Page 61 of Isabella

Lux gives a beaming smile, and it makes me so happy for her and my brother. I’ve never seen a more perfect couple.

Teo’s changed since Lux came into his life. He’s happy. And I might’ve not known Lux before, but I see a change in her since the first day I met her. It brings a smile to my face knowing how happy they are together.

“I’ll see you both later,” Lux says before taking off down the hall to her and Teo’s wing of the house.

Char remains standing on the other side of the kitchen island from me. Setting her water down on the counter, she says, “Looks like it’s just you and I, sweetie.” I smile at the term of endearment.

Char’s been staying in our guest house ever since my brothers saved her from Angelo Mancini. Lux and Teo have wanted her close, and with the situation regarding Giuseppe Silvestri, it was in her best interest to stay here with all the security we have.

Having a motherly figure around again has been nice. She’s been working a lot at a salon that Teo got her a job at, building up her clientele, but when she’s here, she always makes sure to check up on each of us.

“How’re you doing, Izzy?”

“I’m going great,” I say, doing my best to put on a poker face with a winning smile.

Char’s brows furrow slightly, then she says, “You seem like you’ve been lost in thought a lot lately.”

Am I that easy to read?

“Oh, no, I’m okay,” I say, trying again, but as soon as the words leave my mouth, I know my tone has failed me.

My shoulders slump forward, and the smile falls from my face while I let out a long sigh. I wasn’t planning on talking to Char about Nicco, but it would be nice to have her opinion on it.A motherly opinion.

Char gives me a comforting smile and walks around the island. She gives my shoulder a small squeeze before sitting down on the stool next to me. “What’s going on, Izzy?” Her tone is soft and nurturing. It makes me want to open up to her.

Without putting more thought into it, I go into detail telling her the history of Nicco and me and everything that has transpired between us since he’s been back.

“Oh, sweetie, that is quite a lot. I’m so sorry you had to go through all of that…”

“But?” I ask, knowing there’s something more she wants to add by the tone in her voice and the questioning look in her gaze.

“Well, I don’t want to overstep?—”

Shaking my head, I say, “You won’t. You’re not. I’d actually really appreciate your advice on all of this.”

Char gives me a sympathetic smile and rests her hand on top of the one I have on the counter. “How do you feel about all of this, Izzy?”

I’m about to answer her with what I’ve already told her about my emotions being all over the place, but she continues before I’m able to, giving my hand a light squeeze.

“I know you’ve expressed the confusion you have with your feelings, but I want you to take a few minutes to take some deep breaths and truly think about it. Think about how Nicco made you feel before you two broke up.”

My response is fast, rolling off my tongue. “I was the happiest I’ve ever been. Head over heels in love with him.”

“And then he broke your heart instead of telling you what was going on with his dad.”

“Yes, exactly!” I say with far more enthusiasm than I intended. “He took away our chance to work through it. Instead of confiding in me, hechoseto break my heart, and every time I think I can forgive him for it, the resentment comes back and those feelings of forgiveness turn into anger.”

I pull my hand out from under Char’s and place it in my lap, fidgeting my fingers. I feel her gaze on me but don’t make a move to bring mine up to hers.

“Resentment… anger. Those are strong, complex emotions that harbored, will only ever end up harming you,” Char says.

Pulling my hands free from each other, Char holds them in her own, drawing my attention up to hers. There’s a glisten in her eyes as if she can feel the emotions I’m feeling.

“How do you feel?” she asks again. “In this moment while we talk about you and Nicco. How do youfeel?”

I continue to hold her gaze and really think about her question before answering.

How do I feel?

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