*Isabella's POV*
A few days later, Jacob was right. I could take online classes. I just sent my medical report to the university, and after a few back-and-forth emails, they presented me with a few options to finish my senior year remotely. It was a small victory, but it felt like I'd just climbed Mount fucking Everest.
"Are you done yet? I'm bored," Elly said, walking up to me while I was hunched over my laptop on the couch.
"No, I'm not done. It's gonna take a while," I said, not looking up. "You can go take a walk or something."
"Seriously?" she said, flopping down onto the couch beside me with a dramatic huff. "I'm on a mission here. I need to take care of you. I'm not leaving you alone."
"Whatever," I said, unable to stop the smile from spreading across my face.
Three weeks passed by in a fucking blur . The sharp, pain had reduced to a constant, throbbing ache, supported by the squeak of my crutches on the polished floors. My world had shrunk to the size of this apartment, a cage I was still getting used to. The cast on my leg was a heavy, white anchor, a constant reminder of Cole's betrayal and my own stupidity.
"Christmas is next week," Elly said, her voice pulling me from my laptop. She was standing by the large window, looking down at the city where twinkling lights and festive decorations were starting to appear on every street corner.
"I know," I said, my voice flat. "And I understand if you want to go home." I tried to make it sound casual, like I wasn't secretly terrified of being left alone. "I mean, you have a life, a husband... It's fine, really."
"What?" she said, turning from the window with a look of fake outrage on her face. "Are you fucking kidding me? I won't leave you alone, you fool. I got my mother and Liam to fly here. They'll stay at a hotel, of course, they won't bother you," she said, waving a dismissive hand. "And I'll stay with you, helping you pee, as always." She finished with a knowing, wicked smile.
"I can go to the toilet without you, thank you very much," I said, rolling my eyes.
"Barely, bitch," she laughed and made me smile despite myself.
"Okay, I might leave you alone for one night," she add, her tone shifting slightly. She bit her lip, "Liam needs to take care of me too, you know."
"Elly, I swear, you crack me up," I said, and a real, genuine laugh escaped my lips. It was the first time in weeks that a laugh didn't send a sharp shooting pain through my ribs. It felt fucking amazing.
*Christmas day*
The apartment smelled fucking divine. A chaotic, delicious mix of roasting turkey, sweet pineapple, and something else, something warm and cinnamony that Elly's mom had insisted was a "family secret." For the first time in a long time, the silence that usually haunted this place was gone, replaced by the clatter of pots and pans, Liam's booming laugh, and Elly's off-key singing to some outdated Christmas song.
"You'll thank me for this. My mom's apple and pineapple turkey is to die for," Elly said, she was dressed as Santa, complete with the red suit and a fluffy white trim, but no beard. She looked like a festive, slightly deranged elf who'd just won the lottery.
"She's right, you know," Liam said, wandering in from the kitchen. He sneakily stole a piece of something from a pot on the stove, only to have his hand swatted away by Katherine Elly's mom.
"You'll forgive me for bringing them and being in your hair these days," Elly said, her tone softening as she plopped down on the couch next to me.
"You're not bothering me," I said, and I meant it.
"You don't have to pretend with me, I know you," she said, nudging me gently with her elbow.
But I wasn't pretending. I was alone for Christmas, and yes, normally I would have preferred that. I'd have ordered a pizza, watched some trashy tv show, and enjoyed the solitude. But this... this was different. Elly and her family were so fucking cool. I felt relaxed, like I didn't need to force a smile. They were all so down to earth, arguing and laughing and stealing food, and they made me feel like one of their own, like I'd known them for years. And somehow, it was all thanks to Jacob. In the middle of all his chaos and drama, he'd given me this. A real, genuine, unexpected family for Christmas. And for that, I was more grateful than I could ever say.
*New year's Eve*
Now I was much better, but I still had the fucking cast on my leg and relied heavily on the crutches, which were a complete pain in my ass. I took a long, hot shower, letting the steam and the scent of my vanilla body wash wash away the last few weeks of hospital stink and self-pity. For the first time in a month, I felt almost human again.
I was getting ready for my birthday and the New Year's Eve's party. I chose a short purple dress that hugged my curves in a way that made me feel like myself again. It was a risky, stupid choice, but fuck it. It was my birthday. As I sat in my room, carefully doing my makeup, I saw my phone light up with a text. I picked it up, my heart doing a stupid little flutter.
"Happy birthday, I love you more than life itself." Jacob's text read. A sigh escaped my lips. It was sweet, and intense, and a whole lot of complicated all at once.
"Smile, it's your birthday, bitch!" Elly said, coming up from behind me with a level of excited energy that should be illegal. Her mom, Katherine, was right behind her, carrying a cake that looked like a fucking masterpiece.
"Oh wow, this cake looks fucking amazing. Katherine, you're a magician," I said to her mom, genuinely blown away.
"Just a baker," she said with a warm, humble smile.
And that's when I heard it. A sharp, decisive knock at the door. The door? Strange? Who the fuck could it be?