Telepathic Love

Chapter 8.1: First Night As Soulmates

Isabella's POV

I tried to sleep that night, but I couldn't get comfortable. As much as I tossed and turned, I couldn't find the one position that didn't make my body ache. I looked around the dim room, wishing someone was here with me.

I hesitated before deciding to reach out to him.

"Zac?"

I held my breath, waiting for him to respond. I got nervous when I realized how late it was.

"Are you awake?" I asked. "I'm sorry. You're probably asleep."

"I'm here," he said quietly. I couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.

"I didn't wake you, did I?" I asked.

"No," he said with a small laugh. "I was already awake."

"Oh good," I said, letting out another sigh of relief. "I just. . . I can't sleep and you're the only person I wanted to talk to."

"Well, that's what I'm here for," he said with a small chuckle. "To be here for you when you need someone to talk to. So, talk to me, darling."

"What do you want to know?" I asked rolling onto my side.

"Everything."

I smiled but hesitated. I looked down at my blanket and played with the edges. I wanted to talk to him but was a little nervous to finally open up to someone like this.

"Well," I slowly started.

"Darling,"  he said gently. "Start from the beginning. I want to know everything about you. Your full name, your age, where you were born, where you live now, your schooling, your family. Everything."

"Okay," I said, the nerves suddenly leaving. "I'm 29. My last name is Baxter and my family has owned The Sunrise Diner for almost 50 years. I currently live in Burbank."

"Wait," he cut me off. "You live in Burbank? I live in LA!"

"Oh," I said with a small laugh. I cleared my throat and added, "I didn't realize you were so close."

I couldn't help but nervously chew on my bottom lip. Suddenly a silence fell between us. I continued to play with the blanket as I tried to think of something to break this silence.

"So," he said, clearing his throat. "Did you go to school in Burbank?"

"I did," I said clearing my throat a little. "I went to Woodbury. But umm. . ."

I stopped talking. If I kept going, I would have to tell him why I took some time off. Taking time off before going to college comes with a stigma. One that people have not been kind to me for. I wanted to open up and tell Zac everything, but I hesitated.

"But what?" Zac asked, his voice soft."Darling? What is it?"

"My senior year of high school, my dad got diagnosed with a brain tumor," I blurted out.

"Isabella," he whispered. "I'm so sorry, darling."

"He's fine," I stuttered. "After I graduated high school, he was still in recovery and my mom was struggling with the diner. She could barely run it on her own, so I put off going to college for two years to help her."

"That's amazing," he said, his voice beaming with pride. "Wait, why were you embarrassed to tell me that?"

"It's just," I sighed. "When I finally went to school, people were so judgmental of me. They were rude and made fun of me. People didn't care that I stayed home to help my mom with the diner. They didn't care that my dad had a brain tumor and it was the roughest two years of his life. They just thought it was pathetic I started school late."

"Isabella," he said my name gently. "I'm sorry, darling. Those people were jerks. But how could you think that I would judge you for that? I'm proud of you for stepping up and helping your mom."

"Thanks," I said, dropping my voice.

"Isabella?" Zac said after a few beats of silence. I hummed, not knowing what else to say.

"I promise, as long as I'm around, no one is going to make you feel like that again."

"You're gonna be a protective Soulmate, aren't you?" I giggled.

"You're damn right," he joked. I laughed but was suddenly hit with a wave of exhaustion.

"I'm oddly okay with that," I said, trying to hide my exhaustion from him.

"Isabella?" He hesitated. "You sound tired, darling. You should get some rest."

"You're right," I whispered. "My whole body is tired. I haven't felt this exhausted since I was doing my student teaching while working full-time at my parents' diner."

"Good night, my darling," he laughed. "Reach out to me when you wake up, okay?"

"What if you aren't awake yet?" I asked, insecurities swarming me.

"Isabella," he said calmly. "I've told you this before and I'll tell you again. I don't care if I'm working or sleeping or talking to someone else. Nothing and no one is more important to me than you. Okay?"

"Okay," I said softly.

"Good night, Isabella."

"Good night, Zac."