Confused by Love Page 10
"Oh, but I was warm where I was," I say, a little disappointed he moved. We both start to dress and I ask him what his tattoo means.
"It’s Latin for 'you are always in my heart’,'" he says.
"That is so sweet. Who's it for?" I ask, secretly hoping it's not for Amanda.
"It's in memory of my mother. She died three years ago on December 11th from cancer," he says, a little sad.
"Oh, I'm so sorry," I say as wrap my arms around his neck.
"It's okay, princess," he says, kissing my head. He releases me and continues to get dressed.
Once we are dressed, we spend the day shopping and on the beach.
Chapter 21
It has been a week since we spent the weekend together. Work was the same. Donte flirting with me, until Amanda shows up. This weekend is when Donte tells Amanda they’re over. It's Friday night and Claire is out with some work friends. It's 9:00 and I'm going to bed. I'm tired and I feel a cold coming on. I climb into bed and decide to quickly text Donte.
**Hey, hope you’re okay. I'm going to bed now. I have a cold and I blame you. ;) Text me when you can. Miss you. xX**
I put my phone on silent and place it face down on my nightstand. I turn over, pull the duvet tight and fall asleep.
I wake at three in the morning with a stuffy nose and a cough. I walk down to the kitchen and grab a warm milk. I walk back upstairs, clutching my mug of milk. I sit on the bed under the duvet and decide to quickly check my phone. There are two new messages from Donte.
**Sleep tight. Miss you. And why blame me? You started the water fight, I only got payback. Love you. D x**
And a later one.
**It was fun while it lasted, but it's over. Sorry. D**
My heart feels like it has just been ripped out. I thought he was going to end it with Amanda, not me. How stupid I feel.
**You jackass! Thank you for using me! Have fun with her, you deserve each other!**
I press send and cry like I have never cried before. My phone vibrates on the night stand. I wipe my tears away and read the message.
** I love Amanda and always will. It was fun, but I can’t take any more risks losing the love of my life. Last weekend, there was press at the beach who got a snapshot of us together. Now I have to try and mend the damage that’s been done. I'm marrying Amanda, end of story. D**
I throw my phone at the wall and cry so hard, I don't think I will ever stop. I wake suddenly and realize I must off cried myself to sleep. It's six in the morning and I remember the messages from last night, so I start weeping all over again. I stumble out of bed and grab my phone. Surprisingly, the screen still intact. I decide to text Donte one last time
**I won’t be returning to work. Enjoy your life!**
Suddenly, there is loud knocking on the door. I jump and wipe my tears away. Who the hell is hammering my door down at this ungodly hour? I open the front door and there stands Donte. I glare him down and his face drops. I slam the face in his door. He bangs even louder.
"Isabella, open the door please!" he shouts through the letterbox.
"Screw you!" I shout back
"We need to talk," he says, banging the door even louder. I remember Claire is probably in bed, so I open the door and let him in, but I keep my eyes on the floor.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" he asks.
"You really have no idea?" I ask. "Have you just come here to rub my face in it? What do you want? You want me to design Amanda's wedding dress?" I hiss at him.
"Amanda and I are through. I told her last night."
"Yeah, and so are we, remember? So what you doing here?"
"What do you mean ‘so are we’?" he asks, looking totally heartbroken.
I throw my phone at him. “Read for yourself.”
"Izzy, that wasn't me. Amanda has my phone. I must have left it last night," he says. Like I'm supposed to believe him?
"What, couldn't fix the damage the press caused, so you come back here lying and expect me to believe you?" I ask as my eyes fill with tears again.
"Princess. Please don't cry, I wouldn't lie to you," he says, trying to hug me. My phone goes off and I snatch it from him.
** It’s best if you don't return to work. D**
"What, did you put that on delay send so I would get it while you were here?" I ask, shoving the phone at him again.
"Look at me. I will prove it's not me. I'll text my phone and I will stand here holding you till you get a reply to prove it's not me," he says, typing on my phone.
**Send me my pink slip, so I can get another job**
I look at him puzzled. "Why put that if it’s not you?"
"Because Amanda won’t expect that reply and I can prove it’s not me," he says, holding me. Exactly two minutes later, my phone goes off. Donte opens the message.
**Yes, the company will sort that. I will post it, so you have no reason to come to the office. I don't want to see you again. D**
I look up at him as my tears fall. "So, it wasn't you?"
"Of course, it wasn't me," he says, kissing my forehead. "Let me reply?" he asks. I nod; I'm speechless. Last night, I thought my world was ending. Now, here I stand and realize my life might not be over.
**It’s Donte, your plan backfired. Leave Isabella out of this!** and he presses send.
We wait for a reply. I'm still too stunned to move. A few moments later, we get a response.
**It almost worked. You screwed up my life, so I will screw up both of yours! Leave her out of it? That dirty little slapper is the reason we are done! You both will pay for this.**
I look up at Donte and he is furiously texting back.
**We did not screw up your life! You did that. And do not call Isabella names! I love her and you won’t break us up. That's a promise.**
Fresh tears start, but it’s not tears of heartbreak; it’s tears of joy.
** I’ll be here when that slut finds someone else.**
Donte is furious. He throws my phone on the table, picks me up and sits us both down on the sofa. "Princess, I am so sorry," he says, holding me close.
"What happened? I knew you were going to end it, but I didn't think you were telling her about us."
"The press caught a snapshot at us at the beach last weekend. Amanda saw it and kicked off big time. I spent the night in the car parked out front."
"Why didn't you knock? I thought my world was over," I say in a whisper as he pulls me closer.
"You were sleeping, princess. I didn't want to wake you. I didn't know Amanda would text you."
"I would have opened the door for you. She has your phone and everyone knows about us. Plus, I can’t stop crying,’" I say in a nervous laugh.
"Princess," he yawns. "Don't worry about phones, I can sort them out. The press I don't care about. I want to be with you and I'm glad they know; it saves us hiding," he says.
"I thought I had lost you. I love you and I don't want to lose you," I say.
His eyes stare into mine. "I love you, too," he says, yawning again.
"You look tired. Shall we try get a few hours of sleep?" I ask.
"As long as I don't have to go back to the car," he says, laughing. We both fall asleep laid on the sofa in each other's arms.
Chapter 22
Claire comes downstairs at around ten. She wakes me. She gives me her puzzled expression.
"Shush," I whisper to her as I slide out of his arms.
" What time did he get here?" she asks.
"Six in the morning. He ended it with Amanda and she started to text me," I reply.
"Oh - that does not sound good. What was said?" I show her the messages and she is angry now, too. "She is such a bitch. She never loved him anyway; just his money," Claire says. She looks up behind me and gives a little smile. I look and Donte is there.
"Morning, princess," he bends and kisses me. I give a face splitting grin.
"Morning. How are you feeling?" I ask, not knowing if I actually want to hear his answer.
I elbow him lightly. "That's not what I meant! I meant after last night and this morning."
"I have you and I got rid of Amanda. What's not to like? I think I am the happiest man on the planet," he says, looking into my eyes.
"What about the press? Work? Your house?" I ask, starting to worry.
"Princess, the press is nothing; let them print their stories. At work, we’ll do what we always do. We work. Amanda won't be returning. The house, well, we will have to see about that one. I am guessing Amanda might want to stay there for a while, I can’t exactly kick her out," he says as he sits at the table beside me.
“So, what are your plans now?" Claire asks, looking at Donte.
"Well, today I will need to go shopping. We both need new phones and numbers," he says, looking at me before continuing. "Do you think you ladies could put me up until I sort my house out, or find a new one?" he asks, looking at Claire this time.
"Of course we can," Claire replies. I give the biggest smile my face can hold.
"Thank you so much. You two up for shopping and maybe lunch?" he asks us both.
"Of course we are," Claire replies, grinning.
"I don't know. I'm worried about the press," I reply. I suspect I have a very worried expression.
"Come on, let the press do their stuff. We don't have to hide anymore," he says, grabbing my hand.
"Okay, let me get dressed then," I say, getting to my feet.
A half hour later, we’re all in Donte’s car. We pull up outside a phone shop. The press jump out their big cars and surround us. I suspect they followed us here to get a story. Donte comes round to my side and grabs my hand, as I’m hesitant to get out.
"It's okay, princess, I won’t let them hurt you," he says, bending so he is kneeling in front of me.
"I don't think I can do this," I say, petrified.
"Please, give us some space," he shouts to the reporters. "Come on, you will be fine," he says, pulling my hand. I step out the car and Claire’s behind me. Donte puts his arm around my waist and Claire grabs my right hand. Together, we walk through the reporters who are shouting questions.
"Mr. Mills, what happened to Amanda? What's going on right now?" Questions fly at him from every direction. I look up at him and he smiles down at me.
"Please, give us space. I will give the answers you’re all waiting on soon. Just back up a little bit. You’re scaring the ladies," he says, pulling me tighter. We finally reach the entrance to the phone shop and we duck inside. He keeps hold of me as we walk to the counter.
So this is going to be my life now? I am petrified, but having Donte and Claire helps. With these two, I can get through anything. It’s not just the press we have to face. I am sure Amanda will be cooking something up. She’s not going to just roll over and pretend we just screwed her life up.
Acknowledgements.
I want to say a massive thank you to my family. My mam for been a rock and supporting me. My stepdad for just letting us get on with it and not moaning.
Also to the two most important people in my life; my two beautiful children Callum and Keisha. They have been so good and patient so I could do this. I hope I make them proud
To Louise Chapman for been a complete star. You’re my amazing PA. Without you, this would have been a lot harder. You set up my website and my blog tour. You helped knock down the brick wall when I bump into it. I love your random phone calls and even more random thoughts. You also did my first interview with 'Hooked on Books' before we became so close. I owe you an awful lot and will always will be very thankful. You are amazing.
Brandi/B, without you, I wouldn’t be living this dream. When we met on Facebook, I did not ever have the guts to do this. You have encouraged and guided me through it all. You told the truth from the beginning and you made me work even harder and I am so very grateful, you made me open my eyes wider and help made my story even better. Also thank you from the bottom of my heart for designing my very amazing book cover.
AC Marchman, for been such an amazing editor and for formatting my book. You don't know how much it means to me to have another amazing author help me on my journey. A massive thank you.
To Sophie Templeman and Kasey Spry, the two crazy chicks who kept me up for hours writing. Even when you drove me crazy you made me laugh, there will be definitely more crazy nights to come.
Gail Grist you have been here for me from the beginning. I don't tell you enough how important you are to me but you mean the world to me. Like the bigger sister I never had. Can't wait for some crazy Ian time together in June.
Mandy Salt, for been so supportive. Mine and Louise’s adopted Facebook mama. You’re amazing.
To all the people who are on my first ever blog tour,
Hooked on books, Raven Reviews, Love between the Sheets, Book Addicted Mumma., Butterflies, Books and Dreams, Maria's book blog, Heaux Rude Girl book blog, The book blog. Shhh mommy's in the bath reading. Mania review, Elfie books, and M&M book blog.
Also a massive thank you to all my supporters. Without you, this would not be happening.
I love you all .