Crushed Affections (Dominic and Bella)

Chapter 17 Don't Do Anything Reckless

Too much had happened that night for Bella to process, so she kept drinking, drowning her thoughts in alcohol.

Lia wanted to drink with her, but Bella stopped her. "You better not. If your heart condition flares up, I'll be too drunk to save you."

Lia chuckled. "With a doctor by my side, what's there to worry about? My heart's not that fragile. Besides, you became a cardiologist because of me. I owe you a drink for that."

Bella had chosen to study medicine and become a cardiologist because of Lia's congenital heart condition. Lia was her only friend, and Bella had tasted loss enough times to know she feared loneliness more than anything.

By the time it was past midnight, Bella was so drunk her consciousness had started to blur. For someone who rarely drank, this night had been far too wild.

"I'll take you home..." Lia slurred while holding onto a shred of sobriety.

her phone as she mumbled, "I don't want you

drunk, you're still thinking about

make out the words on the screen. After a few

connected, she mumbled, "Dominic, where are you? Come pick me up... I'm at Zero Bar...

the line, Felix frowned as he got out of bed and started getting dressed. "Stay there. I'm

all, his confession to her back in college hadn't been a joke. When he arrived

approached them and gently said, "Bella, I'm here. Let's get you up.

up blearily. "Why are you here, Felix? Didn't she

before responding, "She called the wrong

to know he was a stand-up guy. "Alright, take her home. I'll manage on my own." Before leaving, she gave a half-hearted

Lia still had some presence of mind. "Be careful on your way home. Once you're there, send a text to Bella's phone to let us know you're safe. I'll keep an eye on her." After helping both women outside, Felix made sure Lia got into a cab and gave

on him. He hadn't expected that after all these years,