Page 62 of Isabella

Putting everything that has transpired between Nicco and me aside, I dig down deep and try to find the answer to her question.

How do I feel?

“I’m… I’m sad, Char.”

She squeezes my hand lightly, and it gives me the confidence to continue. To finally be honest with myself. To speak these words of truth.

“I’m sad because I miss him. I miss the time we spent together. I miss the way I always felt safe in his arms. But what I miss most is just being able to talk to him. He was my best friend, the love of my life… and I just really freaking miss him.” I let out a deep breath, feeling like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders as those words leave my mouth.

“Does that make me stupid?” I ask. “I’ve gone back and forth with these feelings so many times that it’s making me feel like I’m losing my mind.”

“You arenotstupid, Izzy, and I never want you to speak about yourself like that again. Your feelings are one hundred percent valid. Do not beat yourself up for allowing yourself tofeel. Processing emotions is how we figure out what we want and need in life. It helps us make the best decisions we can make for ourselves.”

Char gives me a minute to compose myself while I think about what I want to say next.

“As much as I want to stay mad at him, I don’t think I can because even though most of our conversations since he’s been back have been fueled by anger, it’s still the most excited I’ve felt in a while. Being around him has made me… feel again.” I shake my head as realization quickly dawns on me, like I’ve been doused with a bucket of ice water. “But even if I choose to forgive him, my brother would never allow us to be together.”

Silence fills the suddenly tense air around us, and the comforting smile on Char’s face falls slightly.

How could I be so dumb? To only think about myself in this situation? It’s not just me when it comes to the Silvestri family, so what’s the point of this? Even if I forgive Nicco for everything, it doesn’t change the biggest problem between our families. We’ll never be able to be together.

Char looks at me with soft eyes, offering me comfort and consolation, and says, “I can’t speak on your family affairs, but I will say this—things that are meant to be, will always find a way to work themselves out. Even when it seems all factors are working against you.”

With those words, a lightness seems to take over my body at the idea that something I never thought would happen stands a chance at coming to fruition.

When I get back to my room, I decide to reach out to Nicco so we can finally have the levelheaded conversation we both need. I breathe a sigh of relief after shooting off the message, and ignore the warning going off in my head at what a disaster allowing Nicco back into my life could be.

37

NICCOLÒ

When Isabella texted me saying she wanted to meet up, I nearly dropped everything at that very second to meet her. We decided on her cousin’s boutique, knowing it’s the only place we could have privacy without causing suspicion.

I knock on the back door of the boutique, but before I’m able to pull my hand away, I nearly have to dive out of the way to avoid the door smacking me in the face. “Damn, Liana. Expecting me?”

A scoff leaves her lips as she narrows her gaze on mine. “I would think you’d be happy that I’m taking precautions and staying on top of this. But if you’d like, I can leave you here for Gianni or Tito to find you.”

Crossing the threshold, I give her a smirk. “Now now, Liana. There’s no need to bring your guards into any of this,” I say. “Wouldn’t want the poor guys to get hurt on the job if they try to keep me from seeing my girl.”

“Your girl?”Liana says while I follow her the back way to her office. She glances back at me from over her shoulder. “I didn’t realize you two were back together.”

“We’re not,” I say casually, “but we will be by the end of today.”

She releases another scoff, except this time humor lies right beneath its surface. “That’s quite the confidence you have there, Nicco.” She opens a door, letting me into the meticulously organized office of New York City’s newest fashion icon.

I remember when Liana was studying at CU. She was always passionate about the fashion industry, and Isabella and I knew she’d go far. But to see the product of her drive and determination to do something with her life other than to be what the women in our world are raised to be is impressive as all hell. She went against our social norms without batting a fucking eyelash, and it’s something she should be damn proud of.

“Isabella and I were always meant to be together, Liana. It was just a matter of time,” I say as I stand next to the ivory couch that looks way too damn clean to even sit on.

Liana crosses her arms over her chest and studies me for what seems like several long ass minutes before saying the last thing I thought would come out of her mouth. “I know.”

I raise a brow at her to which she mimicks. “What? You didn’t think I forgot how you two were in college, did you?”

I remain silent as I wait for her to continue.

Shaking her head, she lets out a small laugh. “C’mon, Nicco. Izzy was your world. Anyone that spent even a moment with you two could tell you had her up so high on a pedestal, there was no chance of any other woman knocking her off.”

She pauses for a moment, then continues. “I’ve seen the way you still look at her. Like while you were in my boutique a few weeks ago, causing a scene.”

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