More Than This by Dominique Wolf

CHAPTER 60:

Isabella

F

or the first time in weeks, I felt genuinely happy. Giovanni was back home now and all he had to focus on was recovering. We didn't have to deal with any unnecessary drama anymore. There was no more Casey and no more baby. A part of me felt bad for Casey. She was pregnant and scared to do this alone, but another part of me was just relieved that it wasn't my problem to deal with anymore. Everything was back to how it was supposed to be.

Giovanni and I are together again.

I couldn't help the smile on my face as I waved goodbye to Alvaro and Penelope as they dropped me outside my apartment. I needed to pack enough for the next few days. I wasn't going to want to leave his side. The worst was over now, but I just wanted him to recover and all would be well in the world again. Reyna and Katrina had gone away with their parents to celebrate New Years and both significant others had gone with them. They extended the offer for me to join, but I couldn't leave Giovanni so they understood when I politely declined to join. I made it upstairs and pushed through my door as my phone started to buzz in my back pocket. I closed the door behind me and pulled my phone out

Lorenzo.

I sighed. I hadn't returned his calls in days since Giovanni's accident. It wasn't an intentional move on my side, I was just focused on so many other things. I couldn't ignore him forever though so I answered and brought my phone to my ear.

“Lorenzo, hi.”

“Hey, Izzy,” he said. “It's been a while, how have you been?”

We went through the small talk quite quickly. I was careful not to give too much away since I knew how Lorenzo felt about Giovanni. He was my friend though and I didn't want to be rude.

“Well, I'm glad I finally got a hold of you, I wanted to see if you had any plans tomorrow evening?”

“For New Year's Eve?”

“Yes, there is this great party that they're having close to the beach and I really wanted you to join. It could be really fun.”

I couldn't help but feel bad. Even though I knew we were just friends, Lorenzo had made it very clear how he feels about me and I had to be honest with him.

“I actually have plans,” I murmured.

“Oh, you do?” He sounded surprised.

“Yes.”

The line was silent for a moment.

“With Giovanni?” he finally asked.

“Yes,” I replied. “Lorenzo, so much has happened over the last few days. Giovanni was in a car accident and he found out he wasn't the father of Casey's baby and it-”.

He interrupted me. “Hold on, did you just say he's not the father?”

“Yes, turns out Casey was lying.”

His silence on the other end spoke volumes and I knew that wasn't what he wanted to hear.

“So, are the two of you back together now?”

I didn't want to say it. I felt bad about saying it. I know I didn't owe Lorenzo anything but I couldn't help the compassion I felt towards him. He had been there for me in a time when I really needed someone. He was always willing to help and did his best to keep me distracted from everything going on. Things didn't go the way he was clearly hoping it would have, but I couldn't reciprocate his feelings. Not when Giovanni had my heart.

“I'm sorry, Lorenzo.”

“You don't have to apologize, Isabella,” There was a new distance in his voice now. “Seems like everything really worked out for the two of you.”

“You know I care about you,” I murmured.

“Yeah, but not in the way I care about you.”

I sighed and hung my head in my hands. “I'm sorry.”

“I just want you to be happy,” he said softly.

“Thank you. You know I want the same for you and I hope that we can still be fr-”.

“Please don't say friends,” he murmured. “I think it's probably best if I take a step back now.”

“You don't have to do that.”

“I do. I want you to be happy, but I can't watch you be with him. Not when I have feelings for you.”

It saddened me to know that this was probably the last time I was going to hear from him. I had grown so fond of him and even though I couldn't reciprocate his feelings, I knew someone out there would and he deserved that.

“I understand.”

“Giovanni is a lucky man,” he said. “You better remind him of that.”

“Thank you, Lorenzo.”

“Take care of yourself.”

And with our last goodbyes, we disconnected the call.

***

“Honey, I'm home,” I said playfully as I strolled back into his apartment, bag and pizza in hand.

He was seated on the couch and he peeped his head up to meet my gaze as I came around the corner. I looked around and found he was alone.

“Where's your mom?”

“You just missed her,” he said. “She says hi though.”

I walked over to the counter and placed the pizza box on top of it as I dropped my bag to the floor. I pushed the whole Lorenzo interaction out of my mind. It didn't matter what had happened, I knew I would have always chosen Giovanni anyway and there was nothing I could do about that. He had a hold over my heart and soul and I was just happy to be here with him again.

“Are you hungry?” I asked, leaning over the couch.

He looked up at me. “Starving.”

I smiled and was about to make my way back to the kitchen when he reached out and grabbed my arm, pulling me closer.

“You do realize that we technically have no reason not to be together now right?”

A smile played on my lips. “Is that so? Seems so unlike us.”

He chuckled. “I'm serious, Isabella. The last few weeks without you were fucking torture and I never want to feel that again.”

“Trust me, neither do I.”

He pulled me closer and my lips reached his. I sunk into the kiss, feeling all the fear and pain that previously lived in my body, slip away. There was just him and I now. I felt him smile beneath my lips and that warmed my heart. It was bursting with a happiness I never thought I would feel again.

He pulled away. “Now, I can start calling you my girlfriend again.”

It was like hearing it for the first time. The same goofy smile spread across my face and I couldn't help but tug at my lip, trying to contain my happiness.

“Well, your girlfriend is going to get the pizza and plates.”

He chuckled. “Don't worry about plates. We can eat out of the box.”

I walked back to the counter and reached for the pizza box. I placed it down on the small coffee table in front of the couch. I pulled my phone out and noticed it had died.

“Let me just grab my charger.”

I opened the zip of my bag, looking through it to find my charger. There were so many things in the bag that I had to start emptying some clothes to find it.

“Are you managing?”

“Yeah,” I said as I pulled it out. “There is just so much shit in this bag. I didn't know how long I would be here for but I'm pretty sure I overpacked.”

“You know you wouldn't have to keep packing bags if you just lived here.”

I froze and slowly stood up, turning towards him.”What did you just say?”

He was reaching for a slice of pizza as he casually turned to me. “I said you wouldn't have to keep packing bags if you just lived here.”

I heard exactly what he had said the first time but I needed to hear it again. Did he just ask me to live with him? Did he seriously ask me that? Oh my God, my heart was bursting.

I stepped closer to the couch. “You want me to live here?”

He took a bite of his pizza. “Of course I do.”

“Like to move in here?” I repeated the phrase differently, trying to wrap my head around it. “To live with you? Like this would be my apartment, too?”

He burst out laughing. “How many other ways are you going to ask me the same thing? Yes, mi hermosa, I want you to live here with me in this apartment.”

My hands went to cover my mouth.

“Isabella, if I could move right now I would come to you but I'm in a bit of a situation so if you could bring yourself over here, that would be great.”

I couldn't help but laugh as I went over to the couch again. He dusted off his hands as he finished the last of his pizza slice and pulled me closer to him.

“Don't you think we're moving too fast here?” I asked.

He shook his head. “I know what I want. Being without you is something I never want to experience again. I want a life with you and that starts with living together so I'm ready if you are.”

I didn't know what to say. I was too overcome with happiness to say anything. I just sat in his arms with a huge smile spread across my face.

“If this is too much for you then I understand and we can wa-”.

I interrupted him. “I want to do it.”

“You do?” His eyes lit up.

Happy tears had started to form in my eyes. “Of course.”