A Map for Bella Books 1-4

by Paula Kay

  “Sounds good. I can get your number from Thomas.”

  Natasha turned back around toward Thomas, planting a big kiss squarely on his lips. “I’ll be home late tonight, so don’t wait for me for dinner.”

  “Okay, honey. I hope your meeting goes well.”

  “Don’t have too much fun without me.” She laughed as she got back into the car.

  Thomas leaned down to give her a quick kiss, laughing also. “I won’t. I’ll just help to get the girls settled and take them for some food.”

  “Okay, but seriously, Thomas, be home before seven.”

  Natasha had spoken the last statement quietly but Isabella and Jemma had been standing near enough to hear it.

  Jemma turned to Isabella and rolled her eyes.

  Isabella turned away from the car, feeling like she was invading their privacy standing so close—hearing things that she was pretty sure would embarrass Thomas. It was odd to think about Thomas being with someone who was giving him a curfew. She sighed, feeling like this was going to be an odd four weeks with her best friend—not at all how she’d pictured it in her head when they’d planned it a few months earlier—before Natasha was in the picture.

  She shook her head, as if doing so could shake the bad thoughts she was already having about Thomas’s new girlfriend. She’d have to give her a chance. What choice did she have? The coffee invitation had been thoughtful, and maybe her impression would change after she and Natasha had a chance to sit down and talk—just the two of them.

  Before she could think about it any more, Thomas had grabbed the two large suitcases and started toward the front door of the building.

  “Well, come on, you two. Let’s get you settled.”

  Isabella and Jemma followed, Jemma eyeing Thomas’s muscles and then turning toward Isabella mouthing the words “nice body”, causing both of them to burst into laughter.

  Thomas turned toward them with a big grin on his face. “What’s so funny?” He pulled Isabella close with his arm around her waist. “You laughing at me?”

  “Never!” Isabella giggled. “Go on. Let us in.”

  Thomas took the key out of his pocket and opened the door. “After you, ladies.”

  Isabella and Jemma stepped through the door and walked straight across to the expansive open living room. There were wall-to-ceiling windows, and a spectacular view of the River Thames and the city beyond it.

  “I must say, you did do a really great job finding the place. The view’s wonderful and you’re only a block or so from the Waterloo tube station. You’ll be able to get around the city easily.”

  “And how far are you from here?”

  Isabella was glad that Jemma had asked the question that was also on her mind. How much of Thomas would she be seeing?

  “Not too far. I’d say about fifteen minutes by tube,” said Thomas.

  “So just far enough away so that you don’t get too sick of seeing me, huh?” Isabella grinned at him and he walked over to give her a big hug.

  “Bite your tongue, silly girl. I could never get sick of this face.” He squeezed her cheeks together gently with his fingers and then leaned forward to kiss the tip of her nose. He turned toward Jemma with his arm around Isabella’s waist. “She’s pretty wonderful, don’t you think?”

  Jemma grinned and nodded in response.

  He said, “A bit annoying at times, but wonderful all the same.”

  Isabella punched him on the arm.

  “Ow!” He grinned at her. “Well, you can be.”

  “Yeah, okay. Well you haven’t been around me in a quite a long time, so we’ll see about that,” said Isabella.

  She was aware that Thomas was looking at her very intently. Something felt different between them—not really good or bad; maybe it was that she really had changed since they’d last been together.

  “Yes, we shall see.” Thomas winked at her and then made his way back to where he’d left the suitcases in the hall. “Let’s get your stuff situated in the bedrooms. Who’s going where?”

  “You take the master, Bella.”

  “Are you sure? I had the bigger bedroom in Paris. You can have it.”

  Jemma was poking her head in the bigger of the two bedrooms. “No, you take it. There’s a nice desk in here and I figure you’re going to want to get back to your writing. The other one is just as nice and I can set my easel up in the living room near the window, if you don’t mind.”

  “Sounds pretty perfect to me.”

  Thomas was watching them and laughing.

  “What?” asked Isabella.

  “Oh, nothing. It just seems that you two really have your travel routine down, don’t you—getting settled in—who goes where? You’re the travel duo that was made for one another.”

  Isabella looked at Jemma and grinned. “Yeah, I guess it really has been working out very well. Jem’s a dream to travel with.”

  “As are you, my dear.”

  Isabella turned her attention toward Thomas. “And we hope that we’re going to be looking at three bedroom places for Dublin? You’ve not said anything about it for awhile.”

  Thomas visibly cringed. “Yeah, I guess we’ll need to talk about that. But not now. Now, I’m thinking you two might like for me to treat you to a nice pub meal?”

  Isabella winked at Jemma. “Okay, I guess he’s off the hook for now, because I’m starving and all I’ve been thinking about is some delicious fish and chips.”

  “Sounds like a plan to me,” said Jemma.

  “Great! So, let’s go check out this new neighborhood of yours,” said Thomas.

  Chapter 11

  Isabella swallowed the big bite of fish that was in her mouth as she scooped up some fries. “Oh, wow. I’ve possibly never been this satisfied with a meal in all my life.”

  Jemma laughed. “That hungry, huh? I know. I’m hungry too and it is very good.”

  “I’m going to eat all the fish and chips while we’re here. Oh, and possibly all the bangers and mash too.” Isabella laughed and then noticed Thomas looking at her with an amused expression on his face. “Thomas, what? You keep staring at me like I’ve grown another head or something. It’s making me feel slightly self-conscious.”

  “Don’t feel self-conscious. Quite the contrary, I’d say.”

  “What? What exactly do you mean by that?” Isabella noticed that Jemma was now the one watching the conversation with an amused expression on her face.

  “Well, I’ve just never seen you quite like this—eating like this, I mean.”

  “You’re crazy! Have you forgotten all of our diner binges? Double fries with chili?” Isabella laughed and then turned to Jemma. “Thomas and I practically lived in this diner back home. It was our favorite hangout spot…” She stopped for a moment, looking at Thomas. “Well, apart from hanging out at Thomas’s house, which I loved even more. But anyway, I’m not sure what you’re talking about, mister.”

  “Yeah, but you forget. Most of the time you were in training for the track team, so it wasn’t always the double doubles for you.” He turned to Jemma. “It was more typical for our friend here to be ordering double servings of salad—”

  “—with chicken. It’s not like I was starving myself or anything.” Isabella punched Thomas lightly on the arm. “I don’t miss that training—not at all.” She put her hand on her stomach and then cringed. “Although, I guess maybe I should start cutting back a bit. I have gained at least ten pounds. Thank you very much for noticing.” She laughed as she spoke, but she was now wondering if Thomas was really taking about the fact that she’d put on weight. Now that she’d had the thought, she swore Thomas was eyeing her stomach.

  “Isabella Dawson, are you crazy?” Thomas leaned in to put his arm around her and then kissed her quickly on the cheek. “I am talking about the fact that you’ve put on a few pounds and I think you look amazing—absolutely more gorgeous than I’ve ever seen you.”

  Now she was having a hard time looking him in the eye as she fel
t her face grow warm.

  “Iz, look at me.”

  He was laughing and she needed to make light of the conversation.

  She looked up at him, plastering a goofy grin on her face. “Okay, you’re embarrassing me now.”

  Thomas smiled back at her, and she wasn’t exactly sure why the intense look in his eyes was making her stomach do flip-flops all of the sudden. It was just Thomas, being silly as usual.

  “I’m serious, Iz. You look really beautiful—and happy. Very happy.”

  “I am happy.” Isabella caught Jemma’s eye across the table as Thomas focused back on his food for a few seconds. Jemma was smiling as she mouthed the words “we need to talk” to Isabella.

  Isabella noticed that Thomas had started to check the time on his phone every so often; checking her own, she saw that it was getting close to seven o’clock. “You need to get going, huh?”

  Thomas nodded, but he didn’t look happy about it. “Yeah, sorry. I promised Natasha I’d be there when she got home tonight.”

  Isabella nodded, biting her tongue to keep from saying something she shouldn’t. “It’s okay. I’m pretty wiped out myself.”

  “Me too. Let’s get the check,” said Jemma.

  After fighting for a few minutes over who’d pick up the tab, Isabella and Jemma finally relented and waited for Thomas outside of the pub. It was the first time they’d had a few minutes alone together since they’d arrived, and Isabella was dying to know what Jemma’s impression of Thomas was.

  “So, what do you think? About Thomas?”

  “Well, I think he’s pretty great, but that’s not all I think.” She gave Isabella a look. “We have so much to talk about.”

  “Okay, shh. He’s coming.” Isabella giggled as Thomas came up between them, offering an elbow to link with each of them.

  “Ladies, this has been wonderful. Thank you for allowing me the pleasure of your company. I’ll walk you back to the apartment.”

  Jemma laughed. “You’re goofy. In a good way, of course. And thanks so much for the meal. Next time, it’s on me.”

  “Deal.”

  “Yeah, thanks, Thomas—for the meal, the airport pick-up, helping us get settled—”

  “—Stop, Iz. You’re very welcome, but you know that I couldn’t wait to see you. I’m so glad you’re here. Really. It feels wonderful to spend time with you.”

  “Well, I hope we get to see a lot more of you,” said Isabella.

  “True.” Jemma nodded.

  “Great, I’ll talk to Natasha about having you over for dinner one night—or we’ll all go out. But for sure, we’ll have you over so you can see where we live—if you want to.”

  Isabella thought Thomas looked embarrassed, and it wasn’t like him. What was all the fuss?

  “Sure. Whatever works best for you guys,” said Isabella. “And will you give Natasha my number so she can let me know about coffee?”

  “Sure.”

  “It’s okay with you, right? I mean it was her idea.”

  “Of course. Why wouldn’t it be?”

  “No reason. I figure you’d want us to get to know one another—give me a chance to okay the love of your life.”

  Isabella was teasing him, but Thomas didn’t look very amused.

  “Let’s not get carried away or anything.”

  “Thomas, you’re blushing.”

  “I’m not. Stop.”

  “You most certainly are.”

  They’d arrived at the apartment and Jemma was waving from up ahead. “I’m just going to go on up. Great to meet you, Thomas, and hope to see you again real soon.”

  Isabella guessed that she’d given her and Thomas some privacy on purpose when Natasha’s name had come up in the conversation. She turned back to Thomas, who was looking at the time on his phone.

  “So you are blushing and I do realize you that you need to get going, but we’ll talk more about this later, yeah?”

  “More about what?”

  “More about you and Natasha, silly. I wanna know everything—well, okay—maybe not everything, but you know what I mean. You’ve been so tight-lipped about your relationship and then you spring it on me that you’re living with her. I figure that means you are pretty into her, if not in love with her.”

  “Yeah. Yeah, I am pretty crazy about her if I’m being honest. She’s unlike anyone I’ve ever met. So, that’s the truth.”

  He looked at his phone again, which Isabella could see was lighting up with an incoming call. “Natasha?”

  He nodded. “Sorry, Iz. I should take this.” He gave her quick squeeze. “Sleep well and we’ll talk tomorrow, okay?”

  She nodded. “Go. Go—before you get in more trouble.” She winked at him.

  Isabella stood outside for a few minutes after Thomas had walked away. It had been a good afternoon, and she didn’t want anything to ruin the time that they’d all had together. Seeing Thomas watch his phone so closely had her more than a bit puzzled, though. He’d never been like that with anyone he’d ever dated. Everything in his past relationships had been pretty casual. If a girl had tried to give him rules or tell him what to do, he would have backed way off of the relationship.

  But they weren’t kids any more, and it seemed like Thomas was in a serious grown-up relationship. Maybe it was Isabella that was the odd one. She’d never even dated all that much. She’d had boyfriends in high school, but nothing that was long-term or even the least bit serious to her. She’d really try hard with Natasha. Thomas deserved that, and she wanted to like her.

  “Hey, are you coming up or what?”

  Isabella jumped when she heard Jemma’s voice from above her.

  “Good grief. You scared me to death.” She laughed. “Yeah, I’m coming right now.”

  “Good. I have the teakettle on. I know you’re tired but we need to talk.” Jemma laughed and closed the window.

  Jemma set the cup of tea down on the breakfast table in front of Isabella. “So spill it.”

  Isabella laughed. “Spill what?”

  “I wanna know what the heck is going on between you and Thomas.” Jemma sat down across from her. “Because you can’t convince me that there’s not something besides friendship going on between the two of you. Now that I’ve seen you together with my own eyes.”

  “Oh, Jem. Don’t be ridiculous. Honestly. I’m not even really sure what you’re talking about.”

  “I’m taking about the way that he looks at you, the things he says—just the way he is with you really. Come on, Bella. You can’t seriously not notice it.”

  Isabella shook her head. “No. Thomas always jokes with me like that. It’s just the way we are with one another.”

  “Really? Like he’s always telling you how gorgeous you are?”

  Isabella felt her face go hot instantly. “Well okay. It’s not like he hasn’t said that to me before, but—” She didn’t even want to have the thought that was in her head, let alone voice it out loud to another person. That would make it real. That would make her start thinking about things she shouldn’t be thinking about.

  “—But what?”

  “But—okay, if I’m being completely honest, something did feel kinda different today. But he’s with Natasha so honestly, Jem, I don’t even think we should be talking about this.”

  “Mm-hm.”

  “Please. Or can we at least talk about it later? I’m pretty tired and I know you must be too. But you did like him, didn’t you?” She felt her face light up as she asked the question. She so desperately wanted her two best friends to like one another.

  Jemma was smiling. “Yes, of course. I like him a lot. He’s everything you described and more. Way more.”

  Isabella laughed and said goodnight, making her way to her room where she could overthink things in private.

  Chapter 12

  Isabella was rushing around the apartment trying to find her keys. “Ugh. Why, why? Where did I put them?”

  “What are you looking for and why do you loo
k so frantic?” Jemma asked.

  “I can’t find my keys and I don’t want to be late. I’m meeting Natasha for coffee.”

  “Oh, well, that’s not like you.”

  Isabella looked up from where she was checking the seat cushions. “Not helpful. Can you help me, please?”

  Isabella hated how nervous she was feeling. Her stomach had been in knots ever since she’d made the appointment with Natasha earlier in the week. She also hadn’t seen Thomas again since the day that they’d arrived—nearly a week ago. They had been texting but each time that she’d suggested they get together, Thomas seemed to have plans that he couldn’t break. It was really starting to annoy her, or more honestly, hurt her feelings. She’d decided to let it go until after she had her coffee date with Natasha. Maybe that would shed some light on things. Maybe they’d end up becoming good friends and all would be good.

  “Bella?”

  “Huh? Did you find them?” Isabella looked over at Jemma, who was standing in the kitchen.

  “Yep, right here on the counter where you always put them.” Jemma laughed and tossed the keys to her.

  Isabella sat down on the couch with a sigh. “Good grief. Thanks.”

  Jemma came into the living room and handed Isabella a cup of coffee. “Here. You need to drink this.” She laughed. “Get a little caffeine in ya, pre-coffee date.” She sat down in a chair opposite Isabella with her own cup of coffee. “Relax. I’m sure everything’s going to be fine.”

  “Why do you think that? Thomas is acting so weird. I can’t believe we’ve not seen him again since we arrived.”

  “Well, maybe he’s just been busy.”

  “Doing what?”

  Isabella knew she had a good counterpoint. Thomas was pretty much in vacation mode as far as she knew. It was unlikely that he didn’t actually have time to spend with her, and in the back of her mind she knew that Natasha had something to do with it.

  “Oh, I dunno, Bella. But why are you thinking the worst? Natasha seemed to like you just fine when we met her. I mean, she was a bit snooty in my opinion, but nothing big happened, right?”