Marry. Ride. Love.

Welcome back home

*Isabella*

I woke up because I could feel someone putting a jacket over my shoulders and then wrapping his arms around me.

For the breath of a second, I hoped it was Tino. I hoped it so much. But then I recognized Pecco. I opened my eyes. He immediately let go of me.

"Hey." he said worriedly "I just wanted to put you on those chairs, I thought it would be more comfortable than the floor and you..." but I didn't let him continue.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and started crying out of deepest despair. I immediately felt his arms wrap around my back. I began to tremble. I was bitterly cold and he was so warm. I sank into his arms as I broke.

Pecco just held me until eventually he pulled us both to our feet and dragged me with him to the chairs.

His warm hands stroked down my back, up into my hair. His whole body seemed to enclose me, to protect me. As I was about to break, he held me tight, making sure I didn't break. It was as if he was holding together all the pieces that made me up just then.

I had buried my face in the crook of his neck, perceiving only him, and he pulled me a little closer to him.

He didn't say a word, and yet we talked so endlessly in that moment. He gave me exactly what I needed.

It took me a while to catch my breath. Until I had caught myself to some extent.

"How is she?" he whispered, his hand stroking my back incessantly.

"Not good.", my voice just sounded empty.

"What did the doctors say? What are her chances?", his fingers slid up my neck.

"I don't know. No one can really say. She's been so long...no one really knows how this is going to play out."

"Is there anything I can do?"

I shook my head "Can you... Can you just stay here?"

"Sure. I'm not going back home without you.".

I lifted my head from the crook of his neck and leaned sideways against the back of the chair as he pulled my legs over his lap.

He had put his jacket over my shoulders. I took in his scent quite intensely.

"Thank you for coming.".

"Always, Bella.", he squeezed my hand.

"You're ahead of my husband again," I lowered my eyes. I didn't really want to talk about it. I didn't want him to feel like a replacement or anything.

Pecco was very different. And he was also something completely different for me than Tino. They both occupied an important place in my life. But a different place.

"He sent me," he said.

I just nodded. Of course he had sent another friend because he couldn't care less about me himself. Because he didn't care.

"Bella, he really cares," Pecco assured me, I just nodded again.

Sure, he had to say that. The two of them were friends and he would probably always be loyal to Tino. That was just the way it was. They all belonged together and stuck together.

But that Valentino was even interested in me in any way was a huge lie. And I was sure he knew that too. Still, he defended his friend. Over and over again.

"I'm so tired.", I whispered and closed my eyes.

"Do you want me to get us a hotel?" he gently stroked my hair, I shook my head.