19. Revealing The Truth

Camellia

“Need some help?”

I look up from my chopping board and see Nero approaching me with his hands in the pockets of his jeans. He’s wearing a coy, lopsided smirk and my stupid heart starts beating faster.

“You want to help me cook?” I ask, raising an eyebrow and he shrugs.

“I don’t mind. Morana and Aeron are keeping Nereo busy and it gives me an excuse to spend more time with you,” he says, leaning against the marble counter and crossing his arms. “So, put me to work, Lupina.”

“Okay, but don’t grumble when it’s too hard for you, Leonetti.” Somehow it feels natural to call him by his last name, and I wonder if it’s something I used to do a lot. “Peel those potatoes and carrots over there. I had a feeling that I needed to cook for an army tonight, so I started early.”

He chuckles and walks over to me and kisses my cheek before going to the sink to wash the vegetables. Somehow that feels natural, too.

“You invited my brothers?”

I nod. “I saw Orion earlier and asked him to join us.