More Than This by Dominique Wolf

CHAPTER 1:

Isabella

“I

can't believe it's you,” he said wide-eyed. “I had heard you were in Barcelona but that was months ago.”

How the hell was Nate standing in front of me right now?I wiped away the tears that managed to escape and quickly took a moment to take him in. He had the same kind eyes he always had. He was sporting a light, well-groomed beard that he never had before. He always found it frustrating to maintain so he never allowed it to grow out. His light hair was pulled back into a bun. He grew his hair out? Since when? I was surprised by his appearance. He looked just like the man I used to know, but he also looked like a complete stranger.

Why was he here now?Why now when I was trying to wrap my head around what I just found out. I was still in shock.

“What are you doing here?” I managed to get out, reminding myself to keep my emotions in tact.

He pulled his bag over his shoulder nervously. “I'm working on a project here.”

“Good for you,” I mumbled.

It came out more hostile than I intended it to but how was I supposed to react to my ex-boyfriend, who dumped me only to get engaged to someone else, standing in front of me?

“I wanted to reach out to you,” he said. “To see ho-”.

“To see how I was doing?” I snapped. “Don't you think you're half a year too late to be asking me that?”

He averted his eyes. “I'm sorry about what happened and for leaving just like that.”

I really didn't have the energy to deal with this right now. I wanted to get out of here. The air around me was becoming thin again and my breathing was starting to pick up. I was too focused on the fact that Casey was pregnant. What did that mean for Giovanni and I now? When last did he sleep with her? How far along was she? How could I trust him again? When did he find out? I had too many unanswered questions right now and the last thing I wanted to do was deal with Nate of all people.

“Don't you have a fiancé to get to?” I huffed, annoyed by his presence at that moment.

His eyes met mine. “You know?”

I scoffed. “Of course I know, Nate. You put your announcement on social media, did you think it would be a secret?”

“Isabella, I wanted to talk to yo-”.

I lifted a finger to cut him off. “I don't care that you're engaged. I really hope you and Christina will be happy, but I’m sorry, I have to go right now.”

I turned to leave, but he grabbed my arm. “Please wait.”

“Wait for what?”

Before he could answer, my phone started ringing in my hand. I looked down to see Giovanni's name flashing on my screen. My heart contracted. I couldn't do this right now. I couldn't face him. How could I?

“Who's Giovanni?” Nate asked.

I jerked my hand out of Nate's grip. “That's really none of your business!”

And with that, I turned towards the exit, ignoring his calls for me to stop. I pushed through the crowds of people and finally made my way outside. Winter was quickly approaching and the icy wind was unforgiving today. I pulled my jacket closer to me, trying to figure out what my next move was. My phone started buzzing again. Giovanni must already be here. I didn't want to face him right now. I couldn't - not without completely breaking down. I was barely holding it together, but I knew I needed to until I got home. I didn't want to get into a car with him. I needed time to process this.

My phone buzzed for the third time.

I glanced down at the two missed call notifications and messages that popped up from Giovanni.

Izzy, where are you? I'm here.

And another one...

Baby, I've been trying to call you. Why aren't you answering? I'm in the parking lot just outside the exit.

I jerked my head up, looking towards the open parking lot filled with cars. Giovanni was somewhere out there. I pulled the hood of my jacket over my head and turned in the direction of the metro. My default setting to run away had kicked in and I just needed to get out of here as soon as possible. I walked down the stairs towards the underground and quickly purchased a ticket. My phone kept buzzing in my hand, but I couldn't bring myself to check it again. I knew it was him. I knew he was looking for me. I scanned myself in and made it to the platform. The train was going to be another five minutes and I was thankful that there were hardly any people around. I found a bench and took my place on it, dropping my head into my hands.

How could this happen? How could Casey be pregnant? The universe was playing a sick game and I hated it. I didn’t want to believe it. I wanted to believe that there was no way the baby was his, but given their past physical relationship, I knew it would be naive to think otherwise. I felt sick to my stomach and the pain in my chest continued to escalate with each thought. It was aching for him.

A small part of me wanted to turn around and go find him. I wanted him to tell me this was just some sick rumour and that we were going to get through this.

But I couldn't do that.

He knew she was pregnant yesterday when he was with her and he didn't say a word to me. He lied about who he was with and to find out on the front page of a tabloid was an absolute slap in the face to me. My phone started to ring again and I knew I wasn't going to be able to dodge him forever. I stared blankly at his name on my screen, trying to figure out what I was going to say to him. I took a deep breath and answered.

“Isabella, thank God. I've been trying to reach you,” he said frantically. “Where are you, baby? I'm here.”

The tears started to pool in my eyes at the sound of his voice and a huge lump formed in my throat.

“Isabella? Can you hear me?”

“I can hear you.” I managed to get the words out.

“Are you alright? Where are you?”

“When were you going to tell me, Giovanni?” I murmured.

I heard him take a deep breath in on the other end of the line before answering, “Isabella, where are y-”.

I interrupted him, raising my voice. “When were you going to tell me that Casey is pregnant?

He was silent for a moment before he softly said, “How did you find out?”

I scoffed. “Is that really what you're concerned about right now? Maybe you should check the latest tabloids, Giovanni. Your picture with her at the hospital yesterday is spread across the front page. Isn't it ironic that I had to find out that way?”

I was overcome with my emotions and I couldn't control my tongue. He hated that his mother found out about his father's affair in the press and now here I was finding out about him and Casey in the exact same way.

“Baby, please you need to listen to m-,” he started to say, but I cut him off again.

“When I asked you who you were with yesterday you said no one. You lied to me, Giovanni.”

Tears fell from my eyes and I hung my head down, defeated by all of this. I couldn't hold it back any longer. I was struggling.

“I didn't know how to tell you, Isabella. I was just finding out for myself and I couldn't wrap my head around it. How could I have told you this over the phone? Casey pulls shit like this all the time for attention and I wa-”.

“Oh, so she's not pregnant?”

“No, she says she is bu-”.

The train pulled up to the stop and the few people around me started to get on. I stood up and grabbed my bag, pulling it closer to me.

“I can't do this Giovanni.” I choked on the tears. “I've found my own way home.”

And with that, I disconnected the call. I found myself a single seat in the back, away from the people that were on the train, and I buried my face in my hands.

Was this what true heartbreak felt like?