Oblivious love | D.E

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Selena stood in front of her mirror for the fifth time, running her fingers down the soft, pink ruffles of her blouse and adjusting her jeans.

She'd redone her curls twice, not because they weren't perfect, but because she was excited and nervous all at once. Her cheeks were flushed with energy she wasn't used to. After all, it was her first time inviting someone to come pick her up and go out—not just anyone, either, but Dave Brewster.

And he was bringing his daughter.

She didn't know why that part made her heart feel warmer. She had never even been around kids before, but for some reason, she was already planning to offer Solani a scoop of her dessert or let her play games on her iPad during dinner.

Selena had even made a note on her phone to remember "Don't talk too fast or ramble too much—small sentences, clear thoughts."

She had practiced saying "Hi, Solani, I'm Selena" in the mirror five different ways.

Outside, she peeked through her bedroom window, careful not to push the curtain too far back. The familiar, sleek black car was parked just outside the gates like she asked. Duke and Luna stood beside her, ears perked like they knew someone important was here.

"You two behave, okay?" she whispered, grabbing both their faces for quick kisses. "You're coming too."

Selena stuffed her phone into her little purse, clutched her hoodie under her arm just in case it got cold, then turned to her dogs. "Let's go," she said in a stage whisper. They followed eagerly, knowing the word.

She tiptoed down the stairs quietly—her parents were in the home theater, watching a documentary about wild horses in Wyoming. She knew because she checked the schedule they wrote out on the fridge. That gave her exactly forty minutes.

Selena slipped through the side door, where the camera was blind, and rounded the garden path.

As she reached the gate, her stomach fluttered when she saw Dave standing there in his usual all-black outfit, arms crossed, posture chill—but somehow still intense. Beside him stood a little girl in pink overalls and a head full of curly puffs. She clutched a sparkly purple toy in one hand and a juice pouch in the other.

Selena's nerves kicked in immediately.

"Hey!" she whispered, smiling wide and jogging a little toward them. "Hi, I'm so sorry if I took too long."

"You're fine," Dave said, his voice calm and smooth. "We just got here."

Solani looked up at her curiously.

Selena bent a little to her level, giving a small, shy wave. "Hi... I'm Selena. You must be Solani?"

The little girl nodded, staring for a moment before she softly said, "You're pretty."

Selena gasped softly, hand over her heart. "Oh my gosh, thank you. You're even prettier."

Dave shook his head with a barely-there smirk, watching the two.

"I brought Duke and Luna," Selena said, gesturing behind her as the two Cane Corsos trotted forward obediently. "They're super friendly. Do you like dogs?"

Solani's eyes lit up, and she immediately reached out to pet Duke, who licked her hand gently.

Dave's brows rose slightly in approval. "They listen real good."

"They're my babies," Selena said with pride. "Trained by my mom and me since they were tiny."

Once everyone was safely in the car, Selena settled in beside Solani in the back seat. Solani had her toy in one hand, a fruit snack in the other, and Duke laid across the floor near her feet, acting like her personal bodyguard. Selena giggled every time Solani leaned over to pet him, already feeling that special softness in her chest she didn't expect.

"Where we eating?" Dave asked, eyes flicking to Selena in the rearview mirror.

She beamed. "There's this cute diner I saw when I snuck out last time—um... I mean explored—called 'Sunset Grille.' They have milkshakes and curly fries."

"Cool," Dave said, driving with one hand on the wheel, the other resting on his thigh. "Sounds chill."

The drive was filled with Solani's quiet singing to herself and Selena trying to guess the song. Dave didn't say much, but every so often, his eyes lingered a little longer in the mirror when he looked at Selena laughing or softly speaking to his daughter.

At the diner, they grabbed a booth by the window. Solani sat between Selena and the window, with a plate of mini pancakes and fruit while Selena devoured a grilled cheese.

"I like going outside," Selena said out of nowhere. "I didn't know it was this fun. There's wind and people and cars and lights and colors."

Dave raised a brow. "You really ain't never been outside before?"

Selena chuckled. "Only in the backyard. But never like this."

Solani chimed in, "She's like Rapunzel."

Selena gasped dramatically. "Exactly! Oh my gosh, yes!"

Dave smirked at their exchange, a new softness settling in his chest. The two of them together felt oddly natural. Selena didn't talk to Solani like a baby. She just talked to her, and Solani responded like she always knew her.

He didn't know what the hell this was turning into. But watching Selena cut her sandwich in half to share with Solani, her curls bouncing as she talked about fireflies and constellations she read about—it made something stir inside him. A warmth. Something he hadn't felt in a long time.

Later that night, after he dropped them back off near the gate, Selena kneeled down to hug Solani tight and whispered, "Bye, new best friend."

Solani giggled and hugged her back.

"Text me when you get home," Selena said to Dave, eyes softer now, her voice quieter. "Please."

Dave nodded, locking eyes with her.

"Thanks for today," she added. "It was perfect."

As he drove off, Dave kept glancing in the mirror, watching Solani play with the tiny pink bow Selena gave her. He didn't know what was happening—but whatever it was, it was real.

And it was just beginning.

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