Amelia's POVChloe's face lit up with a smile, and for a moment, the awkward encounter with Olivia and the tangled web of emotions between Eddie and me faded into the background. The sound of Chloe's happy chatter filled the car as we drove to the restaurant.My jaw slackened in surprise when we got to the restaurant. It looked very fancy and not like a regular pizza joint like I had imagined. The restaurant, nestled in a quaint corner of town, was the antithesis of the stereotypical pizza place. Exposed brick walls adorned with local artwork gave way to a warm, inviting interior. String lights twinkled overhead, casting a soft glow on the plush leather booths and sleek wooden tables. It had the air of a neighborhood hangout with a touch of upscale elegance. But the real magic happened in the open kitchen, which took center stage in the entire space.Separated from the dining area by a sleek, waist-high counter of polished concrete, the kitchen buzzed with an organized symphony. Glea
Amelia's POVAlex chuckled. "Always a classic. And for you two?"Eddie glanced at me, his lips twitching into a smile. "We'll take the same, I think."Alex raised an eyebrow at him, a playful smirk gracing his lips. "Sharing, are we? How domestic."Eddie rolled his eyes, but there was a hint of amusement in them. "Jealous?"The playful banter between Eddie and Alex put me at ease. It was clear they had a long and comfortable history, and their easy camaraderie felt strangely comforting in the wake of the earlier awkwardness with Olivia.After placing our order, we settled into a cozy booth in the corner. The server Alex had called over to take our orders rushed back into the kitchen.Alex presented Chloe with a basket of colorful crayons and a paper tablecloth. "Go crazy, little artist," he said, winking at her.While Chloe unleashed her artistic talents on the paper, the conversation flowed easily between Eddie and Alex. They reminisced about old times, exchanged jokes, and updated e
Amelia's POV"You know, a lot of our customers here are always looking for new and exciting dishes to try. Maybe you could whip up a special for the menu sometime?" He continued. The suggestion took me by surprise. Me, cooking for a fancy restaurant like this? It seemed like a dream, completely out of reach."Oh, I don't know," I mumbled, my voice laced with uncertainty. "I'm just a home cook, really. I doubt my recipes would be good enough for your clientele.""Don't sell yourself short, Amelia," Eddie said, his voice firm yet gentle. "You have a real talent for cooking. I have no doubt Alex's customers would love your food."Alex winked at me. "Besides, a little home-cooked magic is exactly what this place needs sometimes. What do you say? Up for the challenge?"I stared at him, my heart pounding in my chest. The idea was both terrifying and exhilarating. Could I really pull this off? Cook for a real restaurant, with paying customers? A wave of doubt washed over me, threatening to
Amelia's POVAs I slipped into my nightgown and crawled into bed, the events of the evening replayed in my mind like a movie on fast forward. The awkwardness with Olivia, the warmth of the restaurant, Alex's playful offer, the comfortable silence on the drive home – it all swirled together into a confusing cocktail of emotions.But most of all, it was the image of Eddie carrying me to bed that lingered in my thoughts. The way he looked at me when I woke up, the concern etched on his face, the warmth of his touch – it all sent a delicious flutter through my stomach.***The next morning, I woke up to my bed making a creaking noise, but I ignored it. The insistent bouncing on my mattress finally managed to pry open my eyelids. Sunlight streamed through the window, casting a warm glow across the room. I groaned, swatting at the air in a feeble attempt to silence the source of the annoyance.A giggle erupted right next to me, and I realized a mop of blonde hair was the culprit behind the
Amelia's POV"I should probably get going," he said abruptly, pushing himself away from the table. "I have some errands to run."Disappointment washed over me, a bitter aftertaste in my mouth."Oh," I mumbled, trying to hide the disappointment in my voice.I followed him as he walked into the living room. He picked up Chloe who was engrossed in the animation she was moving and kissed her cheek before saying, "Chloe, I have to go to the office for a while, but I'll be back soon."Chloe looks away from the animated movie she was watching and looks at her dad, her mouth in a pout. "But Daddy, today's Saturday and you promised you'd stay and help me build my dollhouse today.""Chloe…"A storm cloud seemed to gather over Chloe's face, her lower lip trembling ominously. "No, Daddy!" she shrieked, throwing her arms around Eddie's neck and burying her face in his chest. "You promised you'd build my dollhouse today! You can't go to work!"Eddie knelt down in front of her, his gentle demeanor
Amelia's POVThe next few minutes were a whirlwind of flour-dusted hands, playful giggles, and a growing cloud of white settling over the kitchen counter. Chloe, a little flour imp radiating from her nose, looked like a miniature baker gone rogue."Oops!" she exclaimed, her smile wide as she accidentally knocked over the sugar bowl, sending a cascade of sparkling crystals cascading onto the floor.Instead of getting frustrated, I found myself laughing. "Uh oh," I teased, "looks like we have a little sugar spill."Chloe, seeing that I was not angry with her and was laughing instead, scooped handfuls of flour and rained it down on me like a mischievous snow fairy. Soon, we were both covered in a white dusting, giggling uncontrollably.In the midst of the flour fight, something shifted within me. The tension that had been simmering since Eddie left seemed to dissipate, replaced by a sense of carefree joy. Here I was, covered in flour with a little girl who seemed to find endless amusemen
Amelia's POV"That's alright, sweetie," I said, gently tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "Maybe you and your mom haven't had the chance yet, but that doesn't mean it can't happen in the future. Maybe next time you see her, you can ask if the two of you can bake something together."Chloe looked up at me, a flicker of hope sparking in her eyes. "Really? You think she'd say yes?""Of course," I encouraged, forcing a smile. "I bet she'd love to spend some time with you in the kitchen. Just like moms and daughters do."Chloe's energy level soon began to wane. She slumped in her chair, her eyelids drooping. The playful chaos had taken its toll."Tired, sweetie?" I asked, gently stroking her hair.She nodded, a yawn escaping her lips. With a sigh, I gathered her into my arms and carried her to the living room, settling her on the couch with a stuffed animal.While she drifted off to sleep, I cleaned up the kitchen, the remnants of our baking adventure scattered across the count
Blair’s POVA grin stretched across my face as my phone buzzed. I just finished up at the hospital, making sure my patients were all settled and packing my things to go home, when a message popped up. It was from Thomas! "My baby," I mumbled to myself, unlocking my phone to see his message.His text sent a jolt of excitement through you. "Meet me at my place," it read. "We gotta nail those pre-wedding photos today," The butterflies in my stomach erupted into a full-on swarm. Marrying Thomas, the love of my life, felt closer than ever, and the idea of capturing those pre-wedding memories made my heart skip a beat.Thomas took some days off at work some days ago, explaining to the director that he had a wedding to plan and he needed some time to do so. Everyone in the hospital was aware of our relationship and without pressing further, the director gave him the permission to take some days off. Seeing his message at that moment made me wonder if he had bought his tuxedo for the weddi