Gangster's Paradise // Rio (Good Girls)

29. don't know his feelings

Isla rolled over and reached her hand out, only to find nothing there. Her eyebrows furrowed as she slowly sat up and looked towards the end of the bed where Rio was sitting.

"What are you doing?" Isla asked as she moved closer to him. Her eyes then wandered to the window and noticed it was barely light outside. "What time is it?"

"It's early," Rio said, standing up and glancing back at her. "I have something I need to take care of. Go back to sleep."

"You can stay," Isla whispered against his lips. "We can spend the whole day in bed," she suggested, kissing his jaw. He hummed in response.

"But you have things to do too," Rio replied. Isla groaned and laid back in bed. The last thing she wanted to do right now was spend her day off looking at dresses.

"I don't know why she wants to look at dresses now. The wedding's months away still," Isla said, looking over at him and playfully crawling her way towards him, stealing his hips.

"When I had my wedding, it wasn't even this big of a deal. It cost us a whole $300," she said, half-jokingly. It wasn't a lie; her wedding with Mason was very small, and there was the fact that they were college students trying to make it through. She necessarily couldn't have a big, grand wedding.

"The last thing I want to do is spend my day off with a bridezilla," Isla whined, kissing his jaw again. "I would much rather stay in bed," she said, slightly moving her hips closer. His hands quickly came to rest on her hips, stopping her.

"As much as I would love to stay all day in bed with you," Rio said, "I really have to handle some business."

"Just one time," Isla said as she pulled back to look at him, a pleading expression on her face. "It'll help me get through my day."

"Huh, that's funny. I remember asking that the other week," Rio replied teasingly as he playfully moved her over. "Have fun with bridezilla."

"Yeah, keep saying that all you want, but you keep forgetting that you are my plus one to that wedding," Isla retorted, standing up and slipping into one of his shirts that stopped mid-thigh. He hummed in response as he kissed her again and walked out. "Be careful," she yelled after him, huffing as she slid on her shorts.

Isla walked into the bathroom, setting her phone down on the vanity as she began washing her face and applying her makeup. Suddenly, her phone rang, and she glanced down to see Emma's name on the screen.

"Hey," Isla said, answering the call.

"I'm outside your house," Emma informed her. Isla paused, looking down at her phone in confusion.

"I'm not at home," Isla replied. "And I don't have my car with me," she added. Emma hummed thoughtfully on the other end.

"So, where are you?" Emma asked. Isla pondered for a moment.

"Okay, I'll meet you outside, alright?" Emma suggested.

"Yep, thanks," Isla agreed before hanging up. She quickly finished getting ready and made her way out the door to Emma's car.

"Ready?" Isla asked as she got into the vehicle. Emma nodded, starting the engine and pulling away from the curb.

"You don't sound very happy," Emma remarked, glancing over at Isla, who rolled her eyes in response.

"I love Axel, but the last thing I want to do is spend my day off with his bridezilla," Isla complained. Emma couldn't help but let out a small laugh. "And you know damn well that's what she's going to be."

"Yeah, I know," Emma agreed. "But hey, maybe this will give you an idea." Isla furrowed her eyebrows in confusion, looking over at her sister.

"What do you mean?" Isla inquired.

"Oh, come on, it's obvious!" Emma exclaimed.

"What is?" Isla asked, still puzzled.

"That you're in love!" Emma declared. "Here's to the future next bridezilla!"

"I was never a bridezilla, Emma!" Isla protested.

"You didn't deny it," Emma teased, once again causing Isla to furrow her eyebrows in confusion. "That you're in love."

Isla was most definitely in love. She could admit that to herself without hesitation. The only thing that troubled her was whether he felt the same way. Did he love her as deeply as she loved him?

"I'm..." Isla trailed off, unsure of how to respond. Should she deny it? She didn't want to feel foolish for loving someone who might not love her back. If she said it out loud, it would be out there, and there would be no taking it back.

"I know, I know, it's complicated," Emma reassured her, offering a warm smile. "After everything that happened with Mason, you've hesitated. I get it," Emma said sympathetically.

"It's not just that, Emma," Isla confessed. "I just don't know how he's feeling. I can sit there and talk to him for hours, and he'll listen, but he doesn't... tell me what he's feeling," she huffed in frustration.

"I would imagine it's hard to be with a man like him," Emma empathized. "You guys will get there; just give it a little time," she advised. Isla nodded.

"I know, but..." Isla began, but Emma interrupted her.

"Just ask him," Emma suggested. Isla shook her head in uncertainty.

"Just ask him? Like, in a subtle way, you know? Like bring up the wedding planning and slip in a question like, 'What do you feel about weddings?' or something like that," Emma elaborated.

"That could work," Isla agreed, nodding her head and glancing out the window.

"Yeah, just ever so slightly mention it in a conversation," Emma encouraged as they pulled into their destination. "Now, let's go deal with Bridezilla."

Isla huffed as she sank back into the couch at the dress shop. They had been there for over an hour, and Abby had tried on dress after dress, none of them meeting her perfectionist standards. Isla's attention was pulled away from the endless dress parade when her phone buzzed in her hand. She glanced down to see a message from Rio.

Rio:
Where are you?

Isla:
Dress shop.

Rio:
Still?

Isla:
Yes, will you please come get me?

"Isla," Emma's voice broke through her thoughts, and Isla looked up to see her sister standing there, giving her an annoyed look with a fake smile. Isla knew Emma didn't want to be there any more than she did.

"What do you think about this one?" Emma asked, gesturing towards Abby, who was standing in yet another wedding dress. Isla sighed inwardly.

"I think it's great," Isla replied, forcing a smile as she looked at her sister and then back at the brunette in the dress. "Just like the other 20," she muttered under her breath, glancing back down at her phone.

Rio:
On my way.

"Oh! I need to go!" Isla exclaimed, suddenly standing up. "There's an emergency at the hospital." Emma looked at her with wide eyes, knowing full well that Isla was lying.

"It's okay, duty calls," Abby said with a small smile.

"Send me a picture of the dress you pick, yeah?" Isla asked, not waiting for a response as she quickly made her way out to Rio's car.