The ties that bind

Chapter 18: Midnight Secrets and Burnt Toast

Serena shook her head, stepping toward the counter. "You're all useless."

Lorenzo smirked. "Matteo would disagree."

Serena opened a cabinet, searching for something edible. "Matteo made burnt toast too. What's your point?"

Lorenzo placed a hand on his chest, looking dramatically offended. "Excuse me, mine is clearly worse."

Serena laughed under her breath.

Her fingers brushed against a ripe avocado.

Simple.

Quick.

She pulled it out, along with a loaf of bread, setting them down. "Sit. I'll make something."

Lorenzo raised an eyebrow. "Since when do you cook?"

Serena froze.

For half a second, she had forgotten.

Forgotten that cooking had never been something she just learned for fun.

Forgotten that she wasn't supposed to know how to make meals from whatever scraps were available.

Forgotten that in their world-in their family-chefs prepared meals. Not them.

But in the hostel?

If you didn't cook, you didn't eat.

Serena forced a casual shrug, turning away. "I just picked it up."

Lorenzo narrowed his eyes but didn't say anything.

She grabbed a knife, slicing through the avocado quickly. The dull glow of the kitchen light softened the sharp angles of Lorenzo's face, making him look less like the ruthless, controlled heir to the family and more like the brother she used to follow around as a kid.

She grabbed two slices of bread, popping them into the toaster, mentally preparing herself for whatever Lorenzo would say next.

Lorenzo leaned against the counter, watching her work.

The silence was thick, but not uncomfortable.

Not yet.

Serena focused on smashing the avocado with a fork, adding a pinch of salt, some lemon juice. Her hands moved on instinct, muscle memory guiding her.

Lorenzo finally broke the silence. "You were always bad at sitting still."

Serena snorted. "Still am."

Lorenzo hummed, watching her closely. "You used to follow me around everywhere. Do you remember?"

Serena's hands stilled for a second.

Did she remember?

Of course, she did.

She remembered everything.

How Lorenzo had always been the one to teach her things Matteo wouldn't let her do.

How he had let her pretend to be the boss when their father wasn't home, giving her 'missions' just to entertain her.

How she used to beg to sit with him and Matteo when they discussed serious things, hoping they'd let her in.

And how, one day, that all stopped.

How Lorenzo had been the one to watch as she was dragged out of the house, screaming, begging for them to listen.

Serena kept her face blank. "Nope. Must've erased that memory."

Lorenzo exhaled through his nose. "Figures."