Page 29 of Isabella

She’s tan.

Dark hair.

She’s beautiful, even though I only get a glimpse of the side of her face as she lies on Nicco like I’ve lain on him so many times before.

And Nicco looks so… happy.

He smiles wide at her, showing his teeth as she presses butterfly kisses down his neck, and then finally brings his attention back to me. It’s like he forgot I was even here.

“What do you need, Isabella?”

“I-I?—”

“Listen, I’m sorry, but I’m a little busy right now,” he says, dismissing me. “If you still need me tomorrow, just text me or something.” His flagrant disregard cuts me deep.

He makes eye contact with me, and for a second, I swear I see a glimpse ofmyNicco. As if there’s actually someone behind this facade who cares about me.

“Can I give you some advice?”

He continues speaking with the girl resting on his bare chest.

“I’m not trying to be a dick, Isabella, but you need to stop contacting me.”

And like that,myNicco disappears and is replaced with this heartless monster I don’t recognize.

“I can see you’re upset by this, so I’m trying to help make this less difficult for you. You need to move on.”

“I don’t believe this, Nicco. This isn’t you. Please just talk to me.”

“You’re coming off as desperate, Isabella. I’ve never known you to act like this. It’s not a good look on you.”

“Maybe I should give you two a minute,” says the girl resting on his chest. Even though I can only see the top of her head in the frame, I can tell she goes to pull away, but Nicco holds her to him and mumbles, “It’s fine.”

Bringing his attention back to me he says, “You’ll find someone one day. I think you and I both know we weren’t each other’s endgames. The secrets we had to keep from our families? That’s no way to live, and you know it. This is the best decision for both of us.”

A tear escapes me, and I rush to wipe it away.

“See ya, Isabella,” Nicco whispers, then hangs up on me. I hold my phone out, but instead of breaking down, I sit there staring at it.

The mattress dips as Liana scoots closer. She says something, but the words bypass me as I continue to watch my blank phone screen.

All I can feel is her wrapping her arms around me once more, but this time I don’t know what to do.

Don’t know how to react.

So I sit here.

Frozen.

As if the rug wasn’t just pulled out from right underneath me.

* * *

19

NICCOLÒ

PRESENT DAY

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