A Thousand Ways To Say I Love You

CHAPTER LIV

Carter was relentless in his pursuit of Isabella. He showed up at the hospital frequently, his charm and persistence on full display. At first, Isabella tried to be polite, reminding herself that he was just being friendly. But as time passed, his visits became more intrusive, and she felt increasingly uncomfortable.

Every day, as she finished her rounds, she would see him waiting in the lobby, leaning casually against the wall with a smile that she had come to dread. "Hey, Bella! How's your day going?" he would ask, his tone light, but she could hear an underlying eagerness in his voice.

"It's fine, Carter," she would reply, forcing a smile as she tried to navigate around him. She wished he would get the hint that she wasn't interested, but he seemed to interpret her avoidance as a challenge rather than a clear rejection.

"Let's grab lunch together. I know this great little café nearby," he suggested one afternoon, his eyes sparkling with hope.

Isabella hesitated. "I really can't, Carter. I have a meeting to attend," she lied, the words tasting bitter on her tongue.

Carter, undeterred, pressed on. "How about dinner then? , I promise! to you that I could make you forget about him and remember I told you I'm always free for you."

She sighed, feeling trapped. "I appreciate the offer, but I'm sorry ," she replied, her tone firmer this time.

But Carter wouldn't take no for an answer. "You're still upset about the breakup, aren't you? Let me help you forget about him, at least for a little while. I'll make you laugh," he insisted, his voice tinged with a hint of desperation.

Isabella felt her frustration boiling over. "Carter, it's not like that. I just need some space," she said, trying to keep her tone even. She turned away, hoping he would finally get the message.

Yet, he continued to hover around her, finding reasons to stop by her workstation or the nurse's station, determined to break through her defenses. Each encounter only served to remind Isabella of how much she missed Matteo, making her irritation toward Carter grow.

On one particularly challenging day, after a long shift, Isabella was preparing to head home when Carter approached her again. "I've got tickets to a concert this weekend. It could be a great way for you to unwind. What do you say?"

Isabella's patience wore thin. "Carter, I'm really not interested. I'm just not ready to move on, please I begged you," she snapped, finally letting her frustration spill out.

"Why are you being so stubborn? You can't keep pining for someone who clearly doesn't care about you anymore. You deserve to be happy!" Carter replied, his expression shifting from friendly to frustrated.

"Don't tell me what I deserve, Carter! You have no idea what I'm going through!" Isabella shot back, her voice rising.

The tension hung thick in the air, and for a moment, they stood there, glaring at each other, both caught off guard by the intensity of the moment. Carter's eyes softened as he searched hers, and he took a step closer, lowering his voice. "I just want to be there for you, Bella. I want to help you, I'll never make you unhappy, I could make you forget about him."

Isabella felt a pang of guilt but shook her head. "I appreciate your concern, but I need time. I'm sorry." With that, she walked away, leaving Carter standing there, disappointment etched across his face.

As she left the hospital, Isabella couldn't shake off the feeling of guilt for snapping at him. Yet, deep down, she knew she needed to prioritize her own healing and couldn't let Carter's persistent advances distract her from her feelings for Matteo.

Isabella stepped into her apartment, the familiar scent of home providing little comfort as she closed the door behind her. The weight of the day settled heavily on her shoulders, and she felt the guilt wash over her again for snapping at Carter. She sank into the couch, her mind racing with conflicting thoughts about the past week.

Just then, the sound of the key turning in the lock drew her attention, and Andria entered, her face lighting up when she saw Isabella. "Hey! How was work today?" she asked, tossing her bag on the chair.

Isabella sighed, running a hand through her hair. "It was... exhausting," she replied, her voice tinged with frustration. "Carter keeps showing up, and today, I finally lost my temper with him."

Andria's brows furrowed with concern as she took a seat beside Isabella. "What happened? Did he push too hard again?"

"Yeah. He was relentless about wanting to take me out, trying to cheer me up or something," Isabella recounted, her voice dripping with annoyance. "I told him I wasn't ready to move on, but he wouldn't listen. And honestly, I feel bad for snapping at him."

Andria shook her head, crossing her arms. "Bella, you have every right to set boundaries. You're not obligated to comfort him just because he's trying to pursue you. He didn't know about your breakup until I mentioned it. If I hadn't let that slip, he might have backed off a bit."

"I know," Isabella admitted, feeling the guilt twist tighter in her stomach. "But it's frustrating. I just want to focus on my healing, not deal with someone who's trying to replace what I lost."

"Exactly! You don't owe him anything, he called me saying I should confront you but I told him he should respect your feelings, and I know where your heart is right now, I know you" Andria said, her voice firm. " You've given Matteo your all and there's nothing left for you to poured out to Carter, so that why you need to take care of yourself first."

Isabella nodded but couldn't shake the nagging feeling that she was being unfair to Carter. "I just wish things were different. I didn't expect to feel this way about Matteo and fall for him like a crazy puppy wanting for attention, and now everything feels like a mess."

Andria placed a comforting hand on Isabella's shoulder. "It's okay to feel that way. You're still processing everything. You loved Matteo, and it's not something you can just switch off. Don't feel guilty for being honest with Carter. He'll have to understand."

"Maybe you're right," Isabella sighed, though uncertainty still lingered. "It's just hard to keep pushing him away when he's trying so hard."

"Just take it one day at a time," Andria reassured her. "And remember, if he really cares about you, he'll wait until you're ready. You need to focus on your own healing first."

The two friends shared a moment of silence, the weight of the conversation settling around them. Isabella appreciated Andria's unwavering support and understanding, knowing she would always have someone in her corner.

As they began to chat about lighter topics, Isabella felt a little lighter, though the shadows of her heartbreak still loomed large. She knew she would need to confront her feelings for Matteo soon, but for now, she was grateful for the distraction.