23 - He smiled and my heart warmed completely.

***POV ISABELA***

‘I hadn't realized how much he had already filled the space in my heart.

I noticed it almost unintentionally...

He smiled and my heart warmed completely.

We never know when love decides to settle in, do we?

He got the key to my heart, entered quietly, and now he has a place that warms with his love, care, attention, and tenderness.

He arrived quietly as if he didn't want anything... As if he were just passing by... Look, he's living here.

And maybe, who knows? Ah, I believe that I am as lucky as he is.

He lives here in my heart... and I live there in his heart.’

I pressed the enter key on my computer, publishing yet another post on my blog. My blog was growing day by day. I was happy about the blog's growth and that many people identified with my feelings.

I took a sip of my sweet wine, watching the messages coming in.

"Dear writer, are you in love?"

That was one of the questions I received in the comments of my post. But I must admit that most of the questions were related to this. People said that in the last month, my writing style had changed and that it no longer seemed sad and lonely, but now it seemed happy and complete.

Really, in the last month, I have been feeling so good, like I haven't felt in a long time.

My phone rang, catching my attention. I picked it up from my desk, saw my best friend's name on the screen, and answered the call without hesitation.

"Hi," I said, answering the call while staring at my computer screen.

"You're in love!!!" he practically shouted, making me hold the phone away from my ear or I'd go deaf.

"You're already drunk," I joked.

"Woman, don't play games with me! Don't make me come to your house and slap you.” He was serious, which made me laugh. "I'd already realized you were in love, but damn, after this post, it's obvious. Have you told him yet?" he asked excitedly.

I settled back in my chair and took another sip of wine.

"I have nothing to say to you, Alex. I'm not in love.

"And that post? You've filled the fucking space in his heart!!!" he shouted, making me pull the phone away from my ear again.

"There's no need to shout," I scolded. "He's a nice guy and I like him a lot. That's what I meant in my post."

I hadn't even realized the words I wrote until I was bombarded with messages saying I was in love. When I sit in my office, play romantic music, and turn on my computer, it's just me and my world. Me and my thoughts. I don't even realize it when I see it, I've already written. Everything, naturally.

"Do you believe that? It's obvious you're in love!" he affirmed. "I've never seen you so excited about someone like you are with him. You've been together every day for a month now."

It was true, we slept together every day. In a hotel out of town.

He always invited me to his house, but I never accepted.

I'm afraid someone will see us and spread it in the media.

And I never invited him to my house for obvious reasons.

"You'll bankrupt the poor guy with all the hotel bills," he joked as if reading my thoughts.

I laughed out loud.

"He's the one who wants to see me every day."

"And you don't?" he questioned.

"Will you join me tonight?" I changed the subject.

"Of course," he practically shouted, "do you think I'll miss the chance to see those hot players up close?"

Noah invited me to watch his game today. I'm going, and I invited Alex. It's one of the many ways I'm trying to reconnect with my daughter again, she's been so stubborn! But she agreed to go with us to the game today, as she loves this team.

"Okay, 8:00 PM, we'll meet. Bye." I hung up the call, placing my phone back on the table and sighing.

I had barely put the phone down and it was already ringing again. I picked it up, surprised to see my ex-husband's name on the screen. What does he want? I thought about not answering because I didn't want to stress, but what if it's something about our daughter?

Damn.

I took a deep breath and answered his call.

"Daniel," I said as I answered.

"Isis told me you invited her to watch a game today," he commented, starting the conversation. "You were never a fan of going to the stadium. Why now?" he questioned.

"I don't know if you remember, but we are separated, Daniel. I don't owe you any explanations." I replied rudely.

"I just wanted to understand, Isa. Can I go with you then?" he asked.

"No," I replied quickly. "I invited Isis to have a mother-daughter moment, like the old times."

"At a soccer game?"

"Isis is passionate about this team and the players."

"Why don't you want me around? I love you, Isabela. I want to go back to where we left off, I want to reconcile our marriage," he said, bringing up this topic again.

The worst part is, I don't even know if I ever loved him...

It wasn't love... It was resignation, loneliness, guilt, pity, anything but love.

"I don't feel anything for you anymore." I was honest.

And it was true. Before, I at least had some affection for the years we spent together, but after he drove me away from my daughter, I don't even feel that anymore.

"Impossible!" he almost shouted, and I heard the sound of something breaking. "How can you say that? We lived together for 15 years, it's not possible that your love for me died in a month."

"Maybe it wasn't love," I replied.

The call went silent for long minutes; I even thought about hanging up until I heard his ironic laugh.

"You have someone!" he stated, not asking. "Who is the bastard?"

"There's no one. Can't you accept that I simply don't want you anymore?"

"Stop being naive, Isabela." He started the insults. "We both know you have someone, and I will find out who it is. If you don't stay with me, you won't be with anyone else. Do you hear me?" he asked.

I didn't answer; I just hung up on him. Some things aren't worth our time.