Page 40 of Isabella

Unknown: Please call me, Isabella. That’s not what it looked like.

“Another one?” I mutter. How many phones is Nicco going to get before he gets the damn hint? Before he can text me again, I block him.

I’m done.

For my own mental health, I can’t handle one more thing that has to do with Niccolò Silvestri anymore.

I shove my phone back in my purse once I receive a text from Liana confirming she’ll meet us at the bakery instead, then zone out and stare out the window.

“Are you okay, Izzy?” Lux asks, and I look over at her, mustering up the fakest smile I can.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I lie before letting out an amused chuckle and shaking my head, knowing I’m not fooling anyone. “To think I was actually going to give him a chance to explain things to me. But after seeing him with her… I don’t know, Lux. It’s just not that easy. That brought back memories I buried, and now the scab is ripped right open again. I should be over this by now, but every time I see him, all I see is red.”

“I get it. Just know your feelings are valid, regardless of how much time has passed.”

“Thanks, Lux,” I say, giving her another halfhearted smile before averting my gaze back out the window. I just can’t believe how close I was to letting him explain himself. I’m done. I’m so done with Niccolò Silvestri.

25

ISABELLA

When Lux and I get to the bakery, I fill Liana in on the disaster that happened at the pizzeria.

“And you’re sure it’s the same girl you saw him with that night on FaceTime?” Liana asks.

“Yup,” I say. “I’d remember her anywhere. I was beginning to think I should listen to you both and hear him out about our breakup. Maybe get some closure so I’m not harboring all of this rage anymore, but I just…” I shake my head. “I cannot listen to anything that comes out of that man’s mouth.”

“I don’t blame you. I’m so sorry, Izzy,” Liana says.

“It’s fine. I just need to move on. I need to continue living my life as if Niccolò Silvestri didn’t come back and try to ruin itagain.”

“Out of sight, out of mind,” Liana says.

I nod. “Let’s talk about something else. I’m tired of him being the topic of all of our conversations these days.”

“Isabella?” a deep familiar voice interrupts.

Looking over, I see Massimo Bonetti.

“Massimo,” I blurt out, surprised to see him standing at the end of our table. He’s holding a to-go bag of food and a cup of coffee. His charming smile brings a smile to my face.

“Wow, must be my lucky day,” he says. “You ran out of that charity event so fast I never got a chance to ask for your number.”

“Oh, I didn’t realize?—”

“If you’re not dating anyone, of course. I didn’t think you were with Niccolò Silvestri, but if I read that situation incorrectly, just?—”

Shaking my head, I rush out my response. “No, no. Niccolò and I arenottogether.”

That smile curls his lips again. “Well, if you’re available for dinner on Saturday, I would love to take you out.”

“Um, yes. Yeah,” I stumble out before giving him a smile. “That sounds really nice, Massimo.”

“Great,” he says, pulling his phone out of his jacket pocket and handing it to me. “Here, enter your number.”

Taking his phone, I put my number in before handing it back. My fingers brush against his in the process and a jolt of excitement runs through me, knowing I’m going on a date.

“I’ll call you later, okay?”

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