"Bella," said Felipe greeting her as she entered the shop.

"Hi Felipe," she said as he came around the counter and hugged her.

"You look like you have a lot on your mind," he said as he looked at her.

"That obvious, huh?"

He pointed to the chairs and tables outside and she nodded.

"Which of your mother or Angel is the reason behind your troubles?"

She tilted her head to the side. Felipe, just as Angel, had always been very perceptive and she knew she wouldn't be able to hide it.

"Both."

"Ah. I know my son; I figured it was only a matter of time before he imagined time hadn't gone by when it came to the two of you."

"I can't blame him. I just would have preferred he realized that years ago and came after me."

"You've moved on in life and he's been here, stuck in the memory of what you had. Am I right in thinking that it's not how you feel?"

"Angel holds a special place in my heart, and he always will, but because of what happened back then, even if we tried, it would never work, Felipe."

"I know, mija. You'd only tear each other apart."

Isabella nodded.

"Don't worry about Angel. He'll realize that it's for the best. You two started off being the best of friends. A friendship I've hardly ever come across my entire life. That's where you'll end up again. Just give him some time to let reality sink in. Now tell me about you mother."

EZ walked inside his father's house and found Angel drinking his third can of beer. "A bit early, don't you think?"

"It's got to be beer time somewhere in the world," replied Angel in a foul mood.

"You got in a fight with Pops?"

"Nope."

"Then what's up with you?"

"Bella made it clear that there is no chance for us to be together."

It didn't surprise EZ. Even if he had encouraged Angel to believe it could happen, he wasn't that naïve. That bridge had been burned to ashes the minute he had refused to leave Santo Padre with her, and he knew it. Bella had forgotten about Angel. He knew nothing of Samuel's father, but even if he didn't appear to be in the picture, a woman rarely had the child of a man she hadn't loved.

"Maybe it's better off that way, even if it's not what you want."

"I don't know what I want anymore," replied Angel shaking his head and rubbing his forehead. "When I saw her, I just thought everything would fit into place, as if the broken puzzle we were could just reassemble. Now, I'm more afraid of losing her than being with her."

"Then don't lose her. Even if you aren't together, it doesn't mean you can't be in each other's lives. She let you in, didn't she?"

"Yeah."

"So, just be there for her like any friend would."

"Is that what you would do if you could with Emily?"

"Trust me it would be better than not having her in my life."

"Only difference is Emily is married to Galindo, Isabella isn't."

"Then if it helps, pretend she's married."

Angel finished his can in one gulp, crushed it between his hands and threw it in the bin.

Isabelle spent most of the afternoon preparing the chili then they had a quiet dinner together. After dinner she went up to see Samuel in his room.

"Hey kiddo, you have a minute for me?"

He put his phone away and sat on the edge of his bed while she took the chair from the desk.

"You know abuela's condition is going to ask me a lot of time and focus and I don't think it's fair that you just sit here. What would you think of going to NAU earlier and doing their pre-first year summer program?"

He pondered her suggestion. "Maybe, but wouldn't it be more complicated for you to take a few days to drive me there?"

"Not if we plan it properly. I feel bad about it, but you'd be better there interacting with kids your age."

"Can you still sign me up? I thought that the deadlines were past already."

"They are but I called and considering the situation, they are willing to make an exception."

"What are you going to do here alone with abuela?"

"Don't worry about me. It's you I need to worry about."

"Would you hate me if I said I'd agree."

"Of course not, cariño? Otherwise, I wouldn't have brought it up."

"Then yeah, I think it's a good idea."

Isabella nodded grateful that it would be one thing less she'd have to worry about. "OK. I'll let them know. We can drive up Friday and I'll help you settle in. I'll be back before abuela's next chemo session."

Samuel stood and walked over to his mom and hugged her. "Thanks mom."

"I only want what's best for you and I always will," she replied as she headed for the door.

"I'm going to head to the clubhouse to bring the churros and barquillos to Riz as promised for fixing the car. Abuela is reading in bed, can you check up on her every now and then?"

"Yeah. Say hi to EZ and Angel, I like them."

"I will. Don't stay up too late, and call me if she needs me," she said as she closed the door and headed back downstairs.

She grabbed the tin boxes, grabbed her keys, and walked out of the house.

She parked her car in the street and walked over to the club gates that were open. Things were quiet and seeing that there were no bikes, she hesitated to go inside.

"Hi," said Chucky as he popped out of nowhere in front of her, making her jump.

"Jeez, Chucky, don't do that."

"Sorry," he said smiling. "Not my intention to frighten you."

"It's quiet, is anywhere there?"

"Most of the guys left early, after what happened they needed time away from the club."

"What happened?"

"Someone stole from the club, Bishop kept everyone here for three days trying to figure out who it was."

It made sense the fact that she hadn't heard from Angel or Bishop prior to her outing at the dinner.

Chucky saw the boxes in her hand. "More pastry?"

"For Riz, for fixing the car." She then looked at Chucky. "You helped too; do you want some?"

"No, that's OK, I didn't do much."

"Don't say that. I made plenty, why don't you take the boxes and take a few for yourself then pass on the rest to Riz for me?"

"That's very considerate of you," said Chucky as he took the boxes from her. "I'll make sure he gets them. You're not coming in?"

"No, but thanks for asking Chucky."

Bishop walked out from the meeting room to the bar and grabbed himself a beer, as he looked out the window, he saw Chucky talking to Isabella and he felt his heart flutter. He walked out the door and reached the porch as she had turned around and was walking toward the gates, Chucky going toward the back of the grounds.

"Isabella?"

She turned around and smiled when she saw him.

He went down the steps and walked in her direction.

"You were going to leave without saying hello?" he asked as he stopped in front of her.

"Chucky said there wasn't anyone there and I thought you wanted to keep things quiet in regard to the club."

"You're direct," he said smiling, "I like that."

"Bishop, I don't want to complicate things. Even if Angel knows where I stand."

Bishop raised an interested brow. "You told him?"

"Of course, and it had nothing to do with you. I still would have told him because it was the right thing to do, and I should have said it the minute he came to me."

"Let's go inside," said Bishop as he walked back toward the clubhouse.

She followed him inside and looked around the house. "Wow, Chucky was right, there really is no one."

"The guys needed a night off."

"And not you?"

"I'm President, there are always things I need to do," he said shutting the door.

He took her in his arms and kissed her passionately. "You've been on my mind, Belita," he said after pulling his lips away from hers, but still embracing her.

"Same," she replied.

"Is that why you came?"

"Partly," she said smiling, "I was using bringing Riz what I promised him, to see you."

"Smart girl."

He then looked at her from head to toe. She looked beautiful in a midi flowered dress. "It's dangerous to come in here looking like this," he said biting down on his lower lip.

"Is it, now?"

"Uh huh," he replied, "How do you expect me to keep my hands off you?"

He let his hands trail down her flank down to her legs and raise the fabric of her dress so that he could slide his hands underneath it, placing them on her ass firmly. He lifted her and she wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck as they kissed fervently and walked toward the meeting room.

Chucky walked inside the clubhouse through the back door with Riz' boxes after having taken a few and placing a post-it with his name on it. He headed for the bar counter to place them when he heard sounds coming from the meeting room. He placed the box down and curious as he was, he walked quietly so that he could see what was happening inside. He looked and gave a devious grin upon seeing Bishop and Isabella in action, as he fucked her from behind, her leaning over the table. As their groans of pleasure filled the room, Chucky regretted not being able to use his hands to relieve himself.

"President is getting some real class action," he said as he walked away and headed for the back door, "glad somebody here is."