you defective, or something?”

“You’re a simple mortal. It’s beyond your abilities to restrain yourself in my presence.” Dominic growls, but doesn’t resist too much when he’s forced to be close to Carmine. In fact, he maybe returns the gesture of kissing Carmine’s neck. “I think this will be a cute college story to remember, but we clearly have an expiration date.”

“No, get off. We just fooled around like an hour ago. I need to study,” Dominic groans, shoving Carmine right off him and down on the floor. “Brave of you to assume I’m marriage material, though,” he snorts, picking up his study book again.

@townwithpep

Dominic smirks at Carmine, looking like an evil cat whose plan is going exactly as wanted. “Your mom called to thank me for the Christmas gift I sent her.” An overpriced, heavy labeled gift, of course. As were the rest of the gifts. Dominic wasn’t taking any chances by missing any Delgado family member. “Safe to say no one you bring home from now on will ever reach my level. Your future husband, or wife, is doomed.”