After dinner, Yasmine and Serana tidied up the dining area.

“Cleaning up” was a generous term, considering Serana was doing most of the

work.

Yasmine, who had grown up in an orphanage, may not have had the easiest

childhood, but she was never required to do chores like cooking, laundering, or

chopping wood. Once she left the orphanage, such tasks were even further from

her reality. Her hands were soft and beautiful, with slender, pale fingers.

Standing beside Serana at the sink, the most Yasmine would do was to wipe

down the already clean dishes. And she had this air about her, as if she had

done some monumental task that deserved high praise.

Enter title…

Serana wasn’t much of a talker. It seemed ever since Yasmine started dating

Boyd, Serana had become even quieter. The time they spent washing dishes

was particularly tough for her. The moment the last plate was dried, she let out a

sigh of relief and quickly said, “There’s nothing left to do now, Yasmine. You

should get on with your evening.”

Yasmine rinsed her hands under the faucet and watched Serana put away the

dishes. “I’ve always meant to say, you have a real knack for cooking and

cleaning,” she said.d2

Serana paused for a moment, then smiled at her. “I’m just curious about these

things, so I tend to pay more attention. Boyd isn’t too keen on eating out. If you

have the time, I could teach you a few of his favorite dishes.”

Yasmine chuckled and shook her head. “No time for that.”

After putting away the utensils, Serana turned and gave her a strained smile.

“They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. I’m sure Boyd would

be delighted if you cooked for him.”

“The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach?” Yasmine smirked, looking at

her. “Is that what you thought back then?”

Serana’s smile froze instantly. Her eyes locked with Yasmine’s for a few

seconds before she forced herself to look away, her grip tightening on the edge

of the countertop. “It seems like you’ve misunderstood something about us,”

Serana said softly.

Yasmine observed her for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter. “Why so

tense? Who did I misunderstand you with?” she teased.

Serana bit her lip, replying quietly, “Nothing…”

Noticing Serana’s trembling hand on the counter, Yasmine’s eyes sharpened.

the

only

thinking Serana’s smile was

comforting.

was lounging on the sofa, perusing the

a mature, reserved charm that struck

out her hand. Puzzled, he took her hand

“I wanted you to smell it, not

nice,” he

washed dishes. So you like the scent

beside him, his brow furrowing with

Washing dishes?”

withdrawing

work.”

drawer under the coffee table,

hand cream. He squeezed a generous

began to

of flowers filled the air.

kissed them again,

do that again,”

admiring her well-cared-for

nicely, I won’t make it difficult for

his head as he gently tugged at her

tonight?”

gave him a languid look. “Not going back until

paused, hand

hand away. “Of course. But until

things you’re thinking about are off

deepened at

his shoulder. “No

the coffee table. “What about

Yasmine cut him off

“Five days from now.”

“No.”

“Three days.”

“No.”

Boyd swept the books off the table, scooped Yasmine into

headed for the

tomorrow night, no

down on the bed and leaned over her, Yasmine

still here. Have you no

removed her hand.

embrace. “Then we’ll talk after she

to doing it under the watchful

joking, Boyd sat up

of bed. “I’m going

found that Boyd wasn’t in the

and stepped out, intending to

left yet, and Boyd was speaking with a

still have two years before graduation. You’re thinking about this too

he said.

think my major

silent for a moment before conceding, “If you’ve really

it’s up to you.”

a sigh of

caught the beginning of their conversation, but she had a

about what it entailed.

Yasmine emerged from the bedroom, Serana stood up from

lingering on her for a moment. “I’ve got homework.

and handed Yasmine a glass of water.

temperature.”

watching Serana pick up an orange peel from

and toss it in the trash. She

the way Bryson’s wife, Aliza, would

at home. She would cook

it was

she prepared the meal.

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