A Thousand Ways To Say I Love You

CHAPTER XXVIII

Matteo quietly slipped back into Isabella's house, the cool night air still clinging to his skin. His heart was heavy, but he tried to mask it, not wanting her to see the turmoil boiling beneath his calm exterior. As he stepped inside, the soft creak of the floorboards gave him away.

Isabella was sitting at the kitchen table, a warm cup of tea in her hands, her eyes heavy with concern. She glanced up when she heard him, immediately noting the tension in his face.

"Matteo?" Her voice was soft but laced with worry. "It's past midnight. I was getting worried."

Matteo hesitated for a moment, his mind racing with excuses. He didn’t want to lie, but there was so much she didn’t know—so much he wasn’t ready to tell her yet.

"I just… needed some air," he finally said, stepping closer to her. "I went to check on something at the house. But it took time, It's been a while since I was there."

Isabella’s eyes softened, but the worry didn’t fade. She stood up and approached him, placing a gentle hand on his arm. "You look tired. Is everything okay?"

Matteo looked into her eyes, the warmth of her touch grounding him, even if only for a moment. He could feel the weight of the pendrive in his pocket, a constant reminder of the secrets he still held.

"I'm fine," he lied softly, leaning down to kiss her forehead. "Just a lot on my mind lately."

Isabella frowned slightly, not convinced. She knew something was off but didn’t want to push him too hard. Instead, she reached for his hand, squeezing it gently.

"You don’t have to carry everything alone, Matteo," she said gently, her eyes searching his. "I’m here for you. Whatever it is, you can talk to me."

"I appreciate that," he whispered, his hand covering hers, squeezing it gently. "But not tonight. I just need some rest."

Isabella nodded, but the worry in her eyes didn’t fade. She knew there was more, something deeper that he wasn’t telling her. But for now, she would respect his need for space.

"Okay," she said softly. "But promise me you’ll talk to me when you’re ready."

Matteo nodded, pulling her into a tight embrace. "I promise," he replied , though even as he said it, he wondered how long he could keep avoiding the truth.

Matteo wrapped his arms around Isabella, pulling her close in a tight embrace. For a moment, he let himself get lost in the warmth of her touch, trying to push away the weight of everything that had happened that night. He whispered softly into her hair, "Good night, Bella."

Isabella hugged him back, but something in the way he held her felt different—like he was holding on too tightly, as if he were afraid to let go. When he pulled back and gave her a small smile, she could see the exhaustion in his eyes, but there was something else there, too—something he wasn’t saying.

"Good night," she replied quietly, watching him as he turned and headed toward his room.

As she stood there in the dim light, a knot of unease twisted in her stomach. Matteo had always been guarded, but tonight felt different. He had gone to his old house, she could feel there was more to the story.

Isabella couldn’t shake the feeling that he was hiding something, something bigger. She trusted him, but this nagging sense of dread wouldn’t leave her. It was as if a shadow hung over him, and she couldn’t figure out why.

She sighed softly, glancing at the clock. It was late, and they both needed sleep. But as she climbed into bed, her mind kept circling back to Matteo’s haunted expression, the way his hug had felt like he was holding on for dear life.

Isabella lay awake for a long time, staring at the ceiling, her thoughts racing. Whatever Matteo was hiding, she hoped he would trust her enough to tell her soon. But until then, all she could do was wait, unsure of what the future would bring.

At 2:45 a.m., a soft knock echoed through Isabella's room, stirring her from her restless sleep. Groggily, she walked to the door, wondering who it could be at this hour. When she opened it, there stood Matteo, his expression full of something raw, something she couldn't quite place.

Before she could ask what was wrong, Matteo stepped forward, cupping her face gently, and kissed her. The kiss was soft yet filled with a desperate need for comfort. As he pulled her into a tight hug, he whispered into her ear, "I just need to be next to you, Bella. Can I stay with you tonight? I won’t do anything, I promise. Just sleep."

Isabella hesitated, her heart racing. She was torn. Her mother was just down the hall, and the thought of being caught together in her room sent a wave of anxiety through her. But looking into Matteo's eyes, she could see how vulnerable he was, how much he needed her right now.

"Matteo, what if my mother sees? We can’t—"

He shook his head, cutting her off gently. "She won’t. I just want to sleep next to you. That’s all. I don’t want to be alone tonight, Bella. Please."

His voice was low, almost pleading, and it made her chest tighten. She didn’t have the heart to refuse him, not when he was like this. Slowly, she nodded, stepping aside to let him in.

"Okay," she whispered. "Just sleep, though."

Matteo smiled softly, grateful, and nodded. "Just sleep."

They climbed into bed, and for the first time in a long time, Matteo felt a sense of calm wash over him. As he wrapped his arm around Isabella, pulling her close, he finally felt safe—like the ghosts of his past couldn’t touch him here.

Isabella, though still nervous about the possibility of her mother finding out, couldn’t deny the comfort of having him beside her. As they lay there in the quiet of the night, both of them drifted off into a peaceful sleep, wrapped in each other’s presence, even as unspoken secrets lingered between them.