[BOOK2] Sequel to Tangled Hearts
*****
I want her.
I want her more than I've ever wanted anything.
But I can't have her. Because the moment I admit that out loud, the moment I risk everything we've built, I could lose her.
And losing Isla? That's...
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I'm the one who wanted to be friends. Just friends.
I wanted to protect what we had, to keep things simple, to avoid the risk of ruining everything. So why does it feel like someone knocked the wind out of me when Theo mentioned he was going out with Peyton?
The tightness in my chest lingers all the way to the student admin office. I barely register the words coming out of my mouth as I explain my lost keys to the staff, their voices blending into the hum of fluorescent lights overhead. When they finally locate the spare and walk me back to my room, I manage a polite "Thank you" and step inside, shutting the door with a soft click.
Relief doesn't wash over me. It should—it always does when I'm back in my own space. But tonight, it feels like I'm sinking.
I lean against the door, my breath shaky. The image of Theo and Peyton flashes in my mind, uninvited and unrelenting. I picture them laughing over greasy slices of pizza, sharing inside jokes and glances that used to feel like they were ours. My stomach churns at the thought, the ache in my chest spreading like wildfire.
I strip off my clothes and head straight to the shower, turning the water as hot as it will go. The scalding heat prickles my skin, but it's nothing compared to the burn inside me. Pressing my forehead against the cool tiles, I let the water pour over me, trying to drown out the mess of emotions swirling in my chest.
I've been pretending for so long pretending that this doesn't matter. Pretending that he doesn't matter.
But I can't anymore.
******
Wrapped in my coziest hoodie and the softest sweats, I settle cross-legged on my bed, laptop in front of me. I plan to drown out the day with a mindless show or maybe catch up on a few assignments, but then the FaceTime notification lights up.
Mum.
I hesitate, finger hovering for a beat, before I swipe to accept. Her face fills the screen, glowing with warmth, her smile as comforting and familiar as ever.
"Hi, darling," she says, her voice sweet but sharp, like she's already sensing something's off. "You alright? Still coming for dinner tomorrow?"
I force a smile, though it feels like a bad disguise. "Hey, Mum. Yeah, I'm coming. I'll be there."
She tilts her head slightly, those familiar eyes narrowing, like she's reading me between the lines. "Are you bringing Theo with you?"
I freeze for a moment, caught off guard by the question. I shrug, trying to keep it casual. "Uh... not sure. Just me, I think."
Her gaze softens, but I can tell she's not fooled. "Isla, sweetheart... what's really going on?"
I open my mouth to deny it, but the lump in my throat betrays me. Instead, I sigh, leaning back against the headboard. "It's... complicated."
