When Hearts Heal

Chapter 30

I never thought my first official duty as a girlfriend would come so quickly. It had only been a few days since Dominic asked me to be his girlfriend, and now, I was planning his birthday. He was turning 27, and I wanted to make it memorable—especially since it was my first chance to show him just how much I cared.

But as I stood in the kitchen, staring at a half-made cake and the pile of ingredients spread across the counter, I began to feel the weight of my decision. What if it wasn’t good enough? What if he didn’t like it? I’d already overthought every detail, from the cake flavor to the type of candles.

Maya strolled into the kitchen, eyeing the chaotic scene with a smirk. “You look like you’re about to have a breakdown over cake batter.”

I groaned, dropping the whisk back into the bowl. “What if it’s too much? Or not enough? What if he thinks it’s weird that I’m going all out for his birthday this soon?”

Maya chuckled. “You’re putting way too much pressure on yourself. It’s his birthday, not an audition.”

“I know,” I said, exasperated. “But it’s our first one, and I want him to know how much he means to me without it being... I don’t know, overwhelming.”

She gave me a look, half-serious and half-amused. “Adeline, you’re his girlfriend now. I’m pretty sure he already knows you care. Besides, it’s his birthday—just make it fun.”

I took a deep breath and nodded. Maya was right. This wasn’t about proving anything. It was about making Dominic feel special.

Later that evening, I stood outside Dominic’s apartment, carrying the cake I’d managed to salvage after a few kitchen disasters. I was a bundle of nerves, but I had a feeling that today would be worth it. I knocked on the door, and when he opened it, his smile made my anxiety melt away.

“Happy birthday!” I said, holding up the cake awkwardly. “I, uh, made this for you. Don’t judge the presentation too harshly.”

Dominic laughed, his eyes lighting up as he took the cake from my hands. “You baked me a cake?”

“I tried,” I admitted sheepishly. “It’s not perfect, but I wanted to do something special for you.”

His smile softened, and he leaned down to kiss my cheek. “You didn’t have to go through all this trouble. But I love it. Thank you, Adeline.”

I felt my face flush, and I gave a small shrug. “Well, I’m your girlfriend now. It’s part of the job, right?”

He grinned, setting the cake down and pulling me into a hug. “You’re doing a great job so far.”

We spent the evening together, just the two of us, laughing over dinner and sharing stories about our childhood birthdays. It was simple, nothing extravagant, but it felt right. As we sat on his couch, candles flickering on the now half-eaten cake, I realized that it wasn’t about perfection. It was about moments like this—real and genuine.

As the night wound down, Dominic wrapped an arm around me, pulling me close. “Thank you for today. It’s been one of the best birthdays I’ve had in a long time."

I looked up at him, smiling. “I’m glad you liked it.”

He pressed a kiss to my forehead. “I more than liked it. I liked spending it with you.” Dominic shifted slightly, reaching for a small gift bag he had tucked away by the side table. I furrowed my brow in confusion.

"What's this?" I asked, glancing at him curiously.

He smiled, his eyes glinting with that playful charm I was quickly growing fond of. "Well, I know it’s my birthday, but I couldn’t let the day pass without giving you something, too."

I opened the bag and pulled out a delicate bracelet, a simple silver chain with a tiny heart charm. My breath caught in my throat.

“I wanted to give you something to remember today by,” he said softly, brushing a strand of hair from my face. “Something to remind you that I’m serious about us.”

Tears welled up, but I blinked them away, feeling a rush of emotion. “It’s perfect,” I whispered, leaning in to kiss him softly.

In that moment, I realized just how much we were building together—slowly, but surely.

As our lips met, the kiss was soft and unhurried, full of the unspoken promises we were both too nervous to say out loud. His hand rested gently on my cheek, his thumb brushing my skin, while I melted into the warmth of his touch. There was something different about this kiss—something more certain. It wasn’t just the thrill of new romance, but the comfort of knowing we were taking a step forward together. When we finally pulled away, his forehead rested against mine, and we shared a quiet moment, no words needed. The air between us felt lighter, like we’d crossed a threshold, and suddenly, I wasn’t afraid of what came next.

I stood at the door, lingering in the soft glow of his apartment lights as Dominic walked me out. I didn’t want the night to end, but it was getting late, and we both knew it was time to say goodnight. I turned to him, smiling softly. “Thank you for tonight. It was... perfect,” I said, feeling a warmth in my chest that I hadn’t felt in a long time.

He smiled back, that familiar glint in his eyes. “No, thank you. You made it perfect.”

I felt my cheeks flush as I leaned in for one last kiss, this one brief but full of affection. As I pulled away, I gave him a small wave, stepping out into the cool night air. “Goodnight, Dominic.”

“Goodnight, Adeline,” he replied, his voice soft but certain. I could feel his gaze on me as I walked to my car, a quiet promise lingering between us.

I don't why, but in this moment I felt content. And nothing could ever change that.