Gangster's Paradise // Rio (Good Girls)

33.Grandma

Isla walked through the store with Axel and Emma, their conversation continuing as they shopped. Emma grabbed a bag of chips and added it to the cart while asking, "So, have you talked to him at all?"

"Not in a couple of days," Isla replied, her hand on the cart as she pushed it forward. "I let myself get emotional over it. I felt like I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions and snapped at him, but I couldn't help myself. I was just so angry when he didn't say anything back."

Axel joined in, placing different items into the cart, and asked, "And how are you feeling with all this happening and the baby and all?"

"I mean, physically, I feel fine," Isla said. "But I can't stop thinking about it. He was just so shocked. I feel like I should have given him time to, I don't know, process it maybe?"

"No, we get it, Isla," Emma reassured her. "I mean, you guys have spent all this time together, and when you tell him something like that and he can't even say anything back right after you told him you were going to have his baby..."

"Exactly! He could have said something," Isla said, frustration evident in her voice.

"It will get better," Axel said, looking at Isla with a reassuring smile. Isla nodded in agreement as they made their way to the checkout counter. After paying for their items, they loaded everything into Emma's car.

"Alright, we'll see you later, Isla," Emma said. Isla grabbed her things from the back seat and waved goodbye as they drove away. She turned and started walking towards her house, her eyes catching sight of a familiar BMW parked nearby.

"How are you feeling, Mama?" Rio asked, walking closer to her.

"Nauseous," Isla replied, looking at him. It was true; she had been experiencing terrible morning sickness lately. Rio rubbed his lips together,

"We need to talk," he said, leaning his head towards his car

"We've already talked, and I've got groceries to put away," Isla replied, looking away from Rio towards her house. When she looked back at him, she noticed his jaw clench as his hands slid into his pockets.

"Get in the car, Isla," Rio said firmly, walking towards his car and getting in. Isla hesitated for a moment, rubbing her lips together, before finally walking towards the car and getting in. After a few moments of silence, she decided to break it.

"Rio..." she began, but he cut her off.

"Have you been to the doctor yet?" Rio asked, his gaze steady on Isla. She took a deep breath, brushing her hair out of her face.

"Yes, I did," Isla replied, looking over at him. He nodded, and she reached down, opened her purse, and pulled out the ultrasound pictures. She had gone to her ultrasound earlier that day, with the help of Axel and Emma who had brought her before they went to the store.

The car fell into silence as Rio slowly looked at each picture, while Isla leaned back in her seat, watching him intently as she waited for his response.

"You have to come back," Rio finally said, his voice filled with a mix of surprise and concern. "The possibility of you getting pregnant never crossed my mind, Isla. It took me by surprise."

"I come back, and what changes?" Isla said, her gaze fixed on Rio. "Rio, I can't keep doing this without knowing how you're feeling. You don't talk to me. I don't know where you stand with... us. I don't know how you feel about this baby or where you see us going."

Rio looked at her, his expression serious. "Isla," he began, but Isla interrupted him.

"Just tell me," Isla pleaded, her blue eyes locked with his dark ones. "Because if you can't tell me, then there..." Her words trailed off as he cut her off.

Edit: "I'm trying to show you," Rio said, his grip on the wheel tightening as he glared over at her.

"So show me, Rio. I mean, I really don't know a lot about you," Isla said. Rio nodded and put the car in drive, driving down the road. Isla looked back at her house before turning her gaze to him. "Where are we going?"

Rio remained silent as he drove until he eventually stopped. Without giving her a chance to say anything, he got out of the car and walked to her side, gently pulling her out and leading her to the door. Inside, Isla saw an older woman with short curly hair.

"Isla, this is my grandma. Grandma, this is Isla," Rio introduced, and Isla greeted her with a warm smile.

"Oh! So this is Isla. It's so nice to finally meet you!" the grandma exclaimed. "Christopher has told me so much about you."

"It's very nice to meet you, Mrs..." Isla began.

"Oh, please call me Grandma or Nana. You're practically family, especially with that little baby growing in your belly," Grandma said, her eyes filled with excitement. "Christopher was just so happy when he told me. I was so excited to meet you."

"Please, have a seat and enjoy a muffin. Christopher tells me you're quite the baker yourself," Grandma said warmly as Isla slowly made her way and sat down.

"He did, did he?" Isla replied with a smile.

"He talks about you all the time," Grandma continued, and Isla engaged in a conversation with her while occasionally stealing glances at Rio, who leaned against the door frame with a small smile.

"You'll come back to visit, yes?" Grandma asked Isla.

"Yes, of course," Isla replied with a smile as she and Rio walked out the door. "Hey," Isla said, grabbing his arm when they reached the car.

"Thank you," Isla said to him, locking her gaze with his, and slowly leaned forward to kiss him. But before their lips met, Rio reached into his pocket, took out a ring, and gently slid it onto her finger.

"What... what are you doing?" Isla whispered, her heart beating fast against her rib cage as her breath quickened. Her eyes shifted from the dazzling diamond ring on her finger to Rio's dark gaze.

"Marry me,"