Page 79 of VOGUEish

From behind her, Chandler cleared his throat. “Dude, what brings you to paradise?”

Ryder set Isabella aside and squarely faced his friend. “I came to make sure my best girl was being treated right by my friend.”

Isabella’s gaze swung from man to man. Were they about to fight over her?

Chandler pinched the bridge of his nose. “We’ve hit a snag, but I’m working on fixing it.”

A pulse pounded in Ryder’s jaw. “In that case, while you’re trying to find a way out of the snag—one I’m willing to bet you caused—you won’t mind if I whisk her away for a walk on the beach, would you?”

“And if I do?” Chandler asked quietly.

“You wouldn’t deny me a chance to say some things to her that need to be said. Some things I should have admitted before now. Some things I should have asked before now.”

Isabella had no intention of allowing Chandler to have the last word in this matter. She sure as hell didn’t need his permission to hang out with Ryder. She grabbed Ryder’s hand. “Forget what Chandler wants. That sounds exactly like what I want to do right now.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

Back in his room, Chandler wanted to punch someone in the face. Someone being Ryder. In fact, the last time he’d wanted to punch someone in the face, it had been Ryder, too. Only Chandler couldn’t because Ryder hadn’t done anything wrong.

Chandler wrapped his hands around his whiskey and stewed over the mess he’d made of things. He’d spoken to Nonna about the Annie situation. Nonna had instructed him to go to Isabella and ask for time. Time to take care of some things, and then he could tell her everything. Ask her to trust him until then. He’d royally fucked that up. What in the hell was Ryder saying to her right now? No doubt, all the right things. Things she didn’t even know Chandler felt because he’d been too much of a dumbass to figure them out until he’d lost the girl.

Fifteen minutes into his stewing, someone knocked on his door. He jumped up and hurried to the door. It had to be Isabella. No one else would bother him right now.

Wrong. No one except Annie.

She stood at his door with her suitcase.

He rubbed a hand over his jaw. “Now what? Are you going to insist on rooming with me to spread the rumor?”

“I’m leaving.”

Relief swept through him. “Then you’re dropping your threat?”

She shook her head. “I’m having minor complications. My doctor wants to see me as soon as possible. I’m catching the last flight out tonight.”

“What kind of complications? Are you at risk of having a miscarriage?” Should he suggest contacting the father just in case the asshole had a change of heart?

Her eyes filled with fear. “I don’t think so. I hope not.” She paused, as if replaying her last words. A slight smile lifted her lips. “I don’t want to lose this baby.”

“Of course you don’t.”

“There was no of course until just now,” she replied.

Nonna hadn’t raised him to turn his back on a woman in need. He hadn’t allowed Isabella to cry alone in the bathroom on her prom night, and he wouldn’t allow Annie to travel home alone while having complications. “Then let’s get you back so you can see your doctor.”

“What if I lose her?” Tears ran down Annie’s cheeks as she spoke. “It will be my fault for not wanting her. It’s bad enough her dad didn’t want her, but I didn’t either.”

“You’re not going to lose her. Let me just pack, and we can go.”

Annie shook her head. “You should stay and fix things with Isabella. I’m sorry for threatening all the things I threatened.”

“She’ll be fine. I’ll leave her a message.”

Annie gave him a searching look. She must have trusted what she saw because she relaxed. “I’d appreciate having you with me.”

Chandler dialed Isabella’s number on the way to the airport. He planned to tell her not to choose until he’d had a chance to plead his case. It went straight to voicemail. Damn. Did she have her phone turned off. Why? What were she and Ryder doing on their beach walk? He didn’t leave a message.

He tried again before they boarded the plane. Still no response.

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