Semua Bab CRAVING ISABELLA: Bab 141 - Bab 150

ISABELLA She's right. I'm not her. I don't realize how tightly I've been holding my breath until it slips out of me in a slow, shaky exhale. My chest loosens just a little. Chloe studies me like she’s waiting for maybe an argument... but none comes. Instead, I wipe under my eyes and give her a weak smile. “You always have to end things with a dramatic speech, don’t you?” She shrugs smugly. “I’m a very inspiring person.” “That’s not the word I’d use.” She grins. “Get out.” I laugh quietly but I don't move. “Go,” she says, waving toward the door. “Your boyfriend is waiting." Right. Noah. I glance back at her once more. “Thank you.” She salutes lazily from the couch. “Best-friend law.” I take a breath, turn the knob, and step outside. By the time I get outside, it's dark night. Noah is leaning against his car, arms folded, head slightly bowed. When our eyes lock, his shoulders drop. “Hey,” he says softly. I walk to him. “I’m sorry,” I blurt before I even reach him.

ISABELLAMadelyn is Noah's cousin. I don't doubt that. It's... nice to know he has family. It's also nice to know that he can help her when she needs help. Like now, he's given her a place to stay. I've watched their interactions these past few days with little interest. What I'm keen on now, is my studies as a final year student, and... bonding with my family and friends. There's no exhilarating stuff happening in my life at the moment and I don't intend to sit and wait for the worst to happen.So today, after my last class ended, I took the first cab I saw that brought me here. I don't know if Mason is home. I just hope he is. The man at the huge gate tells me he's inside and that brings a sigh of relief to my lips.I enter the house. It's eerily quiet but I don't stop walking until I'm inside the not so familiar place. Of course, I haven't been here much. I feel out of place but, who knows? The way Noah spoke to me yesterday, I didn't like it. He acted weirdly. I know he wouldn't

NOAHI'm not surprised. What did I expect? The drive home is quiet. I think I already knew it'd be like this.Isabella sits in the passenger seat with her hands folded in her lap, staring straight out the window like the passing streets are the most fascinating thing she’s ever seen. She hasn’t looked at me once. Not once. Well, it's even a good thing she's here in this car with me.“Minnie…” I say softly.Nothing.“I know you're upset.”Her lips twitch slightly. “Oh, you noticed?”I tighten my grip on the steering wheel. “I didn’t mean for you to find out like that.”She lets out a laugh. “That’s the part you’re worried about?” she asks. “How I found out?”“I’m worried about you.”“You should’ve thought about that before lying.”I exhale slowly. “I didn’t lie to hurt you.”“Well congratulations,” she says calmly. “You succeeded anyway.”“Minnie, listen to me...”“No.” She finally turns her head, and the hurt in her eyes hits harder than any yelling would have. “You listen to me.”I s

ISABELLAMy stomach drops. He’s actually walking toward us.Antonia immediately straightens in her chair, her grin widening as she whispers, “Oh my God. Oh my God. Don’t panic.”Easy for her to say. The guy stops beside our table, tall enough that I have to tilt my head back slightly to look up at him. Up close, he’s even more intimidating. Broad shoulders, dark hair that looks like he ran a hand through it one too many times, and eyes that are… annoyingly calm. Like he’s completely comfortable being stared at.He glances between Antonia and me before his gaze settles on me.“Sorry,” he says, voice low but polite. “I don’t usually do this.”Antonia kicks my foot under the table.I swallow. “Do what?” I ask.His lips twitch slightly. “Walk up to strangers.”Antonia leans forward immediately. “But you did.”He nods once. “Yeah. I did.”His eyes flick back to mine. “I noticed you looking over a few times.”My eyes widen. “I wasn’t...”Antonia coughs loudly and I actually have to glare at

ISABELLA“I’m not...” I start, then stop, because… yeah. I definitely look like I’m being forced. Antonia kicks me again under the table. I inhale slowly, forcing myself to loosen up just a little.Ethan’s thumb shifts slightly against my hand, more natural this time. “Better,” he says.“This is stupid,” I mutter under my breath.Ethan hears me anyway. “Probably,” he agrees. “But I’m starting to think your boyfriend isn’t the only one who’s going to feel something tonight.”My stomach drops. “Meaning?”He smiles... “Meaning,” he says, “you might end up enjoying this more than you planned.”I don't know what he's saying. But I don't care. Antonia gestures me and I stand on my feet and walk to where Ethan is seated."Shall we?" I say and he smirks and nods."We shall."Now I don't have any idea how this is supposed yo work out. I excuse myself and call Chloe. She picks up the instant it rings."Hey...." She says."Don't hey me. I'm with a guy." I tell her in a hushed whisper."Wait, lik