I Stopped Chasing Him and He Lost His Mind

Toby shoved me away and shot to his feet to greet her.

"What are you doing here? I told you I was visiting a friend."

I lifted my head through the pain, and a breathtaking face filled my vision.

Isabella Donaldson smiled radiantly, every bit as elegant as the day I'd first glimpsed her through the music room window. She waved at me.

"I heard she's a friend you've known for years. We actually met once, back in the day. I figured I should stop by too."

I smiled back and offered her a seat.

Her gaze landed on the baby supplies lined up beside the bed, and she blinked in surprise.

"Oh no, I completely forgot to bring anything. I'll make up for it next time."

Toby jumped in. "I picked all of this out. No need for you to waste your time shopping."

The words barely left his mouth before he backtracked. "Zoe asked me to grab them for her. I wouldn't have gone otherwise."

May chimed in right on cue. "Exactly! Our Toby's just generous like that. Bella, don't read too much into it."

Isabella shot him a playful, pouty look. He didn't show a flicker of impatience, his voice going soft as he coaxed her.

"Next time I'll definitely bring you along. I just couldn't bear to interrupt your practice."

My mind drifted to the first time they met.

I'd been tagging along while Toby practiced basketball, and he complained my game was terrible.

On my way to fetch a stray ball, I stumbled across Isabella practicing by the music room window.

One look, and he was gone. He chased her shamelessly, year after year.

Isabella was a proud swan, untouchable. She left to study abroad and vanished without a trace.

When a man's dream girl comes back, no one stands a chance.

No wonder Toby, who'd spent years fooling around, was suddenly ready to settle down and rush into an engagement.

A few days later, word of my pregnancy and hospital stay spread through our high school group chat.

Someone organized a get-together.

"Zoe's having a baby, Toby got engaged to our class goddess. Two reasons to celebrate! We have to meet up."

I didn't respond. I knew they were just waiting to see how I'd react.

Darcy was ready to fire back on my behalf, but I stopped her.

"It's just a reunion. Catching up sounds nice."

Darcy was worried something would happen, so she stayed glued to my side from the moment we walked into the banquet hall.

Half-familiar faces drifted past, eyes bouncing between me and Toby.

We'd been inseparable seatmates once.

Now the distance between us could have spanned a galaxy.

Toby paraded Isabella in like a trophy, basking in everyone's envious stares.

I kept to myself, picking at a plate of fruit. When the crowd couldn't get a rise out of me, they lost interest and scattered.

People gathered in clusters to reminisce, counting off who hadn't shown up yet.

Suddenly someone slapped their forehead.

"Wait, there was that chubby kid who hasn't made it yet. He's stuck in traffic, apparently. What was his name again?"

"James Henson, I think? Didn't he confess to Zoe back in the day? She turned him down and he went home crying!"

Someone turned to me with a laugh. "Seriously, was something wrong with him? Confessing to Zoe, of all people. He transferred out like two days later. His family must've figured out he had a screw loose!"

The room erupted in laughter. I said nothing.

Toby, though, frowned without thinking.

"Is it really that fun to pick on a pregnant woman?"

"Besides, Zoe has nothing to do with him. She has a… status now."

He trailed off before finishing the thought, but when his eyes found mine, there was a trace of guilt in them.

I shrugged. No big deal.

"Since you're all so curious about my husband, don't worry. He'll be here any minute."

The room went quiet. A beat later, the door swung open.

A strikingly handsome man walked toward me, his smile warm and easy.

"Hey, babe. Sorry I'm late."

The metal spoon in Toby's hand hit the floor with a clang.