Chapter 85 Eighty Five
It was the weekend, and Dominic still hadn’t texted her.
Not once.
Izzy lay on the couch, phone in her hand, thumb hovering over the screen. She refreshed her messages. Nothing. She opened his socials, scrolling slowly, hoping to see something… anything. A post. A story. Proof that he still existed in the world.
There was nothing.
He hadn’t been at work for a week either.
Her chest felt tight. Her thoughts spiraled fast… Did I push him too far? Was he done with me already?
Her stomach twisted as panic crept in, cold and heavy.
She didn’t even notice Maya talking from the kitchen.
“Izzy?” Maya called. “Izzy?”
No response.
Maya wiped her hands on a towel and walked over, tapping Izzy’s shoulder.
“Hey.”
Izzy jumped, sucking in a sharp breath. “God…” She clutched her phone tighter, her heart racing.
Maya frowned. “Are you okay? I’ve been calling you.”
“Hm? Yeah… yeah, I’m fine,” Izzy said quickly. Her voice shook as she ran her hands through her hair, over and over. “What do you need… Anything?”
Maya studied her for a moment, clearly not convinced. “I was asking if you wanted orange juice or apple juice with your pancakes.”
Izzy blinked, her mind lagging. “Huh… um. Any is fine.”
“Uh… okay,” Maya said slowly, still watching her as she turned back toward the kitchen.
Izzy sank deeper into the couch, staring down at her phone again. The screen stayed dark.
And the silence from Dominic felt louder than anything else.
They sat at the small dining table, plates of pancakes between them. The food looked good, but Izzy barely touched hers. She pushed a piece around with her fork, nodding now and then while Maya talked about random things… work, her new guy, a show they saw together… but none of it sank in.
“Izzy.”
No response.
“Izzy.”
Still nothing.
Maya slammed her hand lightly on the table. “IZZY!”
Izzy jumped, eyes wide. “Yes… what?” she asked, startled.
“For fuck’s sake,” Maya snapped, dropping her fork. “You’re acting like a crazy bitch over a good-for-nothing.”
Izzy swallowed hard. “I… I’m sorry.. It’s just... he hasn’t called or texted me, Maya. It’s been a week.”
“And?” Maya shot back.
Izzy’s eyes burned, her throat tightening. She shook her head, fighting it. “You don’t get it…”
Maya stood up so fast her chair scraped loudly. “Don’t you dare cry right now,” she said sharply. “Fuck, you’re pissing me off.”
Izzy looked down at her plate, shoulders shaking.
“I know the sex was good,” Maya continued, pacing. “I know it was intense. But for fuck’s sake, Isabella, I warned you. I told you not to fall for him. You said you had it under control.”
Izzy’s voice came out small. “I thought I did.”
“I didn’t want to say anything for a while,” Maya said, her voice cracking despite her anger, “but you’re acting desperate. And it breaks my heart to see you like this.”
Izzy finally looked up, tears spilling over. She dropped her fork, pressing her hands to her face as a quiet sob escaped.
“I didn’t mean to,” she whispered. “I just… fell.”
Maya’s anger melted the moment she saw Izzy break down. She sighed, crossed the room, and pulled her into a tight hug.
“Oh, dear…” Maya murmured, rubbing her back gently. “You know you have a soft heart. You fall too easily, Izzy. You always have.”
Izzy clutched her shirt, crying into her shoulder. “I didn’t plan this,” she said between sobs. “I really didn’t.”
“I know,” Maya said softly. “You never do. You feel things deeply, and you give your whole heart without even realizing it.”
She pulled back just enough to look at Izzy’s face, wiping her tears with her thumb. “That’s not a weakness, okay? It just means you love honestly. But it also means people like him can hurt you if you’re not careful.”
Izzy sniffed, nodding. “I just keep hoping he’ll call.”
Maya sighed again and hugged her once more. “I know. And that’s the part that scares me. Because you’re waiting for someone who already told you who he is.”
Izzy closed her eyes, leaning into her. “I don’t know how to stop feeling this way.”
“You don’t have to stop overnight,” Maya said gently. “Just don’t face it alone. I mean you get another dick to forget an old one .. but fuck it.”
Izzy’s shoulders shook as she cried, her face buried in her hands. Maya watched her for a moment, then her expression slowly changed. The softness faded, replaced by something sharp… mischievous.
“You know what…” Maya said suddenly.
Izzy sniffed. “What?” she asked weakly, not looking up.
Maya smiled, that dangerous little smile Izzy knew very well. “You remember that guy who was into you?”
Izzy frowned, confused. “What guy? I don’t remember anyone being into me.”
Maya rolled her eyes. “Of course you wouldn’t. You were too busy being wrapped up in Dominic's dick to think straight.”
Izzy looked up slowly. “Wait…” Her brows pulled together. “I can’t think of any.
“Dominic’s rival”
Adrian?” Izzy asked, still unsure.
Maya snapped her fingers. “Exactly.”
“Yes,” Maya said, nodding. “That other hottie Adrian.”
Izzy shook her head. “Maya, I don’t..”
“Listen to me,” Maya cut in gently but firmly. “If Dominic thinks he can play games with your heart, act cold, disappear, and leave you broken…”
She leaned closer, her smile widening. “Then we play the game his way with my rules.”
Izzy stared at her. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying,” Maya replied calmly, “we stop letting you sit here crying over a man who walked away. And we remind him that you are wanted by many.”
Izzy swallowed. “With … Adrian?”
Maya shrugged. “If Dominic wants to pretend he doesn’t care, let’s see how well he pretends when his biggest rival is suddenly very interested in you… when you start dating him.”
Izzy hesitated, her heart still aching. “That sounds messy.”
Maya softened, placing a hand on her cheek. “You’re already in a mess, Izzy. This isn’t about just revenge. It’s about taking your power back.”
Izzy wiped her tears, breathing slowly. “…I just don’t want to feel this stupid anymore.”
Maya smiled, pulling her into a hug again. “Then don’t..”