Chapter 31 I Think Im In Trouble
Dominic POV
I don't usually stay in the kitchen.
It's loud.
Unpredictable.
Too many people talking at once.
Too much... energy.
But lately, I've been there more.
Not for the food.
Not for the coffee.
For her.
Amelia.
I noticed it before I admitted it.
The way I stop in the doorway.
The way I don't leave.
The way I watch her like I'm trying to figure something out I already understand.
She was laughing again.
Something about pancakes.
Noah was beside her, arguing like he always did.
And she was smiling at him like it was the easiest thing in the world.
It's not.
Nothing about Noah has been easy.
Not after everything.
But with her...
He laughs more.
Talks more.
Stays closer.
And I see it.
Every time.
I shouldn't.
But I do.
I leaned against the wall slightly, arms crossed.
Ryan's voice pulled me out of my thoughts.
"You're staring again."
I didn't look at him.
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm not."
Ryan laughed quietly.
"This is getting embarrassing."
Sebastian stood nearby, calm as always.
He didn't say anything.
He didn't need to.
He saw it too.
Everyone did.
Except her.
Or maybe she didn't want to.
Ryan stepped closer.
"You like her."
"I don't."
"That was too fast."
"I don't."
Ryan grinned.
"You've never looked at anyone like that before."
That made me pause.
Because he wasn't wrong.
I haven't.
Not once.
Not like this.
Not like I do with her.
I exhaled slowly.
"She works here."
Ryan rolled his eyes.
"She lives here."
Silence.
That felt different.
Because that was true.
She wasn't temporary anymore.
Not really.
Not in the way I told myself at the beginning.
Ryan lowered his voice slightly.
"You're in trouble."
I didn't respond.
Because I knew.
I already knew.
Later that afternoon, I found her in the garden.
Alone.
Sitting on the low stone wall.
Talking to Noah.
Or more accurately, letting Noah explain something very serious about ants.
She was listening like it mattered.
Like it was important.
And that...
That was what made it different.
I walked closer.
She noticed me immediately.
"Hi."
Her voice was soft.
Lighter than usual.
"Hi."
Noah looked between us.
Then climbed down and ran off toward the grass.
"Ants," he said.
Of course.
We watched him for a second.
Then silence.
Not awkward.
Just quiet.
She looked at me.
"You've been staring at me a lot."
Direct.
I expected nothing less.
"I have not."
"You have."
"I haven't."
"You literally just did it."
I didn't respond.
She smiled slightly.
"I'm starting to think you're doing it on purpose."
"I'm not."
"Then why do you do it."
I paused.
Because this time...
I didn't have an easy answer.
She tilted her head slightly.
Waiting.
And I realized something.
I didn't want to lie.
Not to her.
"Because I'm trying to understand you."
She blinked.
"...That again."
"Yes."
She looked away for a second.
Then back at me.
"You're not very good at hiding things."
"I don't try to."
"That's worse."
A small pause.
Then she smiled again.
And something about it...
made something in my chest shift.
Without warning.
Without control.
I smiled.
It was small.
Unintentional.
But real.
And the moment it happened...
She froze.
Completely.
Her eyes widened slightly.
Like she had just seen something unbelievable.
"What."
Her voice was quiet.
Almost breathless.
"...You smiled."
I didn't realize I had.
Until she said it.
Her expression changed.
Soft.
Surprised.
Something else too.
Something I couldn't quite name.
"You have dimples," she said.
I looked at her.
She looked... awestruck.
Like it actually affected her.
"You should do that more," she continued softly.
"Smile."
Silence.
Then she laughed a little.
Shy this time.
Not her usual loud, chaotic laugh.
"I think I just fell a little more for you."
My chest tightened.
That was not something anyone had ever said to me like that.
Not casually.
Not honestly.
Not without expecting something in return.
But she didn't.
She just said it.
Like it was natural.
Like it slipped out.
Then she looked at me again.
Still smiling.
"You look really... good when you smile."
I didn't know how to respond to that.
So I didn't.
I just stood there.
Looking at her.
And realizing something I should have realized sooner.
This wasn't temporary anymore.
Not for me.
Not even close.
Noah ran back toward us.
"Amelia."
She looked down immediately.
"Yes?"
He grabbed her hand.
Like always.
And she let him.
Like always.
And I watched them.
Like always.
But this time...
It felt different.
Because now I knew.
Ryan was right.
I was in trouble.