Chapter 98

ISABELLA

I woke up feeling like someone had swapped my brain out for a completely different one overnight. Everything felt off, like I wasn’t entirely myself anymore. It wasn’t just the pregnancy hormones—I was sure of it. I was different. Changed. And I didn’t know how to handle it.

Yesterday, I’d cried over a dog food commercial. A dog food commercial. And don’t even get me started on my new obsession with buying baby clothes. The nursery was already overflowing with tiny onesies, stuffed animals, and blankets, and I couldn’t seem to stop. Every time I saw something cute, I just had to have it. It was like someone had flipped a switch in my brain and turned me into a compulsive shopper.

And then there was the irritation. Everything seemed to get on my nerves these days. The way the remote was never where I left it, the sound of the neighbor’s dog barking, even the fact that my hair never seemed to cooperate with me anymore. It was like the world had conspired to test my patience at every turn.

This morning was no different. I stood at the stove, trying to make breakfast, but my mind was somewhere else, floating in a sea of emotions that I couldn’t quite understand. I was frying an egg when it happened—the yolk settled into a perfect heart shape. I stared at it, and before I knew it, tears welled up in my eyes.

“Are you okay?” Jax’s voice startled me out of my thoughts. I hadn’t even heard him come into the kitchen. He was looking at me with a mix of concern and confusion.

I opened my mouth to answer, but all that came out was a choked sob. I pointed at the egg with a shaking hand, the tears spilling over.

Jax stepped closer, looking from the egg to me, trying to piece together why I was on the verge of a breakdown over breakfast. “The yolk,” I managed to get out between sobs. “It’s shaped like a heart.”

Jax blinked, clearly not expecting that. “Oh… uh, that’s… sweet?”

“It’s so sweet!” I wailed, my emotions spiraling out of control. “It’s so perfect and I’m just—” I hiccuped, trying to pull myself together, but the tears kept coming. “I’m just a mess!”

Jax wrapped an arm around me, guiding me to a stool at the kitchen island. “You’re not a mess,” he said softly, though his tone was laced with uncertainty. “You’re pregnant, Bella. It’s normal to feel emotional.”

I nodded, trying to take deep breaths, but the tears wouldn’t stop. “I don’t even know who I am anymore,” I confessed, burying my face in my hands. “I cry at everything, I buy things I don’t need, and I get angry at the dumbest stuff. And now I’m crying because of an egg!”

Jax rubbed my back soothingly, still trying to navigate the situation. “Hey, how about we do something fun to take your mind off things? Let’s go on a date tonight.”

His suggestion caught me off guard, and for a moment, the tears slowed as I looked up at him. A date? That actually sounded nice. But then, just as quickly as the thought came, panic set in. “But what am I going to wear?” I cried, the tears coming back with full force. “Nothing fits me anymore! I’ve gained so much weight, and I just—” I broke off, feeling utterly defeated.

Jax looked like he was trying to find the right words to say, his expression both tender and worried. “You’re beautiful, Isa. No matter what you wear, you’re going to look amazing. And you know what? We’ll pick something together. How does that sound?”

I sniffled, his words slowly sinking in. He wasn’t just saying that to make me feel better—I could see the sincerity in his eyes. I nodded, wiping my tears with the back of my hand. “Okay,” I whispered, my voice still shaky. “Let’s do that.”

A small smile tugged at his lips. “Good. And don’t worry about breakfast. I’ll take care of it. You just relax, okay?”

I took a deep breath, feeling the storm of emotions inside me begin to calm. Jax’s kindness, his understanding, it was everything I needed in that moment. “Thank you,” I murmured, feeling a fresh wave of gratitude wash over me—this time without the tears.

“Anytime,” he said softly, giving me a quick kiss on the forehead before turning back to the stove.

As I watched him prepare breakfast, I realized that maybe I hadn’t lost myself entirely. Maybe I was just… evolving. Changing in ways that scared me, but also in ways that were leading me toward something beautiful. I wasn’t the same person I was before, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t still me. And with Jax by my side, I knew I’d be okay. Even if I cried over heart-shaped eggs.

As Jax and I sat down to eat breakfast, I was finally feeling a bit more like myself. The scent of freshly made pancakes and scrambled eggs filled the kitchen, and Jax had even cut up some fruit to go along with it, just the way I liked. The morning had been a rollercoaster of emotions, but now, with a plate of food in front of me and Jax’s reassuring presence beside me, things seemed a little brighter.

Just as I was about to take my first bite, Jax’s phone buzzed on the table. He picked it up, glancing at the screen, and a smile spread across his face. “It’s Asher and Knox,” he said, swiping to answer the video call.

The screen lit up with the familiar faces of Asher and Knox, both looking a little tired but still managing to smile as soon as they saw us. “Hey, you two,” Asher greeted, his voice warm. “How’s everything going?”

I opened my mouth to reply, but the moment I saw their faces, something inside me cracked. The reality of them being away, even for just a short time, hit me harder than I expected. I could feel the tears welling up again, and before I could stop myself, I was crying into my hands.

Jax shot me a concerned look, quickly turning the phone away slightly as he tried to comfort me. “Hey, hey, it’s okay,” he murmured, putting a hand on my back. “They’ll be back before you know it.”

Through my tears, I could hear Knox’s voice coming through the phone. “Isa? What’s wrong?” He sounded worried, and I knew I needed to pull it together, but the tears kept coming.

“I just—” I hiccupped, trying to catch my breath. “I miss you both so much.”

There was a brief silence on the other end, and then Asher spoke, his voice gentle and filled with understanding. “We miss you too, Isa. We’ll be back before you know it. You’re not alone—you’ve got Jax and Spencer there with you.”

I nodded, trying to stop the flood of emotions, but the thought of them being so far away made me feel so… vulnerable. “It’s just… everything feels so overwhelming without you here,” I admitted, wiping my eyes with a napkin Jax handed me.

“We’ll be back soon,” Knox assured me, his tone steady and comforting. “And when we get back, we’ll make up for all the time we’ve missed. How about that?”

I managed a shaky smile, my heart aching a little less at his words. “Okay,” I whispered. “But you have to promise.”

Asher and Knox both smiled, and even through the screen, I could feel their love and support. “We promise,” they said in unison, their voices making me feel just a bit more at ease.

Jax turned the phone back to him, giving me a moment to collect myself. “You heard her, guys. You’ve got a date with us as soon as you’re back,” he joked lightly, trying to lift the mood.

Asher chuckled. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

“Take care of her, Jax,” Knox added, his voice softer now. “We’re counting on you.”

“You know I will,” Jax replied with a nod, his eyes flicking to me as I finally started to calm down.

We ended the call shortly after, and as Jax set the phone aside, he turned to me with a gentle smile. “Feel better?”

I nodded, still feeling a bit fragile but also comforted by their words. “Yeah, I do. Thank you.”

“Anytime, Isa,” Jax said, reaching over to squeeze my hand. “And remember, you’re not alone in this. We’re all here for you.”

I gave his hand a squeeze in return, feeling the warmth of his reassurance. Maybe the day had started off rocky, but I knew that with Jax, Asher, Knox, and even Spencer by my side, I’d get through it. No matter what.