Page 54 of My Infatuation with Isabella

“Jesus, Fran.” I shut my eyes and rub my temples. “You know what you’re doin’? You’re even putting our unborn kids on a fucking schedule! Why are you so anal about every goddamn thing? Life doesn’t have to be planned right down to the millisecond.” The outburst stuns her, and I immediately tamper down my annoyance. Again, this is not her fault. It’s just the side effect of my uncontrollable bad mood. “I’m sorry.”

She says nothing and just stares at me.

“That was uncalled for. You’ve been speaking about this for a while...so we’ll go to the fertility clinic tomorrow. We’ll do the tests and whatever else you want to do, okay?”

“Okay.” She nods, but I can tell she’s still upset. “I know this is a very sensitive topic for you, but I didn’t like your tone.”

“Yeah, that was me being a dick. I’m sorry.” I close the gap between us and pull her in for a hug. “Don’t be mad, alright? I’m just in a weird mood today.”

“If you take kitchen clean-up duty for the next week, I’ll think about forgiving you.”

Fran is a creature of logic and practicality. Flowers, chocolates, or anything sentimental is not the way to win her heart. It took a few months of living with her to understand that about her because her love language is very different from mine. I’m all about cheesy soppiness, but I’ve learned that she finds the romance in me doing the practical day-to-day stuff for her. She likes to be looked after in that way. It’s a very small ask considering my transgressions, so I agree.

“Deal.”

And just like that, the fight is resolved, which is why Fran is only a level four. She loops her arms around my neck and kisses me. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

And I mean it. I do. I know I love her, but right now, today, at this moment, I don’t necessarily...feelit. Everything seems to be distorted by these undead feelings that keep coming back to life. Fuck! I need to get my head right.

9. Isabella

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