Moreno's (Moreno Brothers Series) - Elizabeth Reyes Page 0,82

hopeful about something so horrid.

Magdalena was busy giving Isabella her theory about Jose Luis possibly hearing that out of context just as she had about the dead wife thing when Isabella was hit with another thought.

If there was any truth to this tragic news, then technically, Alejandro was free to pursue her. Had been for months. He even told her himself that he knew all about her not living with Cido anymore and getting another job. He’d wished her the best even before dismissing her so swiftly. Which meant one of two things. Either they had it all wrong and it was a completely different Alej Cido had been referring to, which Isabella genuinely hoped, or it was the same Alejandro who knew she was free to pursue now, and yet he chose not to. Very possibly because he couldn’t get past the betrayal of her and Cido.

“Thinking it really feels like I might be hoping it might be true, and that feels like bad juju, Magdalena.” In her room now, Isabella sat down on her bed. “If it really is true, and I honestly hope it’s not because I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy, least of all on Alejandro, but if it is true he knew where to find me. Even after I moved and quit. Up until a few weeks ago, my number was listed for months, and he had the opportunity to say something when we ran into him at the festival again. But he never came looking. So, I’m just gonna sincerely hope it’s not him Cido was talking about.”

For once, Magdalena didn’t have a retort. She might even be feeling bad that she hadn’t thought this through and now Isabella had even more to ponder when it came to the heartache of losing the love of her life. Either he was still happily married with a family now and completely unattainable or woefully uninterested in anything with her ever again.

Capítulo 22

Eres Tu!

Isabella

Of course, her well-meaning but tenacious friend was not about to let this go. Magdalena showed up the next morning all gung-ho about being convinced that Cido had been talking about Alejandro’s wife. Isabella walked back to the kitchen, torn between feeling sick for Alejandro if it were really true and feeling heartbroken that, if so, he really had no intentions of ever reuniting with her.

“Magdalena, por favor.” She turned to her friend as she reached the stove and stirred the chorizo and eggs she’d been cooking on it. “First of all, I’m still holding out and praying that it’s not true. I can’t even imagine going through something so tragic. And second.” She shrugged, turning back to the pan on the stove. “What’s he been doing all this time then? Because looking for me isn’t it.”

“Well . . .” Magdalena paused to look around cautiously as she reached the counter next to Isabella. “Is your mom home?”

“Yeah, but she’s asleep. She worked a double shift last night.”

“Oh, okay.” She hopped onto the counter and made herself comfortable. “It could be one of two things. It’s too soon and he feels like it’d be disrespectful to his late wife if he doesn’t wait longer. Because after everything you told me about you and him, there’s no way I’m buying that he’s no longer interested in you. I’m not blind either, Isa. I saw the way that hunk of a man looked at you that day near his restaurant. Even your mom said he gazed at you in that same enamored way he always had.”

Isabella frowned. “But he would’ve at least asked for my number, for future reference or at the very least maybe what city I live in now, so he’d know where to start once he was ready to start looking. Something.”

“Well, no. Back up.” Magdalena lifted her pointer finger. “That’s assuming he’s aware you’re no longer living with or even working with Cido anymore.”

Turning to her stubborn friend, Isabella scowled at her for insisting on giving Isabella all this false hope. “Magdalena, he said—” She caught herself when she remembered what Alejandro had actually said that day, and her friend’s lips were already curving into a very satisfied smile.

“He said Cido told him everything,” Magdalena finished her thought for her. “No telling what that idiota sin vergüenza told him. I’m inclined to believe this is the real reason why he’s stayed away. Though I’m surprised he wouldn’t be willing to fight for you. From everything you told me, even if