0024| ease dropping

Carter

Carter browsed through a rack of sunglasses, trying on a particularly bold pair and striking a dramatic pose. "What do you think? Movie star or total flop?"

Sarah giggled, snapping a picture. "Definitely movie star."

Arabella chuckled, her mood seemingly lifted by the shopping trip. "You could pull it off."

They wandered further into the store, enjoying the relaxed atmosphere. As they moved through the aisles, Carter's attention was caught by a familiar voice. He subtly motioned for Sarah and bella to stay where they were, curiosity pulling him toward the next aisle.

Peeking around the corner, he spotted Alessio standing with Sophia, their conversation hushed but intense. Carter's heart sank, a sense of unease creeping in. He strained to hear, the words growing clearer.

"I care about you, Sophia," Alessio said softly, his tone full of emotion. "I want to make this work. I'm willing to try."

Carter froze, his stomach knotting. This was not what he expected—or wanted—to hear. Quickly, he pulled out his phone and started recording. He wasn't sure if bellawould want to hear this, but she deserved to know.

Once he had enough, Carter slipped back to Sarah and bella, his face carefully neutral. "Hey," he said quietly, "we need to leave. Like, right now."

Sarah frowned. "What's going on?"

"I'll explain once we're out of here," Carter insisted, glancing nervously over his shoulder.

arabella's brow furrowed, but she didn't argue. "Alright, let's go."

They made their way out of the store, Carter leading the charge. His heart pounded as they walked toward the exit, his mind racing with how he was going to break the news to her. Once they were outside, he guided them to a nearby ice cream shop.

After ordering their ice cream and settling into a quiet corner, Sarah gave Carter a pointed look. "Okay, spill. What's going on?"

Carter took a deep breath, setting his ice cream down. "I saw Alessio. He was with Sophia. I overheard him saying he cares about her and wants to make things work."

Arabella's eyes widened slightly, but instead of breaking down, her expression hardened. "Fuck," she muttered, her voice steady but sharp.

Sarah's eyes flicked between them, confused. "Wait, what? What does that mean?"

"It means I know exactly what I'm going to do," bella said, her tone resolute. She scooped a bite of ice cream, her mind clearly racing. "No more waiting around for him to figure things out."

Carter exchanged a glance with Sarah, both of us taken aback by her reaction. i had expected tears, anger, maybe even disbelief. But the calm determination in her voice was something else entirely.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Sarah asked gently.

"I'm fine," bella replied firmly. "Better than fine, actually. This just makes things clearer for me."

Carter watched her closely, a mixture of admiration and concern. He wasn't sure what she was planning, but one thing was certain—Alessio had no idea what was coming his way.

Carter leaned back in his chair, stirring his ice cream absentmindedly as he observed arabella . Despite her calm exterior, he knew this wasn't easy for her. He admired her strength, but he also knew how much Alessio's actions had hurt her.

"So, what's the plan?" Carter asked, breaking the silence.

bella set down her spoon, her eyes narrowing slightly. "I'm done playing games. If Alessio wants to be with Sophia, fine. But I'm not going to sit around and let him think he can have it both ways. He made his choice."

Sarah nodded in agreement. "Yeah, he can't keep stringing you along like this."

bella took a deep breath, the wheels in her mind turning. "I need to focus on myself. I'm not going to waste my time waiting for someone who can't decide what they want. If Alessio wants to be with Sophia, that's his problem. I'm moving on."

Carter reached out, placing a comforting hand on her arm. "You've got us, bella . Whatever you need, we're here."

she gave me a small, grateful smile. "Thanks, Carter. That means a lot."

we sat in silence for a few moments, the hum of the ice cream shop filling the air. Despite the difficult conversation, there was a sense of relief in finally addressing the situation head-on.

"I guess it's time to show Alessio that I'm not someone to be taken for granted," she said, her voice steady. "I'm going to focus on what makes me happy."

Sarah smiled. "That's the spirit. And who knows? Maybe this is the start of something better."

I nodded, raising my ice cream cup. "To new beginnings."

Bella and Sarah clinked their cups against his, a small but meaningful gesture. As they finished their ice cream, the tension from earlier began to dissipate. They knew the road ahead wouldn't be easy, but they were ready to face it together.

Later that evening, as we walked back to the hotel, K couldn't help but feel a surge of protectiveness toward bella. She had been through so much, and while i admired her strength, i also wanted to make sure she was truly okay.

"bella," i said softly as we reached her room, "if you ever need to talk, about anything, you know you can come to me, right?"

Arabella nodded, her expression softening. "I know, Carter. Thank you."

Sarah hugged bella tightly before heading to her own room. "Remember, we've got your back."

she smiled, her heart full of gratitude for her friends. As she closed the door behind her, she felt a renewed sense of purpose. Alessio's actions had hurt, but they had also given her clarity. It was time to take control of her own happiness, and she knew she had the strength to do it.

She wasn't going to let anyone else dictate her worth. It was her time now, and she was ready to embrace it.

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not alessio thinking he can't get both of the girls without getting caught 🙄