Page 43 of Light in Your Eyes (Romero Brothers #1)

I realize now that seeing Kellan happy is another level of happiness for me. I don't know why it's so important to me. Maybe it's because he has suffered a lot and because I always think that he deserves more in life.

I've been so absorbed in watching him enjoy his meal that I barely touch my food. I clear my throat, feeling embarrassed of myself.

While I'm eating quietly, he says, "You know, you didn't have to do that."

I look up from my plate and see him staring in my direction.

"You can cook any dish you want, and I will devour it nonetheless," he says. "I love your cooking, whatever it is."

His words melt my heart.

Kellan has been really nice nowadays, and sometimes it still catches me off guard because of the way he used to be when we first met.

"I wanted to," I say truthfully, and his eyes soften.

Kellan leans back in his chair, since he has already finished eating. A longing crosses his expression, and the question is already on the tip of my tongue.

"Did you and your family spend a lot of time on this patio?" I ask.

It feels unbelievable that I used to be scared of asking about his family because of the scar that never faded in his heart, but now we can approach the topic rather casually.

It makes me think that Kellan is indeed slowly healing.

He's not consistently angry anymore. He still is at times, but not unreasonable.

I hope he has realized that not all the vulnerable feelings he experiences are bad, just like when I ask him to dance in the rain. Losing his family is still a pain to him, but the memory of them is something that he should cherish rather than escape.

"Yes, we did spend a lot of time on this patio," Kellan finally says.

"During the day, we would have afternoon tea together.

My parents would ask us what we had learned that day.

Sometimes, Jaxon liked to show off the new martial arts move he recently mastered, and I would challenge him because I couldn't help being a cocky bastard.

My parents would watch us with amusement, sitting together exactly on the spot we're sitting now, while Inez would be busy making a necklace of flowers on the ground. "

I listen intently to his every word, not missing that his gray eyes light up while he's remembering the good times.

"My father was a busy man, but when we were here, he always made sure to focus on us," he says.

"Then later at night, when it was time for us to sleep, he would ask my mother to dance on this patio.

I caught them dancing a couple of times, but they were so lost in the moment that they didn't even notice me coming. "

I smile, enjoying his story.

"When I was a kid, I always thought that I would never ask a girl to dance because it looked too intimate," he says. "It wasn't cool in my eyes. It's too girly."

I raise my eyebrows skeptically. "It wasn't cool?"

He shakes his head. "No, it wasn't."

"It's too girly? "

"It was." He cocks an eyebrow. "I would have felt emasculated."

"Emasculated?" I pretend to gasp.

"Yes." Amusement glints in his eyes. "Should I spell it out for you?"

I laugh out loud, enjoying the bickering.

"My goodness," I say. "You asked me to dance once in your room. Did you forget about that?"

He squints at me, looking genuinely confused. "I'm not sure about that. As far as I remember, you were the one who asked me to dance with you."

Oh, God . We're not doing this right now.

I'm about to counter his statement, but then I realize that I'm not so sure anymore about what was our conversation at that time.

"It doesn't matter now." I lean forward over the table, resting my cheeks on my palms as I look at him playfully. "Ask me to dance."

Kellan licks his lips. Amusement becomes more visible in his expression. His eyes are smiling.

"Now?" he asks.

"Yeah."

"Without music?" he challenges.

I huff, tossing my phone onto the table. I search for the exact same song that was playing in his room when we did slow dancing before. Soon, the music fills the air, and I wait for him.

Kellan stands up from his chair and offers his hand to me. "May I?" he asks politely.

I can't hold my giggle. "My pleasure," I hum, letting him pull me up to my feet .

We settle into the basic position, and I tease, "So, you were saying...?"

He scoffs. "Come on. I was a boy back then."

I raise my eyebrows. "And now?"

"I'm a man." He pulls me closer by the waist, and I collide with his chest.

With my hand in his and the other one on his shoulder, we start to dance.

"You've learned that I'm a terrible dancer," Kellan speaks close to my ear, sending shivers down my spine. "I'm not going to warn you."

I laugh again, throwing my head back. "Don't worry. I won't let you fall."

We dance slowly. Just like last time, I guide him through the steps, and Kellan is already better than the last time we did this.

A contented smile curves on my lips. I rest my head on his chest, inhaling his masculine scent that brings me a sense of calmness.

We keep swaying. Just when I close my eyes, wondering if I can stay inside this bubble of happiness forever, I hear him whisper.

"But I already did."