45. ISABELLA
forty-five
I wake with a smile on my face.
Eyes closed, I stretch lazily as everything from last night’s event comes flashing back.
And I moan slightly as I remember what came after Mateo and I finally made it home.
“You better be thinking about me, making sounds like that.” Mateo shifts slightly to where I know he’s hovering above me, yet I keep my eyes closed.
“Nah, you weren’t in that dream where I was on all fours and—” My eyes fly open, and I squeal loudly as Mateo manages to flip me to where I’m on top of him, straddling his hips. His hardness, confined by his boxers, is nestled between my ass cheeks.
“Cleary, I took it too easy on you if you’re still able to run your mouth first thing in the morning.” He runs his hands up my thighs, bunching up my sleep shorts in the process.
I shake my head. “No, you very much did not take it easy on me. And therefore, I shall spend all day lounging on the couch watching Bravo until my insides rearrange themselves into their original positions.”
He smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes.
“What’s wrong?” I tense above him.
“Nothing,” he answers quickly. “Nothing with us, tesoro. We’re perfect.” He kisses both of my open palms, yet the gesture doesn’t take my initial suspicions away.
“ Okay . So what, besides us , is wrong?” I venture.
He sighs, then gently sets me back on the bed.
“There were pictures taken last night. Of us.”
Oh, that .
I knew the moment that Mateo told me he loved me in front of a stadium full of people that we could no longer remain hidden.
I also knew that decision would come with the inevitable media coverage. The very thing that sent me into a dark spiral for years.
And yet, as I stood in a room with Mateo’s loving eyes on me, I knew I could no longer live in the shadows.
For so many years, I kept myself hidden, kept my dreams and aspirations under wraps. In fear of what online trolls would say about me.
And now I look back at that time and wonder why.
All that time wasted, I’ll never get back. Just because people who didn’t know me had nothing better to do than to try and tear me down?
And while I withered away, in my own self-appointed solitary confinement, the villain in my story got to carry on and live large.
The fact that I can even think this way is because I have grown stronger from the things that promised to break me but failed. Because I had an amazing support system in my mother, Beth, and Denise—when I allowed them to be there for me. And because now I have Mateo. And somehow, by his side, I truly feel invincible.
So yeah, I knew exactly what would happen if I kissed Mateo in public.
And I did it anyway.
“Isa—”
“I don’t care.” I bring my hand up to his cheek and try to wipe away the fine lines filled with worry. “Truly, I don’t.”
“You… don’t care,” he says slowly, needing to process my words out loud.
“What others think of me is none of my business.” I shrug. “And as long as that outside noise doesn’t interfere with our relationship, then to hell with them.”
Mateo’s eyebrows rise so fast it’s comical. “Are you sure? Because in the article—” I put a finger over his lips.
“Don’t. Care.” I kiss him quickly before he gets the chance to deepen it, then bound off the bed to use the bathroom and brush my teeth.
Once I’m done and about to walk back into the room, Mateo blocks my path and hands me my phone. “You’ve got a text from Nick. Read it, and you might change your mind.” He smirks as he walks by me, swatting my ass lightly as he moves to turn on the faucet and brush his teeth.
Curiosity gets the best of me.
I open my text and see that I received a message from an unknown number at five a.m.
Unknown:
Hey, this is Nick. Just wanted you to know that I keep my promises. Tabloids were going to go live with camera pics of you and Mateo last night. I was able to get those blocked and instead offered them something better. Our team’s photographers got some pretty nice shots of you two, and I had them retouching and editing them to what I hope is your liking all night. Those are the pictures you’ll see on the covers of every newspaper and magazine this morning. And I went ahead and took the liberty of planting some background info on you. Hope you don’t mind my being busy, because I made sure your book cover design business was name dropped. And in regard to your ex, I made sure his name was scrubbed from any association with you, although I should give you a heads-up and say that it doesn’t mean internet sleuths might not pick up on it. So just be ready if, later on, the connection is made. But I wouldn’t harp on that, since I’m sure this story is going to be the main attraction for weeks to come. Just realized the time and the fact that you don’t have my number saved. I texted the message above to Mateo so I don’t have an angry pitcher coming for me on Monday morning. Cheers -Nick Stonehaven
I spin in place, jaw dropped.
Mateo is already standing there with my brand-new iPad and the cover of the biggest magazine in the country pulled up.
And smack dab in the middle, barely making room for the headlines, are Mateo and me, wrapped up in one another as we kiss as much as our smiles will permit.
It looks like a cover of a rom-com movie.
It looks like the book cover of my dreams come to life. And somehow, it’s my love story.
I make grabby hands at the device like the adult that I am. “Gimme. Hand it over.”
Mateo chuckles as he lowers himself back to the bed, leaning on the soft headboard, and nudges me down to sit between his legs so he can read over my shoulder.
And within moments, I’m in tears.
Mateo silently kisses my temple as I read out loud.
“ According to sources, Isabella Morales is the founder and CEO of Bella Covers, a Latina run small business that offers a multitude of services in the booming book cover design world.”
It goes on to say, “Morales, 25, seems to be the bright light in Martinez’s, 33, new life in the spotlight. Last night marked his first appearance speaking in his native tongue, as well as stepping out with a love interest. It seems like Isabella and Mateo are each other’s endgame, and we can’t wait to see how much of their happily ever after they decide to share with us .”
“It’s… they’re being nice. To me.” I turn, wrapping my arms around Mateo’s neck as I nuzzle into his chest. “It’s perfect.” I smile as tears continue to fall silently.
“You’re perfect.” He kisses my hair. “And I owe Nick a very expensive bottle of whiskey.”