ISABELLA
The night draped itself around the island like a silk cloak, quiet, smooth, and deceivingly warm.
From the open balcony doors, a gentle breeze carried in the scent of salt and wild jasmine, brushing against my damp skin like a whisper.
The world outside Lorenzo's villa was asleep, hushed, and endless. But my heart was loud.
The entire day had passed in a strange blur. A dream wrapped in neon lights and laughter that didn't quite reach the depth of my soul.
Lorenzo had kept me tethered to one distraction after another, racing games, virtual reality pods, and a bowling alley hidden underground like some billionaire's secret lair.
He laughed easily. Touched often. Looked at me like I was his entire world and yet I couldn't feel the ground beneath my feet.
Maybe that was the problem, yes I needed no one to tell me he was trying his whole best to get my mind off the fact that I had gotten suspended and also on the wrong side of the masses.
