When Hearts Heal

Chapter 33

I woke up slowly, the soft rays of morning light filtering through the curtains. As my senses gradually came into focus, I realized I was wrapped in Dominic’s arms, his steady breathing a comforting rhythm against my cheek. I froze for a moment, my heart fluttering at the unexpected closeness.

Dominic was still asleep, his face relaxed and serene. I couldn’t help but admire him—his strong yet gentle features, the way his hair fell across his forehead. The sight of him, so peaceful and unguarded, filled me with a profound sense of contentment.

I shifted slightly, careful not to wake him, and took a deep breath, savoring the warmth of his embrace. It was a beautiful, intimate moment, one that felt both comforting and exhilarating. I marveled at how natural it felt to be here with him, despite the whirlwind of emotions we’d both been through recently.

I reminded myself that we were taking things slowly, and I wanted to honor that. The closeness was a sign of our growing bond, but it was important to stay grounded and let our relationship develop at its own pace. As much as I cherished this morning and the tenderness of Dominic’s hold, I knew we needed to proceed with patience and care.

I shifted slightly, brushing a strand of hair from Dominic’s face, and smiled. The morning was still fresh, and the promise of the day ahead was filled with possibilities. For now, I was content to enjoy the simple joy of being in his arms, knowing that the journey we were on together was worth every step.

Eventually, I carefully eased myself out of his embrace not wanting to disturb his rest.

As I carefully slipped out of bed, I felt an all-too-familiar sensation. My heart dropped. No. Not now. Not this morning. I quickly glanced down and, sure enough, I’d started my period. Great timing, Adeline. Perfect.

A wave of embarrassment washed over me. The last thing I wanted was to deal with this right now, especially after the tender moment of waking up in Dominic’s arms. I tiptoed toward my bag, hoping I could handle the situation before he noticed anything. My mind raced with scenarios, each one more awkward than the last. I reached for my toiletries, trying to be as discreet as possible.

But just as I grabbed my things, I heard Dominic stir behind me.

“Morning,” his voice came, still thick with sleep. I froze, my back to him, suddenly feeling the heat rise to my cheeks.

“Morning,” I replied, trying to sound casual as I clutched my things tighter.

I heard the rustling of sheets as he sat up. “Everything okay?”

I turned slightly, avoiding eye contact as I forced a smile. “Yeah, just… I, uh, need to take care of something.”

His brow furrowed in sleepy confusion, and I could see the concern creeping into his eyes. “Are you sure? You look—”

“I’m fine!” I blurted out, a little too quickly. “I just—well, it’s kind of awkward timing.”

He blinked, then a slow grin spread across his face as understanding dawned. “Oh. That.”

I bit my lip, feeling my face flush with even more embarrassment. “Yes, that. I’ll be back in a minute.”

But instead of making me feel more awkward, Dominic just chuckled softly. “Adeline, it’s fine. It’s not a big deal.”

“Easy for you to say,” I muttered, still avoiding eye contact.

Dominic stood up, stretching, and walked over to me. His easygoing smile hadn’t left his face. “I promise you, it’s really not something to stress over.” He reached out, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. “It happens. No need to feel weird about it.”

His calmness and nonchalant attitude surprised me, but it also put me at ease. I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding and gave a small, embarrassed laugh. “I guess it’s just the timing. It’s kind of ruining the whole ‘waking up in your arms’ moment.”

Dominic laughed softly, stepping back. “Hey, I’m not going anywhere. We’ll have plenty of moments like that.” He winked and gestured toward the bathroom. “Take your time. I’ll make us some coffee.”

I couldn’t help but smile as I headed into the bathroom, feeling a little less mortified than I had a few minutes ago. As I closed the door behind me, I realized just how grateful I was for Dominic’s easygoing nature. Maybe this wasn’t the perfect morning I’d envisioned, but somehow, with him, even the awkward moments felt okay.

After a few minutes, I emerged from the bathroom, feeling more composed. Dominic was already in the kitchenette, pouring coffee into two mugs. He looked up as I entered, his expression warm and relaxed.

“Coffee?” he offered with a smile, holding out a mug.

“Thanks,” I said, taking the mug and savoring the comforting aroma. “I really appreciate you being so understanding.”

Dominic shrugged, leaning against the counter. “It’s no big deal. I mean, we’re both adults. Stuff like this happens.”

I smiled, feeling a mix of relief and affection. “I guess I was just worried it would make things awkward.”

Dominic grinned and set down his mug. “Well, if it helps, I’ll perform a silly dance to lighten the mood.”

Before I could react, Dominic started doing an exaggerated dance routine, complete with ridiculous arm flailing and goofy facial expressions. His movements were so over-the-top that I couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

“Seriously?” I laughed, covering my face with my hands.

He kept going, twirling and hopping around the kitchen like a character in a comedy skit. “Come on, you can’t stay embarrassed with me doing the Macarena!”

The sight of him dancing so absurdly made the embarrassment from earlier feel like a distant memory. I watched, shaking my head and laughing harder. Dominic’s playful antics were exactly what I needed to lift my spirits.

As he finished his routine with a dramatic bow, he looked up at me, beaming with a victorious grin. “Feeling less awkward now?”

I wiped tears of laughter from my eyes and nodded. “Definitely. Thank you for that. You’ve got some serious moves.”

Dominic chuckled, grabbing his coffee again. “I’m glad to help. Sometimes, you just need a bit of silliness to get past the awkwardness.”

We sipped our coffee and chatted, the mood light and easy. Dominic’s unexpected dance had done wonders to shift the atmosphere, and as we talked about our plans for the day, I felt a renewed sense of excitement and connection.