Doughnut Love

BREAKFAST

Penelope adjusted the ghost face helmet over her head, letting her gaze wander across the grand halls of her uncle’s mansion. Marble floors stretched endlessly beneath her, crystal chandeliers caught the light and threw it in sparkling fragments, and every piece of furniture radiated wealth so effortlessly that it almost made her smirk.

Her attention finally settled on the girl cutting the cake. Dark hair fell in gentle waves around her shoulders, and her green eyes—bright and curious—followed the knife with an intensity that made Penelope pause. There was a certain vulnerability in her stance, a kind of shy grace that drew Penelope in immediately. She couldn’t help but study her: the way her hands trembled slightly as she handled the knife, the subtle tilt of her head as she concentrated, the way her glasses slid down her nose when she looked up.

Lucinda.

And then their eyes met. For a heartbeat, the world shrank, and the chaos of the party melted away. Lucinda’s green eyes widened with confusion, as if she were trying to place the familiarity of the stranger who now stared at her with an unreadable intensity. Penelope’s grin beneath the helmet was slow, deliberate, teasing.

“Uncle Adrian, I’m here!” Penelope’s voice cut through the murmur of conversation, smooth, melodic, impossible to ignore. Georgia, standing nearby, flushed at the interruption. Adrian’s expression was one of mild surprise—but not really, as though he had expected this all along.

“Penelope? Is that… you?”

Lucinda’s heart skipped. How did her father know someone like Penelope? She instinctively looked at Adrian for guidance, but his calm smile offered no answers.

With a swift motion, Penelope lifted the helmet, letting her chestnut hair tumble around her shoulders. Dark eyeshadow and a septum piercing framed her confident, teasing smile. Lucinda’s cheeks warmed. There was something almost dangerous in the way Penelope looked at her, a mischievous challenge hidden beneath that grin.

The cake cutting continued, everyone watching politely. Penelope took a deliberate bite, moaning softly at the cake’s moist texture. Lucinda and Georgia exchanged uncomfortable glances. Georgia muttered something under her breath and left with Adrian, leaving Lucinda and Penelope alone for the briefest moment of tension.

“So… birthday girl,” Penelope began, leaning casually on the table, eyes never leaving Lucinda’s, “you look… different from the last time I saw you.”

Lucinda blinked, cheeks heating. “Uh… yeah… I guess?” She laughed nervously, fumbling with her fork. She didn’t remember ever meeting Penelope before—but there was something disconcertingly familiar about her. If she had, surely she would remember.

---

Later, as the party wound down and the mansion quieted, Adrian gathered his family and Penelope in the study. Shadows from the night stretched long across the room.

“I’m sorry for not telling you both sooner,” Adrian began, smiling at Lucinda, “but this is Penelope.”

Lucinda’s mind raced. Adoption?- How could she have missed this before?

“This,” Adrian continued, “is my brother’s daughter, my niece. She’ll be staying with us for the summer.” He yawned, the reveal casual. “Make yourself comfortable, Penny. I’ll see you in the morning.”

Georgia shot Penelope a look that could freeze fire. Lucinda caught it, worry pricking at her chest. “Mom… is everything okay? You don’t like her, do you?”

“Don’t worry about it,” Georgia replied smoothly. “Go to bed, Lucinda.”

---

Lucinda lay in her room, staring at the ceiling. Sleep wouldn’t come—not with Penelope on her mind. Curiosity and unease pulled her from the bed. Slippers on, she tiptoed to the kitchen, expecting only silence. Grace, of course, was asleep.

But she wasn’t alone.

“Umm… you good?” she asked cautiously, eyes narrowing at the figure leaning over the counter.

Penelope’s dark eyes met hers, smirking. “Relax, Bunny. I’m not stealing anything. Just… midnight cravings. I need doughnuts.”

Lucinda let out a relieved breath, though her instincts remained wary. “If it’s doughnuts you want, follow me,” she said, leading Penelope to her room. As they walked, she explained the secret stash she and Grace kept—midnight indulgences hidden from her mother as the she doesn't like doughnuts and doesn't want people around her having any.

Sitting on the bed, they shared the doughnuts. The room was filled with quiet, intimate sounds: soft bites and small moans of satisfaction. Penelope’s enjoyment was infectious, unselfconsciously sensual.

“Lucy, I’m not gonna lie,” Penelope murmured between bites, eyes glinting with amusement, “these are… really good.”

Lucinda laughed nervously, cheeks flushing. “Do you… always make noises while you eat?”

Penelope shrugged playfully. “I appreciate things that taste good. Can’t help it.” Lucinda felt a little twinge in her chest, her mind betraying her with thoughts she quickly tried to suppress.

Penelope stood suddenly, stretching gracefully. “Bathroom break,” she said, voice low, teasing.

Lucinda continued quietly, then heard Penelope speak softly, almost mournfully: “Don’t you remember me, Lucy?”

Lucinda froze, startled. “I… I’m sorry. I don’t think I do.”

Penelope’s expression softened briefly, tinged with sadness. “It’s okay. Just… stop pretending, alright?” And with that, she retreated to her room, leaving Lucinda with a mix of relief, confusion, and something uncomfortably thrilling she couldn’t name.

---

Morning arrived too quickly. The house felt heavy, the residue of the night’s energy lingering.

“Grace, can we make lasagna later?” Lucinda asked, excitement bubbling through her voice. Cooking with Grace was their shared ritual, “Adventures in the Kitchen,” she called it—though the name was simple, the memories invaluable.

Adrian and Georgia joined the dining table briefly, exchanging polite conversation before leaving for their offices. Lucinda busied herself with the table, stealing glances at Penelope descending the stairs.

Penelope moved with effortless confidence, casual sensuality in the sway of her hips and the tilt of her head. “Sup,” she muttered, low and teasing, settling at the table.

Lucinda’s green eyes widened. How can someone look this effortlessly gorgeous in the morning?

“Do I look that bad?” Penelope asked, catching Grace’s amused smile. Grace’s hand found Lucinda’s shoulder, grounding her as heat rushed to her cheeks.

Lucinda greeted Penelope softly, returning to her breakfast, nerves fluttering in her chest. And then it hit her—THE TEST!.

A jolt of panic raced through her. She had a very important test today—and somehow, between doughnuts, teasing, and the inexplicable pull she felt toward Penelope, she had completely forgotten.