Page 99 of Fierce-Colson

Bella appeared like she’d been waiting in the wings. “Hi.”

“Hi,” Marly said warmly. “I hear you’re the chef tonight.”

Bella’s shoulders straightened. “I made spaghetti and meatballs. And cookies. No oven. But surprised Colson that I made cookies in the air fryer. He said I needed a ‘chill pill.’ I was just excited.”

“Cookies too?” Her eyes widened. “Wow. I’m impressed.” She turned to Colson. “Don’t be a little extra with Bella. Maybe she needed some chocolate.”

Bella laughed. “Ha, even Marly knows chill pill isn’t a thing anymore. And yes, I wanted chocolate. But not because of my period. Did Colson tell you how embarrassed he got over buying me pads the first time?”

“Bella,” he warned. Though he loved the way Bella lit up over this conversation, he wasn’t so sure he wanted to have it over dinner.

“He did,” she said. “But you’re embarrassing your brother.” She patted him on the cheek. “We’ll get him more comfortable with girl talk.”

“I’m comfortable enough with it,” he said. “I just don’t need it talked about all the time.”

“It’s hardly all the time,” Bella said, rolling her eyes the way only a teen could do.

“The cookies were really good,” he added. “Even if I was begged to try the meatballs that burned my mouth but got my hand slapped over the dessert.”

Bella crossed her arms. “You didn’t have to add that.”

“He did,” she said solemnly. “It’s very brave to admit defeat by a meatball. Did you swear?”

Bella snorted. “Yes.”

He squinted his eyes, studying Marly as she slipped her jacket off. He took it out of her hands. “If you’re not careful, she’s going to expect applause every time she steps into the kitchen.”

“I already do. I’ll start the water now, and you may clap when you’re ready,” Bella threw over her shoulder.

Marly glanced between them. “I like watching the two of you go at it.”

“You wouldn’t if you lived in it,” he muttered, then went to hang up her jacket.

Though to be honest, he had to admit, he enjoyed that Bella was much more open with her words around him.

He’d said he wanted that. That it took his sister long enough to be this way.

Maybe he should be more careful what he wished for if he was going to get ganged up on.

“I don’t know,” she said, smiling up at him. “You seem very domesticated.”

He huffed. “That’s not a word anyone’s used for me.”

He knew. He’d been in enough relationships and most of the time it was about him not being around, not doing what they wanted, maybe even not helping out.

Like trying to cook dinner.

Funny how all it took was a young girl to be under his care for him to change everything.

Everything for the better.

“Then they would be wrong.”

Bella laughed again, the sound drifting out from the kitchen, and Colson smiled knowing his sister was eavesdropping.

He leaned closer to Marly. “You’re enjoying this.”

“Immensely,” she whispered. “It’s nice seeing you like this.”