Bella bounded up the stairs, her heart light and her mind still buzzing with thoughts of Asher and the whirlwind of emotions she had been feeling all day. She freshened up quickly, then darted back downstairs, eager for one of her mother’s famous brownies, her favorite treat.
The sight of them sitting on the counter made her mouth water instantly. Brownies usually meant something special, and her heart warmed at the thought that her mom had gone through the trouble of baking them. She wasted no time, grabbing one of the larger pieces and taking a satisfying bite, feeling the rich, gooey sweetness melt on her tongue. As usual, her father, Tim, made a mock grab for the plate, trying to beat her to the rest of the brownies.
"Hey! Leave some for your poor old dad," Tim teased with a wide gri
