Page 59 of (UN)Bounded

“Yeah, I don’t think we know any other Gabo.”

“You’re right. I just didn’t think it was true.”

What does she mean?

I make a confused face, and she immediately continues talking. “Oh, well. You know how the boys are always checking on each other. And the last thing Mati shared was they were doing an ‘interfriendtion’ so Luca would stop getting in your business.”

I throw my head back in laughter at the image that forms in my head: Luca being scolded by his friends because of me.

“Oh, I guess it worked because since he left, he hasn’t contacted either of us,” I share with Cata as I wipe the tears from my face. It was a good laugh.

“Damn, you know from what Sofi has said, Luca has always been a little overbearing with Karina, but she knows how to put him in his place. I didn’t realize that would extend to you, as well. But it makes sense; I mean, you’re his sister. Even Franco tried to scare Mati off from dating me, arguing that I was his little sister, and he didn’t want Mati to hurt me.”

I open my eyes wide. I had no idea all this had gone down.

“What the hell? I mean, he’s known Mati since they were kids. Why on earth wouldn’t he trust one of his best friends?”

“That’s exactly what the boys told Luca. They said Gabo was a man, not a boy trying to have fun with a mina for the summer.”

I feel my cheeks warming at Cata’s comment. In a way, I feel bad Luca gave Gabo so much shit knowing it was me who didn’t want anything serious.

“What’s that face for? Isabella Bianchi, what aren’t you sharing?” Cata puts her face closer to the camera, and I burst out laughing.

“You know me too well,” I tell her, and then I take a couple of deep, cleansing breaths.

“The thing is, I was the one who told Gabo to just have fun and see where things go. I don’t want any attachments, Cata. Look at my parents. They had three kids, then dumped them and never contacted them again.” I hate how this topic always makes me so sensitive; I feel water pooling in my eyes, and I wipe them before they fall.

“Isa, that’s beyond your control. And it isn’t fair to Gabo to compare what you guys have to your parents. I am one hundred percent confident that if at some point you decide to have kids, you’ll be the best mom in the world, not because you had a good example, but because you’ll do everything in your power to be the complete opposite of your parents.”

I can’t help it—I break down in tears. All the anger and frustration I’ve buried in my chest over my parents finally leaves my body. Cata doesn’t say anything; she simply lets me cry. When I look at her on the screen, there’s not a drop of judgment or pettiness on her face, just understanding.

Once I feel I have no more tears to waste on my parents, I wipe my face off and get a bottle of water from the fridge.

“Feel better?” Cata asks, and I smile at her.

“Good. Now tell me what is going on with Gabo. Aren’t you happy with him?”

“Are you joking? That man is amazing. I’ve been having the time of my life. So much so that I’m reconsidering going back to Chile once the summer is over,” I say as I bite my nail.

Cata shouts so loudly that Rocco comes into the kitchen to check if everything is okay. I show him my phone and Cata, who is losing her mind while fist-pumping the air in her car. He chuckles at the scene. Once she calms down, she waves at him.

“Oh, hello, Mister. I didn’t realize my friend wasn’t alone. But you don’t look like Gabo.”

I crack up at her comment, and Rocco’s lips form a tiny smile.

“No, Miss. My name is Rocco. I’m Miss Bianchi’s bodyguard.”

“Ay, jueputa” (Oh, fuck). “That’s right. Gabo is a billionaire. I sometimes forget what the life of a billionaire is like.”

Rocco makes a confused face, and I’m surprised at how much he’s interacting with Cata since he’s usually so stoic.

“I’m Cata, good to meet you. My family and I have had our share of bodyguards. My dad is one of the most powerful people in Colombia, and for many years, we had to have bodyguards, but now, they are less frequent.”

Rocco nods at her, then at me, and leaves me alone again—back to his burly bodyguard facade.

“Okay, so little detour there. If you’re clearly so into him, what is the issue?” Cata asks the million-dollar question.

I sigh, frustrated at myself for not being able to tell Gabo what I feel.

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