22. Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Isabella Bianchi

L ast night, I truly felt like a principessa. Everything was so luxurious; the food was divine, and the location was unbeatable. I'm thankful I paid attention to Karina before coming here and got this gorgeous beaded dress at her friend Dani Garcia's store.

I have way too many emotions to process; I need to talk to someone, and obviously it can't be Gabo. How on earth am I going to tell him how far gone I am for him when I'm not ready to say I love you? There's only one option: I need my bestie. So before heading to uni, I FaceTime Cata.

"Hey love, is this a good time?" I greet her as she appears on my screen. It seems like she's in her car.

"Isaaaa. Oh, my God, finally. I've been patiently waiting for you to call. I didn't want to interrupt anything," she says with a chuckle.

"You know you'll never interrupt me. How's everything going?" My soccer star bestie beams at my question.

"It's going great. The team is doing amazing, and we're in the playoffs! I still can't believe I might play the final match for the Argentine Women's Soccer Tournament."

I chuckle at her excitement. "Of course I can believe it. You're the best soccer player I've ever seen."

She rolls her eyes at me. "Nah, it's either because you're my best friend or because you don't watch enough soccer. Regardless, I appreciate the support."

We fall into a comfortable silence. I'm trying to think about how to bring up the subject, but Cata beats me to it.

"So, are you going to tell me? Or do you want me to ask you until you come out with it?"

Yup, that's my best friend. A straight shooter, on and off the pitch.

"So, I'm dating Gabo," I tell her, ripping off the proverbial band-aid.

"You what? Karina's brother?" Cata shouts, and I cackle at her reaction.

"Yeah, I don't think we know any other Gabo."

"You're right. I just didn't think it was true."

What does she mean?

I make a confused face, and she immediately continues talking. "Oh, well. You know how the boys are always checking on each other. And the last thing Mati shared was they were doing an ‘interfriendtion' so Luca would stop getting in your business."

I throw my head back in laughter at the image that forms in my head: Luca being scolded by his friends because of me.

"Oh, I guess it worked because since he left, he hasn't contacted either of us," I share with Cata as I wipe the tears from my face. It was a good laugh.

"Damn, you know from what Sofi has said, Luca has always been a little overbearing with Karina, but she knows how to put him in his place. I didn't realize that would extend to you, as well. But it makes sense; I mean, you're his sister. Even Franco tried to scare Mati off from dating me, arguing that I was his little sister, and he didn't want Mati to hurt me."

I open my eyes wide. I had no idea all this had gone down.

"What the hell? I mean, he's known Mati since they were kids. Why on earth wouldn't he trust one of his best friends?"

"That's exactly what the boys told Luca. They said Gabo was a man, not a boy trying to have fun with a mina for the summer."

I feel my cheeks warming at Cata's comment. In a way, I feel bad Luca gave Gabo so much shit knowing it was me who didn't want anything serious.

"What's that face for? Isabella Bianchi, what aren't you sharing?" Cata puts her face closer to the camera, and I burst out laughing.

"You know me too well," I tell her, and then I take a couple of deep, cleansing breaths.

"The thing is, I was the one who told Gabo to just have fun and see where things go. I don't want any attachments, Cata. Look at my parents. They had three kids, then dumped them and never contacted them again." I hate how this topic always makes me so sensitive; I feel water pooling in my eyes, and I wipe them before they fall.

"Isa, that's beyond your control. And it isn't fair to Gabo to compare what you guys have to your parents. I am one hundred percent confident that if at some point you decide to have kids, you'll be the best mom in the world, not because you had a good example, but because you'll do everything in your power to be the complete opposite of your parents."

I can't help it—I break down in tears. All the anger and frustration I've buried in my chest over my parents finally leaves my body. Cata doesn't say anything; she simply lets me cry. When I look at her on the screen, there's not a drop of judgment or pettiness on her face, just understanding.

Once I feel I have no more tears to waste on my parents, I wipe my face off and get a bottle of water from the fridge.

"Feel better?" Cata asks, and I smile at her.

"Good. Now tell me what is going on with Gabo. Aren't you happy with him?"

"Are you joking? That man is amazing. I've been having the time of my life. So much so that I'm reconsidering going back to Chile once the summer is over," I say as I bite my nail.

Cata shouts so loudly that Rocco comes into the kitchen to check if everything is okay. I show him my phone and Cata, who is losing her mind while fist-pumping the air in her car. He chuckles at the scene. Once she calms down, she waves at him.

"Oh, hello, Mister. I didn't realize my friend wasn't alone. But you don't look like Gabo."

I crack up at her comment, and Rocco's lips form a tiny smile.

"No, Miss. My name is Rocco. I'm Miss Bianchi's bodyguard."

" Ay, jueputa" (Oh, fuck). "That's right. Gabo is a billionaire. I sometimes forget what the life of a billionaire is like."

Rocco makes a confused face, and I'm surprised at how much he's interacting with Cata since he's usually so stoic.

"I'm Cata, good to meet you. My family and I have had our share of bodyguards. My dad is one of the most powerful people in Colombia, and for many years, we had to have bodyguards, but now, they are less frequent."

Rocco nods at her, then at me, and leaves me alone again—back to his burly bodyguard facade.

"Okay, so little detour there. If you're clearly so into him, what is the issue?" Cata asks the million-dollar question.

I sigh, frustrated at myself for not being able to tell Gabo what I feel.

"Cata, the man told me he loved me, and I couldn't say it back."

I think she's going to yell at me, but she surprises me when a kind smile forms on her face.

" Ay, Isa, you're just scared shitless to get your heart broken. It was one of the issues Mati had, but he's been going to therapy, and let me tell you, he's improved so much. We might not have a perfect relationship, but I wouldn't change it for the world."

And there it is. Something doesn't have to be perfect to be amazing. I need to simply jump with Gabo—I know he'll catch me.

I'm relaxing, taking a bubble bath in the penthouse after a full day of painting and experimenting with colors for my class when I decide to check my emails. There's one that has me giddy with anticipation—I hope it's the news I've been waiting for.

Dear Miss Bianchi,

It's my absolute pleasure to extend to you an invitation as a distinguished guest to our annual Latino Artists Association gala, which will take place on the twenty-sixth of the month at six in the evening at the Modern Art Museum of Geneva. Please be advised we'll have a spot reserved for one piece of your choosing to showcase your work. Please RSVP at your earliest convenience.

Regards,

Dr. Martín López

Curator.

Modern Art Museum.

Geneva, Switzerland.

Reading Professor López's email has me so excited. I can't wait to share my news with Gabo and ask him to be my plus one. I'll have to go to the villa tomorrow to finish the painting I've been working on for Gabo. That's the one I want to use for the gala. While waiting for Gabo, I go to my closet to see what I have to wear for the event. I definitely don't want to wear the dress I wore for our special night. Maybe I'll wear it again when I tell him I love him— a full-circle moment.

"Hey, G. How was work?" I greet him as he leaves his bag in the living room.

"It was fine, nothing exciting. I've been thinking about you all day," he says as he kisses me.

"Oh, yeah? Anything in particular about me?" I ask him, a shot of electricity running through me.

"Why don't I show you instead," he says as he lays me down on the kitchen counter. Even though I can't wait to have him inside me, I've been waiting all afternoon to share my news.

"Before you show me, do you think we can talk?"

Gabo's face of horror makes me giggle, which earns me a glare.

"Bella, you just used the famous last words. How can you be laughing? Are you really this cruel?"

I roll my eyes at his dramatics.

"G, relax. All I meant to say is that I have something exciting to share with you."

He pretends to wipe sweat off his forehead and takes a seat at the breakfast bar.

"So remember Professor López?"

"Yes, the one you invited to have dinner with us and bailed?" I make a disapproving face but continue talking.

"That's the one. He emailed me inviting me to a Latino Artists Gala on the twenty-sixth of this month. It's in Geneva, and I thought you could be my plus one. I'll even get a chance to present one of my pieces."

Gabo opens his eyes wide, pride evident in his gaze.

"That's amazing, principessa. Congratulations! I would love to go with you."

"You're the best, G. Thank you." I throw my arms around him, kissing him with an overwhelming feeling of appreciation and that deeply rooted feeling of love I refuse to admit out loud. But before I could get lost in my haze of uncertainty, he lays me on the counter and distracts me with multiple orgasms.