LOGINISABELLA "Come on, baby... you can do it. Come to mama." I’m sitting cross-legged on the living room floor, arms stretched wide. Jayden stands a few feet away from me, wobbling like a tiny, confused drunk. His little fingers curl and uncurl at his sides, his balance questionable at best... but his eyes are locked on me. On me. “Yeah, that’s it,” I whisper, smiling so hard my cheeks hurt. This is not about the money. It's not everyday you get to see your baby walking toward you. “Just one step. You’ve got it.” He takes one. It’s clumsy and way too unsteady. But hey, it's a step. My breath keeps catching and stopping at my throat as I chant. “Oh my God... yes! Yes, baby, come on!” Another step. And then another. Each one braver than the last, even though his tiny legs look like they might betray him at any second. I can’t stop laughing now, my hands fluttering excitedly as I inch closer without actually moving. “Jayden, you’re doing it! You’re walking!” And then... my baby boy
ISABELLAHis fork is filled with spaghetti but it's not in his damn mouth. He pauses, slowly setting his fork down like he's not sure he heard that right. His brows pull together just a little as he leans back, studying me. “Come again?” he says.I stare at him. Of course. Of course he’s going to do this. I narrow my eyes at him, already feeling a flicker of irritation because I know he wants me to say it again. So I do. “I said I’m sorry.”He tilts his head slightly, like he’s trying to catch a sound that slipped past him. “Huh. That’s crazy. I didn’t quite get that.”My jaw drops. “You’re kidding,” I say flatly.“I’m serious,” he shrugs, lips twitching at the corners. “Might need you to repeat it.”I stare at him for a long second, trying to decide if I want to throw my plate at his head or not.“You’re actually unbelievable.”“Maybe,” he nods. “But I still didn’t hear it.”I exhale sharply through my nose, pushing my chair back as I stand. “You’re such an ass.”That does it. He st
ISABELLASomehow it's always me doing what's in my head. I get that now. Because even with Chloe insisting on my going to fix... Noah, I still didn't go. He left the house angry and now, Chloe is gone as well and the apartment feels... so empty and quiet. It's not the peaceful quiet. It's not even the quietness that's calm.It's just that quiet in a way that makes everything that I said earlier echo back at me. It sucks.I've been staring at the door for what? Five minutes? I've not been counting. I let out a long breath, dragging my hands over my face."Fix your man," I mutter under my breath.Easy for her to say. Still... she wasn't wrong. Ugh. I push myself off the couch and glance around the apartment likem I'm seeing something differently now... it's almost like I'm trying to look at it from Noah's side. Our space. Not just mine."Okay," I say out loud, clapping my hands once. "Fine. I'll... fix it."I don't exactly what she meant but I'm not texting, neither am I calling. I kno
ISABELLA“So, you argued with Noah over something that petty?” Chloe asks, her mouth full with a large bowl of popcorn she has just made.I glare at her from across the couch. “Wow. Thank you. I feel so supported right now.”She shrugs, completely unbothered, popping another handful into her mouth. “I’m just saying… it sounds petty.”“It is not petty,” I insist, sitting up straighter. “He was acting like I needed permission to invite you over.”Chloe raises a brow. “Did he say permission?”“He said consideration,” I mimic, rolling my eyes. “Same difference.”“It’s really not,” she says, chewing thoughtfully.I scoff. “Whose side are you on?”“Yours,” she replies immediately. “Always yours. But I’m also not blind.”I fold my arms, already annoyed again. “Oh, here we go.”“No, listen.” She points a piece of popcorn at me like she’s about to give a lecture. “You live with the guy. You share a space. You inviting someone to stay... even me, your amazing, glowing, pregnant best friend... k
ISABELLAThis is upsetting. It's genuinely upsetting when Noah acts like this. When he starts this... authoritative stuff and tries to go all macho on me. “Noah, I genuinely don’t understand why you’re upset.” I say, crossing my arms and leaning against the kitchen counter, watching him pace the floor.He stops abruptly, turning to me. “Because you didn’t think to tell me first.”Not this again. There's no big deal. At least that's what I think. “Tell you what?” I throw my hands up. “That I invited my best friend over? Wow, Isabella, what a crime.”“That’s not what I’m saying and you know it.”“Then what are you saying? Because from where I’m standing, you’re acting like I just did something completely out of line.”Noah exhales. “Chloe just got married, Isabella. She’s literally on her honeymoon.”“And?” I blink at him. “She’ll be back. I didn’t drag her out of it. I said after.”“She should be with her husband,” he insists.I let out a disbelieving laugh. “Oh my God. She is with he
ISABELLAI tilt my head, studying him, a slow smirk creeping onto my lips. “Watch me.”Chase lets out a low whistle. “Damn. Someone grew a backbone.”“I’ve always had one,” I shoot back. “You just weren’t around to see it.”That lands. I see it in the way his expression shifts... just for a second.“Yeah,” he murmurs. “Guess I missed a lot.”I clear my throat, suddenly aware of how close we’re standing. “So… dinner. Are you in or are you going to keep acting like I need permission from Noah? Someone would think you're scared."He huffs out a laugh, shaking his head. “I’m in. Obviously. Free food is free food.”“You’re paying,” I remind him.“Right. Worst deal ever.”Before I can respond, my phone vibrates in my hand. Right. Noah. Of course. I almost forgot. Chase’s eyes flick down to the screen, then back up to me, one brow raised. “Speak of the devil.”I roll my eyes, but my stomach does this annoying flip. “Relax.”“Am I?” he says lightly. “Or are you?”I ignore that and answer the
ISABELLAChase is waiting for me when I get outside. It's not noon anymore and I doubt he had classes until this time. Why then is he waiting? My lips twitch as I walk toward him, fiddling with the straps of my bag."Hey Bella," he says, smiling a little. I do term his smile as a little one because
NOAH The apartment is too quiet. It’s the kind of quiet that presses against your ears until your thoughts get louder than they should be. I’ve been sitting on the couch for over an hour, staring at nothing. My phone rests on the coffee table in front of me, its screen dark and silent. No calls.
ISABELLA "I can't believe he said I should grow up. I mean... that's so absurd. He thinks I'm a child." Chloe shrugs, without saying a word. I narrow my eyes at her. "I've been the one saying everything for the past few hours. You've just been nodding, shrugging or humming. I want your opinion on
ISABELLAFor a second, the only sound in the room is the clink of Harriet’s spoon against a ceramic bowl as she feeds one of the twins. Then, that stops too.I feel the blood drain from my face, leaving my skin cold and clammy. My heart isn't just racing... It’s attempting a break from my ribs. I l







