Amelia's POVThere was a terse silence as Eddie did not respond to my statement. Instead, he stared at me until I began to feel so self-conscious that I could barely ignore the urge to cover my face with my hands. I leaned forward slightly as I called his name. "Eddie?"He blinked shortly and rapidly as though he was snapping out of a trance. He shook his head slowly, a wry smile on his face. "Oh, right, yeah. Sorry about that.""It's okay," I replied softly, still unable to believe that there I was, sitting primly with my hands clasped together and my legs also properly crossed in front of Eddie. Eddie, the guy that I had loved for several years. The man who had dumped me unceremoniously just because his parents had not approved of me and our relationship. Eddie, the man who had broken my heart into several small pieces, leaving it that small, damaged, and unrepairable mess that it currently was. As I looked at him, I could not help but remember how I had been in so much pain aft
Amelia's POVThe flickering flame from the stovetop danced on the nervous beads of sweat forming on Eddie's forehead. He held a spatula in one hand, the metal slightly warped from the heat, and a pan in the other, filled with a questionable brown concoction."Are you sure you have this under control, Eddie?" I asked, my voice laced with a hint of amusement and a touch of concern.He forced a smile, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Of course, babe. Just making your favorite, creamy garlic pasta."I raised an eyebrow, peering into the pan. It didn't resemble anything close to creamy garlic pasta. It was more of a brownish-black mess, with the distinct aroma of burnt garlic stinging my nostrils.A puff of smoke billowed out from the pan, causing the fire alarm to blare its piercing shriek. Eddie jumped back, dropping the spatula with a clatter.Oh, come on!" he exclaimed, throwing his hands up in the air in frustration.We scrambled to open windows and fan out the smoke, the blaring
Amelia's POVDespite the abundance of equipment, the pantry was surprisingly bare. There were a few cans of vegetables, some pasta, and a half-empty bag of cheese. My initial anxiety morphed into a determined challenge.With Chloe perched on a stool, swinging her legs and chattering excitedly, I set to work. I whipped up a simple yet delicious tomato and mozzarella pasta, using my knowledge of flavor profiles and improvisation to compensate for the limited ingredients.As the aroma of cooked pasta and melted cheese filled the air, Eddie and Chloe watched in fascination. By the time I presented the dish, their eyes were wide with anticipation.Chloe took one bite and her eyes lit up. "Wow, Amelia! This is yummy!"Eddie followed suit, his expression mirroring hers. "Amelia, this is incredible. Where did you learn to cook like this?"He smacked his head. "Stupid question. You're a chef!"Chloe giggled, still enthusiastically digging into the food.A warmth spread through me, fueled by th
Eddie's POVWe stood there in an uncomfortable silence, the clinking of dishes from the kitchen filling the air. I wanted to bridge the gap that was between us, to express how much I regretted everything, but the words wouldn't come. The fear of rejection, of pushing her further away, made me keep quiet.I wanted to apologize, to express my gratitude for her willingness to be a part of Chloe's life, yet the words seemed to get stuck in my throat."Thank you," I finally managed, the words tumbling out awkwardly. "For everything. For Chloe, for..." I trailed off, unable to find the words. Amelia met my gaze, her eyes filled with a mixture of understanding and maybe I was imagining it, but I thought I could also see the longing in her expression as she stared at me. We stood there for a while and without even thinking twice about it, I moved closer to her and slowly slid my arm around my waist. She breathed out softly as I drew her closer and planted my lips on hers...The kiss... it w
Eddie's POVWatching Amelia disappear into the dimly lit hallway, a wave of clashing, intense emotions washed over me.Disappointment was mixed with a flicker of hope, which had been brought on by the explosive kiss we had shared. I rubbed my fingers over my lips slightly, unable to get the memory of her lips, taste and smell off my mind.Stop acting like a pervert, I scolded myself as I tore my fingers off my lips and started the ignition.As I pulled away from the curb, my mind flashed back to a different time, a memory that had been long buried but then was suddenly brought up again by what had happened that night.I was back in college, the scent of freshly brewed coffee and warm pastries filling the air of the small bakery where Amelia proudly introduced me to her new part-time job. Her eyes sparkled as she described the intricate art of crafting artisan bread and whimsical pastries, her voice bubbling with infectious enthusiasm."Just imagine, Eddie," she'd said, her fingers tra
Eddie's POV"Thank you, Sarah. I truly appreciate it."After Chloe finished her snack, Sarah began packing her things up. "I should be getting back," she said. "Just let me know if you need anything else."I walked her to the door, expressing my gratitude once again. I walked back to the kitchen to see Chloe squirming and trying to get out of her high chair. "Woah, woah, woah. Where do you think you are going, young lady?"She looked at me, a guilty expression on her face. She then smiled cheekily and held out her arms to me. "Help me, daddy."I sighed and went over to her, carrying her off the seat and placing her on the ground. Once she was on the ground, she looked up at me with her arms crossed. "I'm too big to will be using baby chairs.""Still," I automatically corrected, earning me the stink eye from her. I sighed heavily. I knew that she was talking about her car seat and high chair. "Chloe, sweetheart. We've been through this over and over again. You're still four years
Amelia's POVThe house was dim as I unlocked the door and walked in. I gently shut the door close, not wanting to wake up Blaire just in case she was awake. I leaned against the door, and ran my fingers slightly over my lips. I groaned softly as I did so. I can't believe that Eddie kissed me, and I kissed him back! My mind replayed the scene on a loop, the warmth of his lips still lingering on mine, the unexpected spark that ignited with the contact. Part of me felt a thrill, a fluttering excitement I hadn't experienced in ages. But another part, the more logical one, clawed at me with guilt and worry.I sighed heavily and put my head in my hand. Everything is such a mess. Suddenly, a flicker of movement in the living room caught my eye. My heart hammered against my ribs as I strained to see through the dimness. A figure, silhouetted against the faint glow of the television, was sprawled on the couch.Amelia?"The unexpected voice shot through the quiet like a bolt of lightning, ca
Amelia's POV"I don't know," I confessed, frustration bubbling up in my chest. "Part of me wants to stick it to him, to quit and find another job. But then there's Mom, and I need the money desperately."Blaire nodded, understanding etched on her face. "I understand. It's a difficult situation with no easy solutions."Just then, I remembered that I had gotten two messages, but Blaire and I had gotten carried away with Eddie's message. I snatched my phone back from Blaire and checked the message.I deflated the moment I saw it. It was a message from Mom's hospital, reminding me of the bills I had to pay.My breath hitched as I saw the hospital reminder message staring back at me. It wasn't just a gentle nudge; it was a jarring slap of reality. The unpaid bills loomed over me like a dark storm cloud, threatening to engulf me in their financial load."Oh, Amelia," Blaire murmured sympathetically, as she leaned in and also saw the message. She reached out and squeezed my hand, offering si