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.

as she mumbled, "I don't want

couldn't help but laugh at that. "No offense, but you're hopeless. Even drunk, you're still thinking about him. Fine, call him. Let him pick

squinted at her phone, struggling to make out the words on the

she mumbled, "Dominic, where are you? Come pick

as he got out

college hadn't been a joke. When he arrived at the bar, he scanned the area until he

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

are you here, Felix? Didn't she

responding, "She called the wrong

was a stand-up guy. "Alright, take her

you're there, send a text to Bella's phone to let us know you're safe. I'll keep an eye on her."

on him. He hadn't expected that after all these years, this would be the