Isabella (The Mitchell/Healy Family #2)(8)
Author: Jennifer Foor

My dad walked over and put his arms around me. “This will always be your home, no matter what. I know you’re an adult, but I still worry. It’s late, Iz. Why don’t we all head to bed and we can catch up more tomorrow. I know you’ve got to be exhausted.”

I nodded and watched the two men leave my room. Once I changed and climbed into bed, I cried myself into a desolate stupor. I’d been so optimistic about my relationship with Tate, never even considering that it would end so horribly. My biggest regret was sleeping with him. I hated myself for letting him get into my pants, especially without a condom. If he was sleeping with me and Jenn, there was no telling how many other women he might be involved with.

I was going to have to get tested to be sure he hadn’t given me anything. The idea of getting some kind of STD was revolting to think about. It made me hate him even more. The emotional pain consumed me, driving me to curl up in a ball, and think about all of the time that I’d wasted loving Tate. He’d destroyed me from the inside out, leading me on to only end up destroying me with his web of lies. The fact that I’d let myself fall to his prey again left a bad taste in my mouth. He was the epitome of a man, who didn’t deserve to ever be happy.

All I could hope for was that Jenn would wise up and leave him too. He didn’t deserve her devotion. For the first time I felt sorry for the girl, realizing that he’d played us both. At least I didn’t have to tell my family what a lying cheater he was. There was no way that I could let them know I’d made such a horrible mistake, after they’d warned me time and again not to.

I thought about all of the nights that I fought with Noah. I didn’t heed his warnings to stay away from Tate, or to stop talking to him. The idea of admitting to everyone that they were right and I was wrong annoyed the shit out of me. I’d been in such denial, letting my heart blind my judgment. The signs of his ways had always been there, I’d just been too stupid in love to notice.

At least there was one good thing that could come out of this horrible evening. Tate and I were done forever, and this time I wasn’t going to regret it.

Chapter 5

Isabella

The next couple of days went by too quick. I kept my phone on silent, trying to avoid the slew of messages that Tate was leaving. What started out as threats quickly changed to begging. I ignored them all, determined more than ever to be done with him forever.

The night before I left, my mom made my favorite meal. While my brothers shoveled the food into their mouths, like it was the end of times, I savored every bite. My aunt Van could cook and bake up a storm, but there was always something about my mom’s cooking that made it the best. I looked down the long table, taking in my immediate family, including my mimi and poppy. It had been good to spend time with everyone, and I knew I’d see them again in a couple of months. It still scared me with them getting older, never knowing when I’d get that call telling me something bad happened.

While deep in thought I felt something slap into my face. Jax ducked down behind my other brother. I took a napkin and rubbed mashed potatoes off of my cheek. “Seriously? Are you five?”

“He’s going to miss you, Bella. That’s all,” Jake explained.

Instead of firing back I simply sat there and smiled. This was my crazy family that I loved more than anything in the world. No matter what happened they’d be there for me, and protect me from myself if I needed it. Knowing that would give me the strength to move on and accept the things in my life that I couldn’t change.

Saying goodbye to all of them was always bittersweet. As an adolescent I would have said different, but as an adult I’d learned to appreciate just what I had; two loving parents that were willing to risk their lives to keep our family together. Two brothers that drove me crazy, but always kept a smile on my face. Two grandparents that had paved the way for it all. Grateful wasn’t even enough to describe all of them.

That’s why when it came to driving away from it all, I lost my shit, every time.

This was the worst by far, considering that I was already holding back the tears of being heartbroken.

The moment my dad wrapped his arms around me I just about broke down. “I love you, Iz. You better call us as soon as you get to Kentucky.” He refused to call it home, not when he knew where I’d always belonged.

“I will, Dad. I always do.”

I pulled away to hug my mother, but he tugged me back. “One more hug.”

He was so silly, although I didn’t fight it. There was no comparison to the way it felt to be held by my father. No matter where I was in life, I knew he’d support me. They said that blood is thicker than water, but that’s bullshit when it applies to my dad. Blood meant nothing, not anymore. He’d been my father since the moment I took my first breath. Sure, it took him a while to make it happen officially, but we’d always known, somehow in a fate kind of way. My mom used to tell me that I chose him. There’s no real explanation for it, but it was definitely there. “If you squeeze me any tighter I am goin’ to explode everything I had for dinner.”

“That accent is getting stronger. It’s driving me crazy.”

I giggled and turned to my mother, who apparently sounded just like me. I’d never really noticed it that much. “Do you hear this guy?”

She held me tightly in her arms. “He loves it. Don’t let your dad fool you.”

“I’m going to call as soon as I get home, I promise. Thanks for puttin’ up with me this weekend. It’s still hard being here and knowin’ that I can’t stay.”

“You’re always welcome to come home,” she added.

I knew that, also knowing my life was now in Kentucky. I had a great job, and even new friends that didn’t know Tate or the history that we’d shared.

After saying the rest of my goodbyes, I hopped in my car and started on my journey. The first few miles were filled with sobs. For so many reasons I wanted to turn the car back around. For a different set of reasons I wanted to get out of the state as fast as possible.

I arrived home around nine at night. Noah was watching a football game on television and nodded when I came in carrying my suitcase. I sat it down and wheeled by him quickly. The last thing I wanted was a third degree the moment I stepped in the door. I’d spent the past five hours torturing myself. That was plenty of enough time to accept that I’d been a fool.

All I wanted to do was get a long, hot shower and wash away all of the shitty decisions that I’d made. It was time to start over new, to reinvent myself to be the woman that I deserved to be. In the morning I’d change my number and only let my family know what it was. My times of being vulnerable were about to end.