"Good morning," Bella greeted warmly, a genuine smile on her face as she approached Hazel's table.
Hazel moved her eyes from the duo, still attacking their pastries like they hadn't eaten in weeks, and found Leo and Bella standing before her. Leo's hand rested lightly on the small of Bella's back, his expression as unreadable as always, though something in his gray eyes had softened slightly.
Hazel straightened in her seat, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Good morning."
"May we sit?" Bella asked, already pulling out a chair.
Hazel nodded, gesturing to the empty seats across from her. "Of course."
Leo settled beside Bella, his gaze briefly sweeping the room before landing back on his cousin. He studied her for a moment. The loose hair artfully arranged. The soft cream sweater. The way she sat taller than she had in years.
"You look different," he said quietly.
Hazel's hand instinctively moved toward her scar, then stopped. She let it fall back to the table.
