Chapter 678 Bella’s second day of college
Seeing both of them smiling, Dom raised his eyebrows as he walked in carrying two mugs of coffee. Steam curled up from the dark liquid, and the rich aroma filled the small living room. He handed one to his mother and the other to Hazel, his movements careful, like he was defusing a bomb.
"I don’t know how to make a perfect breakfast yet," he announced, stepping back and wiping his hands on his jeans. "So I ordered takeout. It should be here soon."
Kaelani took a sip of her coffee, her dark blue eyes watching him over the rim of the mug. "You should have learned cooking."
Dom shrugged, settling into the armchair across from them. "Mom, I’m almost good at everything I do. I didn’t learn cooking because I want to be imperfect." He glanced at Hazel, a smug smile playing on his lips. "Got to keep something mysterious."
Kaelani rolled her eyes so dramatically that Hazel had to bite her lip to keep from laughing. "You can learn unnecessary skills—" she gestured vaguely at his whole existence, "—but not cooking? Don’t you know food is the way to a woman’s heart?"
Dom’s smug expression faltered. His eyes widened, darting from his mother to Hazel and back again. His mouth opened, then closed, then opened again.
"Is that true?" he asked, his voice slightly higher than usual. He was looking specifically at Hazel.
Hazel met his gaze. Her lips curved, just slightly.
She nodded.
Dom’s face went through several expressions, surprise, hope, panic, determination, all in the span of three seconds.
He would learn cooking. He would. He’d buy cookbooks, watch tutorials, maybe even take a class. His jaw set. His eyes narrowed. He nodded once, decisively.
"I’ll learn," he said.
Kaelani looked at him. Her dark blue eyes were warm, knowing. She didn’t say anything. She just looked at Dominique meaningfully, and then her gaze drifted to Hazel.
Hazel was still looking at Dom. Her expression was soft, her lips slightly parted, her eyes fixed on his face like she was seeing something new. She didn’t notice Kaelani watching her. She didn’t notice anything but him.
Kaelani’s lips curved.
A spark appeared in her eyes. A small, quiet spark of something that looked like joy. She had been waiting for her son to bring someone home. She thought of the grand wedding she had dreamed of, the grandchildren she had hoped for.
And now Kaelani’s smile widened.
She was getting a daughter-in-law very soon. She could feel it.
She picked up her coffee, took a slow sip, and settled back against the couch, watching them both with quiet satisfaction.
Dom, oblivious to his mother’s thoughts, was still nodding to himself. "I’ll start today. Maybe tomorrow. Definitely by the end of the week."
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Next day. Bella’s second day of college.
Bella’s long brown hair fell in soft waves past her waist, catching the morning sunlight and turning it into strands of gold and chestnut. Her brown eyes were warm and luminous, framed by thick dark lashes that cast tiny shadows on her cheeks. Her skin was smooth and glowing, with a natural flush that needed no makeup. Her lips were full and pink, curved in a gentle, almost shy smile.
She was wearing a soft cream sweater that hung loosely off one shoulder, revealing the delicate line of her collarbone. The fabric was cozy, hugging her curves in a way that was effortless and unintentionally alluring. Her light-wash jeans hugged her hips and thighs, perfectly fitted, and her small gold hoops peeked out from beneath her waves of hair. She looked soft, warm, beautiful, completely unaware of how stunning she was.
Students turned to look at her as she passed. A group of guys near the fountain stopped mid-conversation, their eyes following her. A girl with pink hair whispered something to her friend, nodding in Bella’s direction. Even a professor walking briskly toward the science building did a double take.
Bella didn’t notice. She walked across campus with her head down, her cheeks burning, her heart pounding every time she caught a glimpse of Karl’s dark hair ahead of her. She couldn’t look at him. Couldn’t meet his eyes. Couldn’t even glance in his direction without remembering last night.
’Take me. Right here. I want to feel you tomorrow. When I walk across campus. When Karl looks at me.’
Her own words echoed in her mind, and she wanted to sink into the ground.
What had she been thinking? What had Leo done to her? He made her crazy, absolutely, completely, irrevocably crazy. One mention of another guy’s name, and he had turned into someone else. Dark, possessive and demanding and she had loved every second of it.
But now she felt very ashamed every time she looked at Karl.
She needed to get a grip.
"You okay?" Mira asked, walking beside her.
Bella nodded, forcing a smile. "I’m fine. Just tired."
"Second day nerves?"
"Something like that."
Mira smiled, understanding, and led them toward the library, where they needed to pick up books for the term. Karl followed, silent.
The library was old and grand, with tall arched windows and the smell of paper and dust. Mira navigated the shelves like she had been born there, pulling books and stacking them in Bella’s arms.
"You’re going to need these for the first week," Mira said. "The professor moves fast."
Bella nodded, adding another book to her stack.
Karl carried the heaviest ones, his arms full, his expression patient.
When they had everything, Mira led them to the science building, where Bella’s locker was located. The hallway was narrow, lined with identical metal doors. Students pushed past, laughing, talking, their voices echoing off the walls.
Bella found her locker, twisted the lock, and swung it open. She started loading her books, stacking them neatly.
"That’s the last one," Mira said, handing her a thick textbook on algorithms.
"Thanks." Bella slid it into place and closed the locker, turning the lock.
"Mira, who’s your friend?"
The voice came from behind her, smooth, casual, with an undercurrent of something that made Bella’s skin prickle.