Chapter 20Why Does Everyone Know?!
Amelia POV
Something felt wrong.
Very wrong.
The moment I walked into the kitchen the next morning, Clara and Sophie both looked at me with the exact same expression.
The kind of expression people have when they know something embarrassing about you.
My stomach immediately dropped.
"What?" I asked suspiciously.
Clara bit her lip.
Sophie looked like she was trying not to laugh.
I pointed at them.
"Why are you both looking at me like that?"
Clara slowly sat down at the island.
"Before we say anything..."
That was never a good start.
Sophie nodded.
"You have to promise you won't panic."
I stared at them.
"Oh no."
Clara sighed.
"So... Ryan knows."
My brain stopped.
"...knows what."
Sophie looked at the ceiling like she didn't want to be involved.
Clara pointed directly at me.
"He knows about last night."
My soul left my body.
"WHAT."
Clara raised her hands quickly.
"I didn't tell him!"
Sophie added immediately,
"He figured it out!"
I stared at both of them in horror.
"How do you FIGURE THAT OUT?!"
Clara groaned.
"Because apparently Dominic told them."
I grabbed the counter dramatically.
"Oh my god."
Sophie tried to comfort me.
"Technically Ryan guessed."
"THAT IS WORSE."
Clara looked apologetic.
"They were already teasing Dominic."
I slowly slid into the chair next to her.
"So now... Ryan knows."
Clara nodded.
"Yes."
"And Sebastian?"
Sophie gave a small shrug.
"...yes."
I covered my face with both hands.
"This is the worst day of my life."
Clara patted my shoulder.
"You walked into his bedroom."
"I KNOW."
"You stared."
"I DID NOT STARE."
Sophie coughed.
"You definitely stared."
I groaned loudly.
"I am never leaving this kitchen again."
Clara laughed.
"Oh relax."
"RELAX?"
I pointed at her.
"I accidentally saw my boss shirtless."
Sophie added helpfully,
"And told him he was wet."
I slowly lowered my head onto the counter.
"This is humiliating."
Clara laughed again.
"You should have seen your face when you ran into the kitchen."
"I was traumatized!"
Sophie leaned closer.
"To be fair..."
She lowered her voice slightly.
"...he does look very good."
I lifted my head immediately.
"I DID NOT SAY THAT."
Clara smirked.
"You didn't have to."
My face felt like it was on fire.
"I hate both of you."
Clara leaned back in the chair.
"Oh come on, it's funny."
"It's NOT funny."
Then a small voice spoke from behind us.
"It's funny."
We all turned.
Noah was standing near the doorway.
His small arms were wrapped around the stuffed dinosaur he carried everywhere.
His quiet eyes were watching us.
I immediately sat up.
"Noah!"
He walked closer slowly.
"You were laughing."
Clara smiled at him.
"We were talking."
Noah looked at me.
"You saw Dad."
Everything stopped.
My brain completely froze.
Clara choked.
Sophie covered her mouth.
I stared at Noah.
"...what."
He blinked calmly.
"You saw Dad."
My face went completely red.
"NOAH."
Clara was trying very hard not to laugh.
Sophie looked like she was going to fall off the chair.
"Noah," I said quickly.
"We are not talking about that."
He tilted his head slightly.
"But you said he was wet."
Clara lost it.
She started laughing so hard she nearly slid off the chair.
Sophie buried her face in her hands.
I wanted the ground to open and swallow me whole.
"Noah," I whispered desperately.
"You cannot repeat that."
He looked confused.
"But you said it."
"I know I said it!"
Clara was wheezing now.
"Oh my god this is even better."
I pointed at her.
"You are not helping!"
Noah climbed onto the chair next to me.
Then he looked completely serious.
"You were staring."
I nearly screamed.
"I WAS NOT STARING."
Clara slammed the table laughing.
Sophie whispered,
"Oh my god."
Noah hugged his dinosaur calmly.
"You looked at Dad."
I put my head on the counter again.
"I am moving to another country."
Clara wiped tears from her eyes.
"This is the best morning ever."
Then suddenly the kitchen became quiet.
Very quiet.
Too quiet.
Because someone had walked into the room.
I lifted my head slowly.
And immediately wished I hadn't.
Dominic was standing in the doorway.
Tall.
Calm.
Watching the entire scene.
My heart stopped.
Clara froze.
Sophie froze.
Noah looked completely normal.
Dominic's eyes moved across the room slowly.
First Clara.
Then Sophie.
Then me.
Still sitting at the counter.
Probably looking like a criminal who had just been caught.
Then Noah spoke again.
Completely innocent.
"Amelia saw you."
Clara covered her face immediately.
Sophie turned away.
I felt my soul leave my body for the second time in two minutes.
Dominic looked down at Noah.
"Did she."
Noah nodded seriously.
"You were wet."
Clara made a strangled noise.
I was going to die.
Dominic slowly lifted his gaze back to me.
And I swear there was the smallest hint of amusement in his eyes.
Just for a second.
Then he spoke calmly.
"Good morning."
I stared at him.
My brain had completely stopped working.
"Good morning," I said weakly.
Clara stood up quickly.
"Well."
She grabbed Sophie's arm.
"We should go."
Sophie nodded immediately.
"Yes. Definitely."
They walked out of the kitchen as fast as possible.
Leaving me alone.
With Dominic.
And Noah.
Noah looked between us.
Then smiled slightly.
"I like Amelia."
Dominic looked down at him.
Then back at me.
And for a moment something in his expression softened.
Just slightly.
Then he turned and walked toward the coffee machine like nothing strange had just happened.
Meanwhile I was still sitting at the counter wondering how my life had turned into this level of embarrassment.
Living in this house was going to destroy me.
I was absolutely sure of it.
And somehow...
Dominic Blackwood seemed to find that slightly entertaining.