Chapter 29 Twenty Nine
Outside, the sun was bright but gentle, the air warm and filled with the scent of pine and salt from the nearby lake. Izzy blinked against the light and walked toward the bus assigned to her group.
Adrian was already there, loading his suitcase into the lower compartment. When he spotted her, he smiled easily.
“Need help with that?” he asked, reaching for her bag.
“I’ve got it,” she said with a small smile, though he still lifted it in without hesitation.
“There,” he said, dusting his hands off. “Now we can officially say the weekend has begun.”
Izzy chuckled softly. “Finally.”
He grinned. “You deserve a quiet one after all this. Maybe a spa day? Or at least some sleep.”
“Sleep sounds perfect,” she admitted, smiling faintly.
They climbed onto the bus together and found seats near the middle. The staff kept filing in chatting, laughing, and exchanging photos from the trip. Someone played soft music from their phone, and the mood was light and easy.
Izzy sat by the window again, resting her chin in her palm as the engine rumbled to life. Outside, the resort slowly began to fade … the colorful umbrellas, the pool area, the long driveway lined with palm trees.
She exhaled quietly, watching it all disappear.
Across the aisle, Dominic boarded last. He looked as calm as ever, dressed in his usual dark shirt, sunglasses in hand. He exchanged a few polite words with another manager, then walked down the aisle.
Izzy didn’t look at him.
She kept her gaze fixed on the window, even though she could feel him walking past .. that quiet, magnetic pull that always made her body tense before her mind could stop it.
He didn’t sit far. Just a few rows behind her.
Close enough to feel his presence.
Far enough to pretend it didn’t matter.
Adrian leaned back in his seat beside her, looking relaxed. “You okay?” he asked gently.
“Yeah,” she said after a moment. “Just tired.”
He smiled. “Then rest. I’ll wake you when we get to the city.”
“Thanks,” she murmured, her voice soft.
The bus began to move, rolling down the long road that curved away from the resort. The scenery outside changed slowly …from beaches and forests to quiet highways. The hum of the wheels and the steady rhythm of the road made her eyelids grow heavy.
For a moment, she let her eyes close, the weight of the last few days sinking in … the tension, the stolen glances, the messy emotions that refused to leave her alone.
Dominic’s face still flickered behind her eyelids, his voice from last night whispering things she shouldn’t still remember.
She sighed quietly, pushing the thoughts away.
He doesn’t get to live in your head anymore, she told herself. Not after everything.
When she opened her eyes again, the sun was lower, turning the sky orange and pink. The city skyline shimmered faintly in the distance … home was getting closer.
“Almost there,” Adrian said beside her with a smile. “You slept for about an hour.”
She smiled faintly, stretching. “That’s a new record for me.”
He laughed. “Good. Maybe that means this weekend will actually be peaceful.”
Peaceful.
She hoped so.
Because as much as she wanted to move forward, she knew peace would only come if she could keep her distance from Dominic Steele …at least long enough for her heart to catch up with her head.
Izzy got home late in the afternoon, tired but relieved.
The first thing she did was drop her bags in the hallway and fall face-first on her couch. The house was quiet as usual, and for once, she was thankful for it.
She stayed there for a while, not moving, just staring at the ceiling and letting out a deep breath.
Her body ached from the long bus ride, and her mind still felt full … full of Dominic, full of work, full of everything she didn’t want to think about anymore.
“I’m home,” she said softly to no one, closing her eyes for a few seconds.
After a long shower, she changed into her favorite oversized shirt and shorts, then made herself a cup of tea. She sat by the window with her cup in hand, watching the street below. The city looked peaceful, and for the first time in days, so did she.
Her phone buzzed.
It was a message from Maya:
“Hey, I’m coming over. You’re not allowed to say no.”
Izzy smiled. She didn’t reply … she didn’t need to.
Thirty minutes later, there was a loud knock followed by Maya’s voice shouting from outside, “Open up before I melt in this heat!”
Izzy laughed and opened the door. Maya stood there holding two takeaway bags and a big grin.
“Dinner delivery and gossip service, at your command,” Maya said, walking straight inside.
“I thought you were supposed to be resting,” Izzy teased.
“I am resting … at your place,” Maya replied, dropping the food on the coffee table. “You look like you need comfort food anyway.”
They sat down, opened the containers, and started eating noodles and fried chicken straight from the boxes.
It felt easy, normal … something she hadn’t felt all week.
“So,” Maya said between bites, “how was the retreat? And don’t you dare lie.”
Izzy rolled her eyes. “It was… fine.”
“Fine?” Maya repeated, raising an eyebrow. “That’s the same word people use when they’re about to cry or break something.”
Izzy sighed. “Okay, maybe not fine. Complicated.”
Maya smirked. “Complicated like ‘you kissed him again’ complicated?”
Izzy gave her a look. “Maya.”
“Don’t Maya me,” her friend said, laughing. “I know that face. So what happened? Did Mr. Steele finally say something, or is he still pretending he doesn’t fuck you… With all his Mr ice attitude.”
Izzy laughed a little, covering her face with her hands. “He’s confusing. One minute he ignores me, the next he’s..” she stopped herself, shaking her head. “Never mind.”
Maya leaned closer. “Oh, something definitely happened. Spill it, woman.”
Izzy groaned. “He kissed me, okay? Happy now?”
Maya gasped dramatically. “I knew it! I knew that man wouldn’t stay away for long.”
Izzy shook her head, smiling despite herself. “You make it sound like it’s a good thing. It’s not. I’m done with his mixed signals.”
Maya reached for another piece of chicken. “Well, maybe it’s about time you start taking your own advice. No more waiting around for him to make up his mind.”
“I know,” Izzy said softly. “I just… wish it was that easy.”
For a few moments, they sat quietly, watching TV and eating. The silence was comfortable. Maya eventually turned and grinned.
“You know,” she said, “I could distract you with stories from my week. You’ll forget all about Dominic Steele.”
Izzy laughed. “Oh no. What did you do this time?”
Maya winked. “Let’s just say I made two new friends. At the same time.”
Izzy groaned, laughing and covering her face. “You’re such a whore! After those three guys, Maya!”
“I call it self-care,” Maya said proudly. “Anyway, I think you need a little fun too. No work, no bosses, no mixed signals. Just us, snacks, and a movie marathon.”
Izzy smiled. “That actually sounds perfect.”
They spent the rest of the evening watching movies, talking about everything and nothing … work, relationships, food, and random dreams. For a few hours, Izzy felt lighter. She laughed until her cheeks hurt and didn’t think once about the retreat or the man who kept confusing her heart.
By the time Maya fell asleep on the couch, Izzy was smiling quietly to herself.
Maybe peace didn’t last forever, but for now … she was grateful for it.