Chapter 107 One Hundred & Seven
Izzy stayed there on the couch, leaning against Maya, letting the quiet settle around them. The weight of the week… the disappointment, the confusion, the heartbreak… was still heavy, but Maya’s words had planted a small spark of clarity inside her.
“I just… I can’t stop thinking about him,” Izzy admitted softly, her voice barely above a whisper. “Even after everything, I still love him.”
Maya squeezed her hand gently. “I know, honeybee. And that’s okay. Loving someone doesn't mean weakness or being stupid. It just means you have a big heart. But right now… you need to take care of that heart. Not hand it to someone who isn’t ready to protect it.”
Izzy closed her eyes, letting out a shaky breath. “I just… I thought he was different this time.”
“He might be,” Maya said slowly, carefully. “But until he proves it in ways you can see, not just words, you have to protect yourself. You’re not just some placeholder. You’re not a plan B. You deserve more than that, Izzy.”
Tears threatened again, but this time they were steadier… more like release than despair. Izzy nodded against Maya’s shoulder. “I just… I don’t know if I can stop myself from going back to him if he comes begging.”
Maya tilted her head, eyes soft but firm. “Then get a stand girl if he comes begging good But make sure it’s because he’s chosen you, not because he’s convenient. You wait until he’s willing to fight for you, really fight for you, and not leave you second-guessing every word, every action. That’s when you go back.”
Izzy’s chest tightened, but a sense of calm began to seep in.
“And no matter what,” Maya said, her voice gentle now, “I’ve got your back. Always. You're more than a friend to me.. You are my sister. I will make sure you don’t get walked over, not by him, not by anyone.”
Izzy looked up at her friend, feeling a warmth “Thank you,” she whispered, her voice breaking just a little.
Maya smiled softly, brushing a strand of hair from Izzy’s face. “Now… let’s get you some ice cream. You really need to cool off from this sad bullshit.”
Izzy laughed through her tears, feeling a little lighter.
It's been two hours since the ice cream and Maya telling her stuff she missed during their beef.
Izzy sat on the edge of the couch, the TV long since turned off, the room quiet except for the soft, steady breathing of Maya asleep beside her. The glow from the city lights spilling through the window painted the apartment in shades of gold and blue.
Her mind refused to rest. Thoughts of Dominic twisted and tangled inside her… his words, his promises, his kiss earlier… and she couldn’t shake the memory of his lips, his hands, the way he made her feel like she was the only person in the world.
She hugged her knees to her chest, staring at the dark ceiling, feeling both warmth and ache in her chest. She loved him. That much was certain. But she also remembered Maya’s words, sharp and honest… she deserved someone who chose her, who didn’t make her question her worth, who was willing to fight for her heart every single day.
Her phone buzzed softly on the coffee table. She glanced at it but didn’t touch it. Part of her wanted to see if it was him, part of her was terrified. She didn’t need another wave of hope just to be left drowning in disappointment again.
Izzy exhaled, her breath shaky. “I just… I don’t know,” she whispered into the empty room, as if speaking out loud might untangle the chaos in her heart.
The silence that followed was heavy, but somehow comforting. Maya’s presence beside her, even in sleep, reminded her she wasn’t alone. She wasn’t weak. She could sit with her thoughts, let the ache exist, and still breathe.
For a moment, she allowed herself to picture a future where she wasn’t constantly on edge… where someone truly loved her, chose her without hesitation, without conditions. And for that moment, just for a second, she felt a quiet hope stirring inside her.
She stayed there, awake, letting the night stretch around her, letting the city hum outside, and letting herself feel… without shame, without fear, just feeling.
Izzy shifted on the couch, hugging her knees tighter. The quiet of the apartment felt heavy, but it was also safe. Maya’s steady breathing reminded her she wasn’t entirely alone, and for some reason that small comfort made the ache in her chest just a little more bearable.
Her mind wandered back to Dominic no matter how she tried to stop… his words, his kisses, the way he had pressed against her earlier that night. She loved him, yes, but love wasn’t supposed to feel like this constant balancing act between joy and fear. Every time she let herself hope, a part of her remembered the other side… the anger, the secrecy, the way he hadn’t fully chosen her when it mattered.
She closed her eyes and took a shaky breath. “Why does it have to be so hard?” she whispered. Her voice barely carried over the hum of the city outside.
A tear slid down her cheek, but she didn’t wipe it away. She let it fall, letting herself feel the frustration, the longing, the fear, and even the stubborn love she couldn’t seem to shake.
Izzy opened her eyes again and glanced at Maya, peaceful in sleep, and the thought hit her like a quiet truth: maybe love wasn’t just about passion and kisses. Maybe it was also about being seen, being chosen, being safe. And maybe, just maybe, she deserved that more than the heart-stopping heat of Dominic’s touch.
She leaned back against the couch, letting her body sink into the cushions. The city lights flickered across the room, and she let the silence hold her for a while longer, knowing tomorrow would demand strength she wasn’t sure she had… but tonight, she could just breathe, she could just feel.