A Map for Bella Books 1-4

by Paula Kay

  “I don’t know. I guess you need to come down here for a long visit. Seriously, we need to make that happen. Maybe you and Thomas should come during his spring break this year. Raf and I would love that.”

  “We’ll see. It sounds like if I stay here for a while, he’d be coming over this way to see me—that we’d do some exploring together in this part of the world while I’m here. But I do agree that we should come there very soon. It would be a fun reunion.” Isabella tried and failed to stifle a yawn.

  “On that note, it looks like someone could use a good sleep. I’m so glad that we were finally able to connect. I miss you, girl.” Jemma blew a kiss toward Isabella on the screen.

  She laughed. “Oh, I miss you too. Thanks for listening, Jem. You’re the best. Really. Have a good day.”

  Isabella hung up feeling much better and more resolved than ever. Nothing bad had happened. So far, she was loving her new home and she’d made a great new friend. She went to bed feeling confident that she only needed to be honest with Dylan—that it would alleviate any weird feelings she was having and everything would be fine afterward.

  And talk to Thomas. She really needed to connect with Thomas soon.

  Chapter 16

  Isabella laughed at Dylan as he stood in front of her holding out the helmet. In not getting on the bike with him, was she making a bigger deal of things than what was necessary? She could be near him just fine. Nothing was going to happen, because they were only going to be friends.

  “Bella, I wanna take you for a ride.” He grinned at her. “The party’s not that far away and also—just so you know—I have no intention of drinking tonight. You have my word that it’s always safety first with me, but especially if I’m entrusted with lovely you on the back of my bike.”

  Isabella returned the smile, thinking that she rather enjoyed his persistence and also feeling like maybe she had something to prove—to herself anyway. She nodded. “Okay, you’re on. But only because I’m not the kinda girl who’s bothered with having helmet hair.”

  They laughed together and Isabella pulled on her helmet as she followed Dylan to where he’d parked the motorbike. He turned around to help her with the strap that she’d been having trouble with and her heart jumped a little at the light feel of his fingers so close to her face. Stop it, Iz. She tried to inhale a deep breath without his noticing while he turned on the bike and backed it out of its spot.

  “Climb on.”

  Isabella obeyed, taking care to situate the long skirt that she wore so that most of it was tucked well underneath her. “Okay, ready when you are, I guess.”

  “I think you better hold on.” Dylan laughed. “I don’t wanna lose you while rounding our first corner.”

  “Oh, right.” Isabella moved her hands awkwardly around to the side, looking for something to hold onto besides Dylan.

  “Bella, I don’t bite you, know.” He turned his head enough so that she could see him wink at her. “So, feel free to put your arms around my waist or if you’re not comfortable with that, there’s a bar just behind where you’re sitting. Grab that with one or both hands and you should be just fine. Or, as I said, just hold on to me.”

  Isabella laughed, appreciating the fact that things seemed fine between them, despite the awkward moment from the day before. They’d talked on the phone earlier that day when Dylan had called to apologize again, which had helped to solidify to Isabella that everything was going to be okay.

  She reached around to grab onto the bar as Dylan had suggested and once they started moving out of the parking lot, she rested her other hand lightly on his back.

  She’d slept in that morning and then gone for a big walk around the neighborhood. She’d taken it easy all afternoon, catching up on e-mails and working out some plot points for the current book she was working on. By the time Dylan had arrived to pick her up, she’d had a restful day and felt that the party was going to be the perfect way to end it.

  Now she was happy that she’d agreed to go on the bike with him. She loved the feel of the slight breeze hitting her face and the easy way they were able to move through traffic. Dylan seemed more than capable as a driver and she instantly felt safe behind him.

  He turned as they waited at a traffic light. “How are you doing back there? Everything okay?”

  “Yes, I love it!”

  “Great—I’d like to take you for a proper ride one of these days, if you’re up for it. There’s a lot to see just driving out in the countryside a bit. I think you’d really enjoy it.”

  The light changed and they were moving again before Isabella had a chance to respond. Within minutes, Dylan had turned unto a busy street and into the parking lot of what seemed to be quite the happening restaurant. He parked the motorbike and waited for her to get off from behind him.

  “There, now that wasn’t so bad, was it?” he teased her as she handed him her helmet and brushed her fingers through her hair before pulling it up into a loose bun on top of her head.

  “No, I quite liked it, actually. And this place looks great, by the way.” She had glanced past him to see the outdoor seating in a garden, complete with a small pond and strands of twinkling lights up in the trees above them.

  “Yeah, it’s one of our favorites around here—our go-to spot for parties and anything bigger than a small get-together.” He held his arm out for her to take his elbow. “Come on, you’ll love the food. There’s a buffet set up inside and everything is delicious.”

  Isabella linked her arm through his, letting him lead her inside to the buffet table.

  “Are you hungry? Shall we get our plates?”

  “Yes, I am. That sounds great.”

  They piled their plates high with many Thai dishes that Isabella had yet to try, and as they were making their way outside, Isabella heard someone calling out to them from a large corner table.”

  “Dylan, Bella—come join us.”

  Isabella smiled as she recognized the people that she’d met the other day plus many more new faces who were quickly introduced to her when they sat down.

  Dylan stood behind her. “Let me go get our drinks. What would you like?”

  “I’ll have a wine please—red. Thank you.” Isabella didn’t really drink much alcohol, but occasionally she did like to have some wine with her dinner and tonight felt like such an occasion to her.

  She settled into her chair and turned toward the woman to her right, who was speaking to her.

  “Hi, Bella. I’m sure you’ve already forgotten most of our names. I’m—”

  “Wait, don’t tell me. Ann, right?”

  “Hey, I’m impressed.” Ann smiled widely at her. “I’m so glad that you could join us tonight.”

  “Thanks for inviting me. It’s nice to feel so welcomed. I really appreciate it. How long have you been here?”

  “I’ve been in Chiang Mai for almost five months now, but before this I was living down south on the islands—well, mostly Koh Samui—for about a year.”

  “Wow!”

  Ann laughed. “Yeah, it’s safe to say that Thailand can really grow on you. For some people, anyway. I love everything about it. So, how are you and Dylan getting on? He’s such a romantic, that one.”

  “Oh no. I mean, Dylan and I are just friends.” Isabella felt the telltale sign of heat rising to her cheeks.

  “Really? I’m guessing that you might need to tell him that.” Ann motioned her head toward where Dylan was standing by the bar. “The way he looks at you…I’d say he’s pretty smitten. He’s a good guy, Bella. One could definitely do a lot worse.”

  “Yes, he is a good guy.” Isabella took a bite of her food, desperate to change the topic of conversation and grateful when Dylan arrived back with her drink moments later.

  “Were your ears burning just now? Because I was really talking you up to Bella here,” Ann said as Dylan sat down on the other side of Isabella.

  “Oh, were you now?” Dylan grinned and held his glass of soda up in the air slightly
. “A toast, if I may…”

  Isabella and Ann raised their glasses in front of them.

  “To friendships—both old and new.”

  The three clinked glasses and Ann got up from the table.

  “I’ll talk to you both later. Good to see you again, Bella.”

  “You too.”

  Dylan turned his attention toward her. “How’s your food? Are you enjoying it?”

  “I am, thank you. And thank you for the wine too, by the way.”

  “It’s my pleasure.”

  As the night progressed, Isabella thoroughly enjoyed the conversation—with Dylan and several others who were seated at their table. When the band started to play, they danced to a few of the faster songs and Isabella had one more glass of wine. She was feeling completely relaxed and unaware of just how tired she was until Dylan commented on her yawning.

  He laughed when she told him that she wasn’t quite ready to leave. “I think we should get you home, party girl. Shall we?”

  Isabella tried to hide another yawn behind her hand, but gave up laughing with him. “Yeah, I suppose so.” She followed him out toward the parking lot and when he took her hand, she didn’t resist. She felt safe with Dylan, and for some reason that seemed incredibly important to her all of a sudden. It probably had something to do with the fact that it had been ages since she’d had wine to drink. That, along with her sleepiness, had her feeling slightly unsteady on her feet.

  Dylan smiled at her as he reached over to gently release her hair from her elastic band and tuck it behind her ears as he’d probably seen her do earlier. He put her helmet on, strapping it under her chin, then put his own on and backed the bike out of the space.

  “Climb on, pretty lady.”

  She tossed one leg over and then the other, and then did the best she could to be sure that her skirt was not going to fly up to the point of revealing her unmentionables.

  Dylan laughed as he reached back to help her tuck it a little tighter underneath her. He then reached directly behind him, taking both of her hands in his as he placed them firmly around his waist. “I think you better hold on to me now.” He laughed, and again Isabella didn’t argue with him.

  As he pulled onto the road and the breeze struck her face, she held onto him just a bit tighter, resting her face against his back. She breathed in deeply, noticing that his cologne was one of her favorite scents.

  In what felt like no time at all, they were pulling into the parking lot of her apartment building. Dylan again took her hands, giving them a quick squeeze before she climbed off the bike, feeling just slightly wobbly when her feet touched the ground. He removed first his helmet and then her own and before she even knew what was happening he was kissing her.

  And she was kissing him back.

  His hands reached up into her hair, pulling her face closer to his when they stopped momentarily to look at one another. They broke for only a second before their lips were locked again.

  What am I doing? Stop it, Isabella. And just like that her mind became crystal clear as she pushed him slightly away from her, breaking their embrace. “Dylan, stop. I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t—I shouldn’t be doing this.”

  He reached out to take her hand, but this time she pulled hers away just as fast.

  “Bella, what’s wrong? I know you feel something too. We don’t have to do more than kiss. I promise you that I’m a gentleman.” He smiled and leaned forward, trying to kiss her again.

  “No, Dylan. I should have told you—I’m sorry. I have a boyfriend. I can’t do this. I thought we could be friends but—but this isn’t going to work. I’m sorry. I have to go.”

  She heard him calling out to her as she ran toward the door, but her own frantic thoughts drowned his words out. All she wanted was to be alone in her apartment to make sense of what had just happened.

  Her thoughts turned toward Thomas as she felt the first pang of regret.

  What had she just done?

  Chapter 17

  Isabella heard her phone ringing just as she was entering her apartment. Even though she assumed it would be Dylan calling her, she pulled her phone out to see that it was actually her video app sounding with an incoming call.

  It was Thomas.

  She didn’t even give herself a moment to think about how she looked. Almost certainly there were signs of tears on her face but she was desperate to speak to him. She walked to the kitchen to get a glass of water while she waited the few seconds for their call to connect.

  “Iz, are you there?”

  There he was. Isabella smiled and felt her earlier panicked feelings vanish. She just needed to connect with Thomas and everything would feel better. She hadn’t done anything wrong. Not really—nothing she couldn’t move on from anyway.

  “Thomas! I miss you so much.” She grinned into the phone as she lay down on the sofa.

  “I miss you too, babe. Sorry it’s been so hard to connect. Iz, are you okay?”

  Isabella’s fingers went to her face as she now noticed the mascara under her eyes on the screen in front of her.

  “You look like you’ve been crying.”

  He frowned into the screen at her and it was all she could do to keep from bursting into tears right then. She so desperately wanted to be curled up on Thomas’s sofa in his arms right that moment—not halfway across the world.

  “Iz?”

  “Oh, I just miss you.” She smiled, hoping that he’d be satisfied with her answer.

  “Well, you look kinda dressed up and it is after 1:00 a.m. there. Have you been meeting some fun people? Tell me everything.”

  “Yes, I’ve just come from a party, actually.” She could tell him everything—just leave out the part about her new friend Dylan kissing her—or more importantly, the fact that she’d kissed him back. She tried to push the scene out of her head as she told Thomas everything she’d been dying to tell him since she’d arrived.

  He listened intently, laughing as she shared some of her moments of confusion with her attempt to speak Thai and various other humorous things that can only occur when one is in a different country—the kinds of things that inspired her to travel and learn about other cultures—and also the very types of things that she’d experienced with Thomas during their earlier travel together.

  She heard Thomas’s phone ding with an incoming text and waited as he checked it.

  “Everything okay?”

  “Yeah. I don’t want to—not at all—but I’m going to have to go in a few minutes.”

  “Really? We’ve barely had any time.” Isabella tried not to sound too disappointed, but it felt important to her that their time was getting cut short.

  “Sorry, Iz. I’ve got study group in an hour.”

  “Well, tell me about school quick. I’ve been doing all the talking and you’ve barely said two words.”

  She thought she saw something flash across his face before he answered her. What was it? Don’t be paranoid, Isabella.

  “Oh, school’s fine. You know—school is school. Exhausting, slightly frustrating and well, what else is there to say, really?”

  “Well, that doesn’t sound very positive. Are you happy with your classes?”

  “Happy enough. Oh, I don’t know. Maybe we can talk about it later. Right now, I’m starting to freak out about my biology exam on Monday.” He laughed. “And by the way, please remind me why we decided that I need to have Biology when you helped me pick out my classes for the semester?”

  Isabella laughed too. Thomas had always disliked his science classes—even back in middle school when they’d dissected their first frog together.

  “Because it’s one of your prerequisites—you know, in case you want to graduate or something.”

  Thomas laughed. “Right. I remember now. Well, it’s driving me a bit bonkers and I can’t for the life of me think of what good it’s going to do for me with my business degree. And remind me why I decided I needed to get this degree at all?”

  “Thomas.�
�� Isabella was surprised at how he seemed to be feeling about school, but she didn’t want to say anything that wasn’t supportive. Maybe he was just tired. He looked tired to her.

  “Yes? I’m waiting.” He winked at her.

  “Well, you tell me why you want the degree. I know you want to do something with business but if you want to follow in your father’s footsteps, I think there are other ways you can learn. To be honest, ever since I’ve known you, I always thought you’d end up just doing your own entrepreneurial thing after high school. You were always the kid who could convince anyone to buy anything from you.”

  “So you’re saying I should become a car salesman.” Thomas laughed, and Isabella loved it that he looked slightly more relaxed now.

  “No. I’m saying that you’re smart and I believe that you’d be successful with or without college.”

  Isabella had always admired Thomas from the moment she’d met him in grade school. While other kids had been out playing and getting into mischief on the weekends, he’d been busy setting up his lemonade stand or wheeling and dealing down at the local pawn shop with various collector’s items that he’d purchased online. Thomas had always been the kind of smart that one didn’t learn from books.

  “Thanks for saying that, Iz.” Thomas smiled at her in a way that made her heart ache to hug him. “I do miss you, babe. So much. I wish you were here right now.”

  Isabella felt a lump in her throat. “Me too. Are you gonna be okay?”

  “Yeah. Sorry, Iz. I don’t want you to worry about me. I’m sure I’m just feeling funky because of this test coming up. I guess I just need to figure out a way to manage my stress better.” He grinned at her on the screen.

  “What’s that smile for?”

  “Well, I feel like this conversation is a Freaky Friday moment or something.”

  “I’m not sure that I know what that means.” Isabella was appreciating that his mood had gotten a lot lighter.