Present Day - Summer of 2024 - Isabella Vega**"He said it's not over. It's still not over!" He blurts out before I can utter a word. My stunned posture makes it difficult for me to articulate a response.Instead, my thoughts race.Among the myriad thoughts flooding my mind, a memory from my freshman year of college surfaces: the Wattpad characters Avery dared me to read about.And why does this matter now?Well, at this moment, I realize that I've always glimpsed aspects of those improbable male protagonists in the man standing in front of me.He possessed a keen eye for detail like Sam Cahill, revealing it only when it suited him.He had the resilience of Ryder Daniels, who would still yelp when I playfully teased him.His demeanor mirrored the danger of Jake O'Connell but concealed a softer side.He could be as guarded as Keegan Meth but knew when to extend trust to the right people.His past was turbulent, reminiscent of Hardin Scott, yet he refused to let it haunt him.To me, he
Max"Oh, darling, those tears of yours." A sincere laugh escapes her swollen lips as I also chuckle at the scene unfolding. My thumb gently brushes away the tears under her eyes, and in that moment, I try my best to suppress my own.However, I fail miserably when I fully grasp the vulnerability she's displaying. The realization that she's finally in my arms after all this time doesn't do much to alleviate the situation. My heart can't help itself, and tears begin to coat my already warm cheeks."Damn," I mutter, wiping them away, even though they've already been noticed."Max, are those tears from you too?" We share a laugh and continue shedding tears together as I nod my head. "Come here, baby," she says, reciprocating the hug I had just given her—only she somehow elevates it to an extraordinary level—and I bury my head in the crook of her neck. My arms envelop her once again, never wanting this moment to fade.We linger like this for a while, at least ten minutes, our silent tears f
~Three Months Later-IsabellaI'm aware of the assumptions, folks, and yes, my challenging partner and I have indeed come this far—quite far, to be exact. Our communication might have hit rock bottom back then, but we've dedicated ourselves to improving it during the past few months we've spent together. Surprisingly, we've never been in a better place.A lot has changed, without a doubt. But, as I've been observing a lot lately, everything unfolds for a reason.Max and I, for instance, have been cohabiting since he executed a daring move, reminiscent of Henry Court, pursuing me across the globe. Well, without the whole motorcycle-racing-down-the-runway-and-proposal affair, but it was still undeniably intense.The initial weeks of our reunion were consumed by reminiscing about the things we've missed in each other's lives, always culminating in pledges that we were genuinely committed to keeping this time around.Then the second month arrived, prompting us to come clean to our loved o
~Friday, February 14, 2025 - Valentine's Day in Santa BarbaraIsabellaMax and I reached Santa Barbara last night, opting to reserve a penthouse suite for a private Valentine's Day weekend. Yesterday involved exploring the city where our paths first crossed, but tonight promises an entirely different level of intimacy.The evening kicks off with the comical Valentine's Day cards we exchange..."Why am I not surprised?" I chuckle at Max's card, shaking my head at his cheeky sense of humor."Oh, please," he retorts, "like yours is any better." He displays the card I gave him, eliciting another round of laughter."Touché, touché," I concede, winking as I delve into the heartfelt note inside.Here's my love, take it.Here's my soul, use it.Wait a minute....Completing the remainder of the message, I smirk as my initial suspicion is confirmed.I glance up to find Max beaming at me proudly."What? Did it render you speechless with its brilliance?" He playfully raises his eyebrows."You cam
Later That Day"Five more minutes, I promise," I call back, securing the last bobby pin to keep my wild hair in check. I'll be surprised if they manage to hold anything given where we're headed tonight, but hey, I'm too lazy to take them out now."Take your time, I'll be in the living room!"Once I've tucked away the last bobby pin in who knows where, I check myself in the mirror one final time before joining Max."Sorry I took so long," I grimace when I find him on the couch engrossed in Real Housewives of Atlanta."No worries, ba—" His words vanish into thin air the moment his eyes land on me. I can't help but smile when they're replaced with a groan as he bites his fist."How does it look?" I ask, walking over to the door to slip on my white Converse."Like I'm not going to last long tonight," he replies smoothly, turning off the TV to stand up and join me at the door. "Holy fuck, I'm the luckiest motherfucker alive."Melting in his arms when he kisses my forehead, I thank my lucky
After a few seconds, Caleb thanks Max for something simple, even though my boyfriend just stated the obvious. Hopefully, Caleb won't feel the need to hide himself after tonight."You can thank us both by asking that Jaxon kid out," Max suggests, handing Caleb a hundred-dollar bill."Okay, forget what I said about Caleb being irresistible; he's beyond that. I can't find words to describe the guy I'm sitting on, who doesn't realize he's making Caleb's night."Caleb, feeling shy and surprised, tries to return the money. He thinks it's too much, but Max insists and places it in Caleb's shirt pocket."I wasn't asking," Max states firmly, ending further discussion.Caleb breathes out in disbelief, scratching his head in embarrassment. "Thanks, man. I mean, I don't know what else to tell you," he says, shrugging helplessly.Max smirks, silently signaling Caleb not to worry. With a nod and an appreciative smile, Caleb goes back inside, probably to find Jaxon and ask him out.Turning to Max, h
~At the Penthouse Suite~IsabellaUpon returning to the penthouse suite with our bags of groceries, Max poses a question."What did the savage mother say to her son when he informed her that his girlfriend was pregnant?" he inquires as we enter, closing the door behind us."You should've used protection?" I jest."Good one, but no," he chuckles. "She instead apologized, asking him who the father was.""Daaammmnnn," I laugh, conceding that it was one of the better jokes. Surprisingly, our banter, initiated at the grocery store, continues to be amusing. "Alright, my turn," I say, placing my bags on the expansive kitchen island. "To make this scenario work, I'll play the mother, and you'll be the son. We'll engage in a short conversation about you seeking permission to hang out with your girlfriend. Other than that, your responses won't impact mine much, so feel free to unleash that creative mind of yours.""Sounds good," he chuckles, depositing his bags on the island. "Ready when you ar
~Five Weeks Later-MaxAfter five years of living on and off with Isabella, you might think I'd grow tired of waking up before her, but no, not at all. Despite both of us not being morning people, the days when I'm up before noon are special because I get to wake up my fiancée. The mere thought of our new reality makes me smile like a lunatic.With that smile on my face, I grab a coffee tray filled with Isabella's typical breakfast and head down the hall to the master bedroom. Once inside, I place the tray on a nightstand before slowly hovering over Isabella's sexy sleeping figure. Knowing she doesn't wake up when I initially touch her, I let my fingers graze her waist as I slide the silky covers off her bare body.She's always been breathtaking, from the moment I first laid eyes on her. Starting with her right leg, bent at the knee, I position myself over it and begin to kiss every inch of her, starting at her toes.My lips move up her sole to her heel, gradually reaching her calf, t