17. Chapter 17
Chapter seventeen
Bella
T he warm glow of the fireplace did little to thaw the icy dread in my stomach. I clutched my mug of coffee, inhaling the comforting aroma as I stared into the swirling dark liquid. If only it held the answers I desperately needed.
“What if the magazine pulls out?” I wasn’t even sure I should question it out loud. Would I jinx myself?
Mom reached over and squeezed my knee. “Oh, sweetie, I’m sure it won’t come to that. Your work speaks for itself.”
Dad nodded, his eyes crinkling with concern behind his glasses. “Your mother’s right, Bella. One nasty blog post from that jumped-up tattletale isn’t going to undo all your hard work.”
I wanted to believe them, but Madison’s words kept echoing in my head. Fake relationship. Scam artist. Trying to trick her way to the top. Each accusation felt like a dagger, chipping away at the dream I’d nurtured for months.
“But what if they do?” I persisted, spiraling into a pit of defeat. “This feature was supposed to be my big break. If I lose it because of Madison and Dev…” I trailed off, not wanting to voice the crushing disappointment I felt.
Mom leaned forward, a determined look in her eyes. “Then you’ll find another way. You’re talented, Bella. This isn’t the only opportunity out there.”
“Your mom’s right,” Dad chimed in, a mischievous glint in his eye. “And if all else fails, we can always egg Madison’s house. I still remember where she lives.”
Despite myself, I snorted out a laugh. “Dad! We can’t do that.”
He shrugged, grinning. “Just throwing out ideas. Keeping our options open.”
I shook my head, feeling a small smile tugging at my lips. Trust my dad to try and lighten the mood. But as I gazed out the window at the streets of Serenity Falls, my heart clenched. How could I go back to the city? With its quirky charm and warm community, this town had become more than just an opportunity for my blog. It felt like home again. And Devon...
The thought of him sent a confusing swirl of emotions through me. Anger, hurt, longing—all tangled up in a messy knot I couldn’t seem to unravel.
“I just don’t know what to do,” I admitted softly, more to myself than to my parents. “About the magazine, about Devon, about any of it.”
Mom’s hand found mine, her touch warm and reassuring. “You’ll figure it out, sweetheart. You always do.”
I wished I shared her confidence. My phone rang and Sophie’s name flashed on the screen. I hesitated for a moment before answering.
“Bella!” Sophie’s voice burst through the speaker, as peppy as ever. “I know you’re upset but forget about it for a minute—Madison’s plan backfired. The magazine is even more interested now!”
I blinked rapidly, certain I’d misheard. “Wait, what?”
“You heard me!” Sophie spoke so loudly that I had to pull the phone away from my ear. “The editors are loving the idea of a romantic angle in your story. They’re dying to see how it ends!”
My heart raced as I struggled to process this information. “But... Madison’s post... I thought—“
“Ancient history, darling!” Sophie interrupted. “Think of it as a holiday rom-com special feature! You’ll be the talk of Christmas!”
A laugh bubbled up from my chest, surprising even me. “You’re kidding, right?”
“Would I ever kid about your career?” Sophie spoke in her best ‘you’ve offended me’ voice. “This is huge, Bella! It’s exactly the kind of feel-good story people eat up during the holidays.”
As Sophie continued to gush about potential headlines and reader engagement, I felt a strange mix of relief and disbelief wash over me. The magazine was still interested. More than interested, apparently. I should have been ecstatic.
So why did it feel like my stomach was tied in knots?
“Bella? You still there?” Sophie’s voice snapped me back to reality.
“Yeah, sorry,” I mumbled. “It’s just... a lot to take in.”
Sophie’s tone softened. “I know, sweetie. But this is good news, remember? We’ve got this.”
I nodded in agreement even though I wasn’t sure I was convinced. “You’re right. It’s good news.”
But as I hung up the phone, the tension between my feelings for Devon and the looming interview tugged at me. Was I really ready for this? To bare my heart—and my complicated relationship with Devon—for the whole world to see?
I let out a long sigh, sinking deeper into the couch. “Well, Sophie says the magazine is eating this whole thing up. Everyone’s waiting to see what I do now.”
Mom reached over and squeezed my hand, her eyes full of understanding. “Sweetheart, I know it’s not easy, but love is always worth fighting for,” she said softly, “ especially when it matters.”
I bit my lip, fighting back the rush of emotions her words stirred up. “But how do I know if it matters, Mom? What if—“
“Remember that bowling night you told us about?” Dad chimed in, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “The one where Devon wore those ridiculous reindeer antlers?”
I couldn’t help but burst into laughter, the tension in my chest easing slightly. “Dad! That’s not—“
“What? I’m just saying, a man who’s willing to make a fool of himself in public must be pretty smitten,” he continued, raising his eyebrows up and down dramatically.
Mom rolled her eyes, but I could see the smile tugging at her lips. “Your father has a point, dear. In his own... unique way.”
For a moment, we all dissolved into giggles, the weight of the situation lifting ever so slightly. I felt a surge of gratitude for my parents and their unwavering support.
“Thanks, you guys,” I said, wiping a stray tear from my eye—whether from laughter or emotion, I wasn’t sure. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
Later that afternoon, I found myself curled up in my childhood bedroom, scrolling mindlessly through my phone. The laughter from earlier had faded, replaced by a gnawing anxiety that I couldn’t quite shake.
Almost against my will, I found myself navigating to Madison’s blog post. The comment section had exploded since I’d last checked, and my stomach dropped as I read through them.
“Totally staged.”
“Who does she think she’s fooling?”
“Bet they’re not even really together.”
“The perfect plan to get everyone’s attention off his wipeout.”
Each comment felt like a dagger, twisting deeper into my already conflicted heart. I tossed my phone aside, burying my face in my pillow.
“Stupid Devon,” I muttered into the fabric. “Stupid, charming, infuriating Devon with his stupid blue eyes and his stupid smile.”
What if they were right? What if this whole thing with Devon was just a huge mistake? The doubts I’d been trying to keep at bay came rushing back with a vengeance.
I rolled onto my back, staring up at the ceiling. When had life gotten so complicated? One minute, I’m decorating a guesthouse; the next, I’m starring in my own personal Hallmark movie drama. Except in those movies, the lead doesn’t usually want to strangle her love interest.
My phone buzzed, jarring me from my spiral of self-doubt. I reached for it, expecting another concerned message from Sophie. Instead, my eyes widened at the name on the screen: Madison.
I sat up, my heart racing as I opened the message.
“Bella, I know we’ve never been friends, but I wanted to reach out. I’m starting to feel bad about everything that’s happened. You deserve the magazine feature— you’ve worked hard for it. We may not get along, but I can respect that.”
I blinked, reading the message twice more to ensure I wasn’t hallucinating. My fingers hovered over the keyboard, unsure how to respond. A strange mix of emotions swirled in my chest—relief, gratitude, and a hefty dose of suspicion.
Before I could formulate a reply, the doorbell chimed downstairs. I heard my mom’s muffled voice, followed by familiar footsteps on the stairs. A moment later, Olivia appeared in my doorway, her normally stern expression softened with concern.
“Hey, sis,” she said, crossing the room to hug me tightly. “How are you holding up?”
I melted into her embrace, surprised by how much I needed it. “I’m... managing,” I replied, my voice muffled against her shoulder. “But Liv, you won’t believe what just happened. Madison messaged me and–”
“Wait,” Olivia interrupted, pulling back to look at me. Her brown eyes were serious behind her glasses. “Before that, there’s something you need to know. I overheard Devon talking to Liam earlier.”
My breath caught in my throat. “And?”
Olivia’s expression softened, but I could see a mixture of concern and hope in her eyes. “He sounded... different, Bella. Like he’s really trying to make things right.”
I fell back onto my bed, my mind reeling. “He’s... trying?” I whispered, barely able to process the information.
Olivia sat next to me, her hand resting on my arm. “I think you two need to talk, Bella. Really talk.”
I closed my eyes, feeling a fresh wave of confusion wash over me. “I don’t know if I can, Liv. What if he hurts me again?”
“What if he doesn’t?” Olivia countered gently. “I know you’re scared, but sometimes you have to take a risk.”
I sat up, fixing Olivia with a pointed look. “Yeah, that sounds familiar. Didn’t you say something similar at the coffee shop? About how we’d both changed, and I should take a risk?” I let out a humorless laugh. “Look how well that turned out. I took the risk and got a front-row seat to ‘Devon’s Greatest Hits: The Lying and Scheming Edition.’”
Olivia winced, but her gaze remained steady. “I know, and I’m sorry about that. But Bella, this time, it’s different. I saw him working on the guesthouse, putting in real effort. He’s not just saying things; he’s actually doing something.”
“Oh great, now he’s graduated from lying words to sneaky actions.” I rolled my eyes, but I could feel my resolve weakening.
“Come on, sis,” Olivia nudged me gently. “I know you’re hurt and have every right to be. But don’t let that hurt blind you to the possibility of something good. The Bella I know wouldn’t give up without at least hearing him out.”
I sighed, petting Maple, who jumped on the bed beside me. “The Bella you know is currently drowning in a sea of confusion and leftover Christmas cookies.”
Olivia chuckled, pulling me into another hug. “Then let’s throw you a life preserver. Talk to him, Bella. If nothing else, it’ll give you closure. And who knows? Maybe you’ll find that the Devon standing in front of you now is the one you’ve been waiting for all along.”
As she stood to leave, she paused at the door. “Just promise me you’ll think about it, okay?”
I nodded, offering a small smile. “I promise. But if this blows up in my face again, I’m blaming you. And I’ll expect you to supply me with a lifetime of ice cream.”
Olivia grinned. “Deal. Love you, sis.”
I stood up and went to look out the window, my mind reeling. As I watched snowflakes dance in the glow of the streetlamps, I thought about my dad’s words and the image of Devon wearing those ridiculous reindeer antlers, yet somehow still managing to make my heart skip a beat.
“It’s all been leading to this moment,” I whispered, my breath fogging the cold glass. “The moment where I either forgive him or push him off a metaphorical cliff.”