Love Amour

Chapter Two: His Confession

Isaiah held the door open for Selene. As they stepped outside, the cool September breeze of Old York City wrapped around them. The sun dipped toward the horizon, casting a gentle glow over the city. For the first time in what felt like forever, he walked side by side with her. The silence between them was heavy. He didn't know whether to speak first or let her come to him.

Isaiah glanced at Selene, trying to read her thoughts. She had her dreamy, distant gaze she always wore when she was lost in a thought, which he found unexpectedly cute. He desperately wanted to understand what was going through her mind and if she missed him the way he missed her.

"So, where you been?" she asked, interrupting his overthinking. "Last time I heard from you, you were all the way on the Northside with your cousin Elijah. When did you get back?"

"I've been back at ma dukes' place for a few months now," Isaiah said, scratching his chin. "I couldn't stand living with Eli anymore."

"Oh," she said. "Why?"

"'Cause he's too unorganized and was constantly bringing different girls up in there. We only had a two-bedroom, and he was being all loud, up late partying and ish," he replied, rolling his eyes at the memory.

Selene's face scrunched up, a twinge of jealousy crossing her features at the mention of the girls. Isaiah noticed and thought to himself, She still feels something.

Selene's eyes lit up with a mix of excitement and confusion as she asked, "Did you drop out of college? Wait, did you even go?" Isaiah could see the genuine curiosity in her expression, which made him smile. The question caught him off guard, but he appreciated the chance to clear things up.

"Nah," he chuckled. "I didn't drop out. I finished my carpenter program at the trade school up there. Now I'm back to be an apprentice. There's more business out here, especially with the people I know."

"Wow, that's actually fire," Selene said, sounding proud of him. "Honestly, your parents were pushing you to play ball, and you stopped talking to me, so I figured that's what you ended up doing."

Isaiah's smile faltered slightly at the mention of basketball. The thought of it stirred something inside him—a wound that hasn't fully healed. He suppressed the feeling, trying to keep the conversation light.

"Well, that and getting with different girls," Selene added.

Isaiah didn't know how to respond to the mention of other girls. What did she know?

"Basketball has been my life since I was a child," he said, his voice low. "But after getting injured so many times, I needed to find myself. So, getting with other girls wasn't really an option."

Selene stopped in the middle of the street and pointed at his chest, getting in his face. "You know I waited for you," she said, her voice trembling. Seeing her tears again hurt him deeply, knowing he was the cause. "And I ran into Victoria like a year back. She told me you were talking to one of her friends—Delilah," she added, her fingers making air quotes."So, don't try to act like other girls weren't an option for you. Stop lying."

Isaiah gently took her hands and lowered them from her chest, feeling a rush of guilt as he saw the anger and hurt in her flushed face. He hated seeing her like this, her cheeks turning red and tears welling up in her eyes. Despite the tension, he couldn't help but admire the intensity of her emotions, how deeply she felt and how it showed on her face.

"Yeah, yeah, I get it," he said softly, his voice filled with regret. "I'll explain everything. Can we keep walking?"

Selene nodded, though her expression stayed tense. They walked in silence, the rhythm of their footsteps the only sound as they passed a few blocks from their old neighborhood. The city park came into view, and a wave of nostalgia hit them both.

"Want to sit on our bench and talk like we used to, back when things were rough at home?" Isaiah asked, his voice soft.

Selene's face softened as she looked at the park. "Yeah," she said quietly, still sounding mad at him.

They took a seat on their favorite old bench in the middle of the park. As they watched couples and families pass by, laughing and holding hands, Selene sat as far away from him on the bench as possible. Isaiah felt a swell of emotion inside him, but he didn't say anything. When did things go so wrong?

"When I left that night, my parents gave me no option. They saw me as this meal ticket, and because I lost my fire for the game and didn't want to play, they were kicking me out," he continued, looking down. "They told me I was worthless to them, and it made me feel like I was worthless to you, too."

Selene didn't say anything; she just stayed silent, looking eager to hear what he had to say.

"You knew me as this bigshot basketball player, but I didn't know who I was without the game, without my parents, and without you."

Isaiah took a deep breath, trying to steady his emotions. Selene shifted slightly on the bench, watching his reaction. She nodded, letting him continue, as if she had been waiting to hear it.

"I wasn't with nobody else if that's what you're thinking. I'm telling you, school was hard on me; I didn't have time. That girl Victoria was exaggerating. To be real, she was one of Eli's girlfriend's friends—Delilah. It was at one of Eli's parties, and she was trying to get with me when I was missing you. We only kissed. I wanted you the whole time. I couldn't move past a kiss—nobody is you, Selene."

Selene's brows furrowed, a mix of confusion and surprise crossing her face. "Then what about those texts I saw—the ones she showed me?"

She looked at Isaiah, clearly struggling to reconcile his words with the messages she had seen.

"Yeah, I was texting her," Isaiah admitted, rubbing his hand over his face, embarrassed. "Eli was seeing me down and out at the house, and he kept saying I was 'playing too much R&B.' He tried to set me up with her, saying I needed to move on, so I tried.

She was really pushing it, though. What Victoria didn't show you were the naked pictures she sent me. I didn't even like her like that—she was way too thirsty. I rejected her, but I guess those messages just disappeared or something."

Isaiah took out his phone and began scrolling through the messages he sent Selene even though he was blocked. Selene gasped as she saw all the loving texts and photos he had sent—memories that clearly reminded him of her. She noticed a tear drop fall onto the phone's screen, and then she looked up at him. Isaiah quickly turned away, trying to hide his tears before he managed to calm himself.

"I'm sorry, Selene," he said quietly, his voice nearly lost through his emotions. "I wanted to be the man you deserved, but I was terrified. My life was changing so fast, and I didn't want to hold you back."

Selene scooted closer, resting her hand gently on his thigh. She wasn't ready for a hug just yet, so they sat in silence, the weight of his confession hanging between them. The air grew cooler with each passing moment.

Suddenly, Selene's phone began to ring. She got up quickly. "I'm sorry, it's Reign. I've gotta take this."

"It's alright," Isaiah said, trying to steady himself. "I need to calm down and pace anyway."

Isaiah started to pace, taking deep breaths as he wrestled with his embarrassment. Was he still a man after laying his feelings bare? He couldn't read her expression—was it pity? He wasn't sure if she was angry with him or if she no longer loved him. As he walked back and forth, fragments of her phone conversation drifted to him: "Yeah girl, I'm bout to be home in like ten... yeah, I'm starving... okay, see you soon."

Selene returned, breaking the silence. "It's getting late, and we need to head home and It's cold out here...You ready?"

He stopped mid-step, his voice hesitant. "Home, as in home with me?"

A hint of sadness flickered across her face at his hopeful tone. "I mean home as in with Reign."