Chapter 30 This Doesnt Feel Fake Anymore
Amelia POV
Things felt... different.
I noticed it the next morning.
Not in a big dramatic way.
Just small things.
Quiet things.
The kind you don't realize at first.
Until you do.
I was in the kitchen making breakfast with Noah.
Or trying to.
Which mostly meant I was standing there while Noah watched very seriously like he was supervising me.
"You're doing it wrong," he said.
"I am not doing it wrong."
"You are."
I gasped.
"Excuse me. I am an excellent pancake maker."
He shook his head.
"No."
Rude.
I flipped the pancake anyway.
It landed slightly crooked.
We both stared at it.
"...That was intentional," I said.
"It wasn't."
Before I could defend myself, I felt it.
That feeling.
Someone watching.
I turned slightly.
Dominic was standing by the doorway.
Quiet.
Like he had been there for a while.
I didn't even hear him come in.
Which was unfair.
Because how does someone that tall move that quietly.
"Good morning," I said.
He nodded once.
"Morning."
His voice was softer than usual.
Or maybe I was just noticing it more.
Noah immediately ran to him.
"Dad."
Dominic rested a hand on his head briefly.
Small.
Simple.
But I noticed that too.
Then Noah pointed at me.
"Bad pancakes."
"Traitor," I whispered.
Dominic looked at the pan.
Then at me.
"They look fine."
I blinked.
"You're lying."
"I'm being polite."
I narrowed my eyes.
"That is still lying."
Something in his expression shifted.
Just slightly.
Like he was holding back a smile.
And now I noticed it.
Again.
Why do I keep noticing that.
I turned back to the stove quickly.
"I can make something else."
"No," he said.
I paused.
"They're fine."
That warm feeling again.
Annoying.
Very annoying.
Noah went back to the counter.
"Hungry."
"Yes," I said. "We are feeding you. Be patient."
"I am patient."
"You are not patient."
"I am."
"You just complained about pancakes."
"That's different."
I laughed softly.
And for a second everything felt... normal.
Simple.
Easy.
Then I felt it again.
Dominic's gaze.
I glanced at him.
He was watching me.
Not intense like before.
Not guarded.
Just... watching.
Like he was thinking.
And not saying it.
"Why are you looking at me like that," I asked before I could stop myself.
He didn't look away.
"You ask that a lot."
"Because you do it a lot."
A small pause.
Then he said,
"I'm trying to understand you."
My heart skipped.
"...That sounds slightly concerning."
"It's not."
"What have you figured out so far."
He didn't answer immediately.
Which made me nervous.
Then,
"You talk more than anyone I've met."
I gasped.
"That is not an insult."
"It wasn't meant to be."
"It felt like one."
A small pause.
Then quietly,
"You make things... lighter."
I froze.
Oh.
That was not what I expected.
At all.
"...Lighter?"
"Yes."
My chest felt weird.
Soft.
Warm.
Dangerous.
I looked away quickly.
"I think that's just because I talk too much."
"No."
Silence.
I didn't know what to do with that.
So I flipped another pancake.
It almost burned.
Great.
Focus Amelia.
Focus.
Noah suddenly climbed onto the stool next to me.
Then he grabbed my sleeve.
"Stay."
I looked down at him.
"I'm not going anywhere."
He nodded.
Satisfied.
Then leaned slightly against me.
Like it was the most natural thing in the world.
My heart melted again.
I looked up.
Dominic saw it.
Of course he did.
He always saw everything.
And this time...
He didn't look away.
Something passed between us.
Quiet.
Unspoken.
But there.
Then he stepped closer.
Not too close.
Just enough to reach the counter.
His arm brushed mine.
Light.
Accidental.
But it sent a small shock through me anyway.
This is ridiculous.
Why is this happening.
We both paused.
Just for a second.
Then continued like nothing happened.
Like that didn't just feel like something.
"You have a meeting today," I said quickly.
To fill the silence.
"Yes."
"You should go."
"I will."
"You're still standing here."
"I am."
I turned to him.
"...Why."
A small pause.
Then he said,
"I don't mind being here."
My heart.
Again.
I looked at him.
Really looked this time.
And something clicked.
This wasn't just fake anymore.
Not completely.
Not for me.
Maybe not for him either.
And that thought scared me a little.
Because this was supposed to be temporary.
Pretend.
Controlled.
But nothing about this felt controlled anymore.
Noah tugged my sleeve again.
"Eat."
"Yes," I said softly. "We're eating."
I handed him a plate.
Then glanced at Dominic.
"You should eat too."
"I will later."
"That means no."
"It means later."
I sighed.
"You're difficult."
"I've been told."
I smiled slightly.
"And yet here I am. Cooking for you."
Another almost smile.
There it was again.
And this time...
I didn't look away.