Page 25 of Isabella

“Are you kidding? I saw you leaving the dance floor in a hurry. I almost followed after you until I saw Niccolò trailing behind you. I wanted to give you guys a minute, but look at you. Something happened, and I’m not leaving you alone now.”

“Shit,” I mutter to myself. “Did Teo see too?”

Lux’s mouth flattens into a straight line, and she gives a small nod, sympathy radiating through her big brown eyes. “I had to keep him from storming after you guys. He wasn’t happy.”

Shit. Shit. Shit.

“Please, Lux. I know he’s going to have questions, but I’m really not in the right headspace for an interrogation from him right now. I just—” I suck in a deep breath before releasing it. “I really don’t have the energy to deal with anything tonight. I just want to go home and go to bed.”

Lux studies me before reluctantly giving me another small nod. “If you’re sure…”

“I’m positive. Will you just let Teo know I’m going to head home, please? I know he’s going to have questions, so if you could tell him I’ll talk to him tomorrow about it, I’d really appreciate it.” I give Lux’s hands a squeeze. “I’ll talk to youbothin the morning, okay?”

“You promise you’re okay?”

I think about how I want to answer that question because I’m not okay… but I will be. “Everything will be all right, Lux. I promise,” I say before giving her a hug goodbye.

After grabbing my jacket and purse from the coat check, I send a quick text off to Rocco, letting him know I’m ready to head home.

Waiting for the elevator doors to open takes an eternity when all I can feel are Nicco’s eyes piercing into the back of my head. I know he’s watching me from wherever he is in the room, and I pray to God he won’t come up to me again.

That he’s given up for at least tonight.

Because as pathetic as it sounds, I’m not sure I’m ready to hear whatever it is he has to say.

18

ISABELLA

When I got home last night, I intended to go right to bed—which I did—but sleep didn’t come as quickly as I’d hoped. In fact, it never came.

I spent all night tossing and turning, unable to get Nicco’s words out of my head.

“I haven’t stopped thinking about you once.”

Why did he have to come back to NYC?

What happened between him and hisfiancée?

Why did he have to speak to me?

Why couldn’t he just leave me alone for the rest of my life like he told me to do with him?

I listened to him. Why can’t he listen to me? I don’t want to speak to him, and I don’t want to hear anything he has to say.

Pulling myself out of bed, I make my way to the kitchen. I hear quiet voices and already know who to expect when I round the corner. Lux stands on one side of the island pouring two cups of coffee while Teo sits on a barstool on the opposite side.

“Good morning, Izzy,” Lux says cheerfully, but I detect the strain in her voice which makes me think she and Teo were talking about me.

“Good morning to you both,” I mumble, my voice hoarse as it gets acclimated to the start of the day.

“Would you like some coffee?” she asks.

“I’m okay, thanks though. I need something a little stronger than that,” I say as I head toward the espresso machine.

The tension in the air is palpable, and I feel Teo watching my every move. After I press start on the espresso machine, I turn to face him, leaning my hip against the counter and folding my arms in front of me.

“I guess we should talk,” I say.

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