All Chapters of CRAVING ISABELLA: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

NOAH I've just been intercepted yet again by the soccer team Coach. He wants to see if I'll try out for the team. Yeah, like that would ever happen. The last thing I want is to be in a team. Teamwork isn't really one of my strong suits. And I don't want to be up against my brother and his fancy soccer team at his college. "You're sure about that?" Coach Tanner asks, like asking will make me change my mind. "Absolutely." I nod and he pats my back. That emits a growl from me. Fucking hell! What was that for? "Touch me again..." I start, stepping closer to him, even though the big man doesn't look intimidated. "And I'll make sure your hand isn't the only thing you lose, Coach," I say, before I walk off. I shove my hands into my pockets as I walk outside the athletic department buildings. Giovanni is already waiting for me, leaning against my car. He's holding a cigarette between his lips and he smells clean. Well, that's a fucking first. He's always gross and stinky after spe

ISABELLAYou know what's absolutely infuriating? It's that the dickhead has the effrontery to call me nicknames after he just degraded my family. He doesn't know anything about me! Noah doesn't know what I've been through! He doesn't know how hard it was for my parents to have me. He doesn't know what my birth took from them! My father lost his job the day I was born and my mum... she almost lost her life. I think... their worlds fell apart right from when I came into their lives.And they love me. I know that for a fact. They love me. They just... they just love me in their own way. They are both broken people whom I can't and will never turn my back on. So Noah can say what he wants to say. He can go fuck himself for all I care. What does he know about anything? He's just a...I clamp a hand around my mouth and sniff. My legs are moving so fast on the pavement but I still doubt that I'd be able to get back to the slum neighbourhood tonight. I stop to catch my breath. The night i

ISABELLA"Hey, Drama Queen." Leo waves from behind the counter once I enter the glass doors, and I can finally not feel the scorching heat. I'm suddenly very grateful for the air conditioners he put in this place."I'm going to melt. The sun is..." My voice trails off when I spot Chloe taking an order from a table far away. "You two still not talking?" He follows my gaze. I walk around to the other side of the counter and grab an apron. "Hello, Isabella. Oh, Hello Leo. How are you? I'm pissed. Thank you for calling me yesterday and asking how I am. And thank you for asking how I am this afternoon. You're welcome. Your concern is deeply appreciated."Leo blinks thrice, then he grins. "Now I see why he calls you Drama Queen. What the fuck was that?" His grin turns to a full-blown chuckle."You're laughing?" "Babe, I'm sorry I didn't call okay? I was busy. In case you haven't noticed, I need more workers here, and one... no two of my staff were AWOL. So I was crammed." I stare at him

ISABELLAMy head snaps up at the sound of the sarcastic voice. My fingers clench around the stems of the lilies as I give Noah a glance.The guy is dressed in just loose slacks, his bare, tattooed upper body is covered in so much sweat that makes his olive skin glisten. I take it it's either he's been working out or he's just returned from the gym or... I don't know. The sight is hot. Him, seated on one of his grey couches, his legs spread, his thin lips moving like... Right. He's chewing a gum. His eyes and mine lock. Gracious Lord! He's so good looking! My lips part, press together and then part again.It's until I feel Hardin's fingers on my neck that I snap out of the daze I am. Jesus! What the hell was that? I just fucking checked my boyfriend's crazy ass man-whore brother while standing next to him. I glance at my feet, taking my lower lip in my mouth and biting down on it.Did Hardin see me and the kind of look I was giving to Noah? "Hey, bro." Hardin says calmly and only the

ISABELLAI can't call Hardin. I can't call him because what do I even say to him? That Noah made me ask him to leave? What kind of pathetic excuse is that?I shake my head, then run a finger through my hair as I stare at my reflection in the mirror. It's just six. I do have a class by eight. That's like two hours from now. But don't blame me. I have no intention of walking to school. I run a hand down the dress I've picked to wear today. It's so tight, and short, but then it's just like the kind of dress Hardin likes on me. So it'll do.I hear the door from the opposite room creak open and I still. He's up. The devil is up. I hold my breath as I hear his heavy footsteps wade toward the bathroom. That's enough to make me roll my eyes. Noah's room has an ensuite. The least I expect from him is to leave the bathroom down the hallway for me. But no. He has to make a fucking big deal about it. Just as he's making a big deal about telling Hardin all about my family. See why I don't reco