NOVEL NEXT Chapter 65: I like being with you both
Lucas had already settled into a comfortable routine with them. He stopped by after work, to keep his promise and together they cooked dinner. At first she didn't want him to as she still saw him as a guest. But him being even more stubborn than Rachel convinced her.
"You can't do this alone. I told you I will help you in whatever you want. " He grabbed her wrists when she turned to leave to the kitchen. "I can make dinner myself Lucas. You don't have to get so worried over this."
"Really do you think of me as such a bad chef. I can also cook you know. Wait do you still see me as a guest, an outsider." His voice came as a whisper. As much as she wanted to deny it, she can't help but laugh at his antics.
He is pouting. Seriously, he is even more childish than Rachel. Speaking of Rachel, she still didn't noticed him as she was too focused on her cartoon. "Okay you can come."
As they worked side by side in the kitchen without Rachel, who was busy helping Dora find the treasure, Lucas lightly bumped his shoulder against hers. "You're making it look easy," he teased.
She chuckled. "Don't get used to it." She got happy when he praised her but still kept a straight face. "Too late," he grinned. "I've already decided you're my personal chef."
It wasn't anything fancy.... just pasta and salad, but it felt right.
She rolled her eyes but couldn't help smiling. As they set the table together, there was an unspoken ease between them, a quiet joy that came from simply sharing these little moments.
The same evening, after the dinner, they went for a walk in the park near their home. Rachel gave the idea as she wanted to see the ducks here. She skipped ahead, her excited laughter filling the air as Lucas and Bella walked slowly behind her.
"This feels normal," Bella said softly. "Like we've always been here, doing this."
"It does," Lucas agreed, his voice thoughtful. "I like this. I like being with you both."
They walked in comfortable silence for a few more minutes before Rachel ran back to them. "Mom, Mr. Handsome, look! They are here." she exclaimed, pointing to a family of ducks in the pond.
"Can we feed them?" she asked eagerly. Lucas smiled and reached into his pocket. "I think I have some snacks left." He knelt down beside Rachel and handed her some bread crumbs.
Truth was he took some bread crumbs from the kitchen earlier when he found out they are going to see ducks. So thoughtful of him. "Here you go."
Watching him interact with Rachel made Bella's heart swell. She could see how much he cared, how naturally he slipped into this role, and it gave her a sense of peace she hadn't felt in a long time. She hoped their every Sunday went like this.