Chapter 88 Eighty Eight
Maya suddenly lifted her phone, circling Izzy like she was on a photoshoot.
“Don’t move,” Maya said. “You look too good.”
Izzy frowned. “Maya… what are you doing?”
“Documenting your comeback,” Maya replied, already taking pictures.
Izzy stood near the bar, club lights washing over her, Adrian just a step behind her. She didn’t pose at first, but Maya kept talking.
“Relax your shoulders. Chin up. Yes… like that.”
The music thumped behind them. Izzy finally let herself lean into it, one hand on her hip, lips slightly parted. Maya took a few more shots, then grinned down at her screen.
“Oh, this one?” Maya said. “Deadly.”
Izzy laughed nervously. “Please don’t embarrass me.”
Maya was already typing.
She posted the photo to Instagram, tagging Izzy.
The caption read:
“Hot, unbothered, and outside 😌✨”
“Cheers to new connections, new love.. New me.. I might get some good loving tonight 😜#WeekendEnergy”
Izzy’s phone buzzed almost instantly.
She looked down. Likes. Comments. Fire emojis. Heart eyes.
Her stomach twisted…
“Maya!” Izzy whispered. “The caption… ”
Maya shrugged, unapologetic. “It’s not a lie.”
Izzy swallowed and locked her phone, sliding it into her purse. Part of her felt exposed. Another part felt… powerful.
Adrian glanced at her. “You okay?”
She nodded slowly. “Yeah. Just… Maya being Maya
“Well,” he said gently, “well I don't mind getting some good loving too” he teased
“Oh please.. Not you too” Izzy whispered.
Izzy looked around the club again… the lights, the noise, Maya dancing nearby, the night still wide open.
By the time the music softened and the crowd began to thin, Izzy felt drained in a good way… tired, but lighter than she had been all week.
Maya leaned in, shouting over the last song. “I’m drunk as fuck.. My feet are dead. I need my bed right now.”
Izzy laughed softly. “Same.”
They made their way toward the exit, the cool night air hitting Izzy’s skin as soon as they stepped outside. It felt grounding, calming. Adrian followed them out, slipping his jacket over his shoulder.
“I had a really good time tonight,” he said, his voice easy, genuine. “Would have love to spend the night with you… But I’ve got a conference tomorrow, unfortunately.”
“Oh,” Izzy said, nodding. “Its okay... Thank you for coming even if it was last-minute.”
He hesitated for a second, then smiled. “Anything for you honey. If you’re free this week… maybe dinner? I’ll text you the place.”
Izzy met his eyes. There was no pressure there, no intensity that made her chest tighten. Just interested warmth.
“Sure,” she said. “I’d like that.”
Adrian leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on her cheek… soft, brief, warm. “Good night, Izzy. It was really good seeing you”
“Good night,” she replied.
He waved once more and walked off toward the street.
Izzy stood there for a moment, watching him go, her expression thoughtful.
Maya nudged her hard in the ribs. “Damn,” she said, grinning. “He is so into you.”
Izzy let out a small laugh, shaking her head. “Yea… maybe… .”
But as they headed for their ride home, she caught herself smiling… it felt good to be wanted.. And the way Adrian looked at her wasn't lust.. She could see love bombs shooting out.
The ride back to Izzy’s apartment was quieter than the ride to the club.
The city lights slid past the windows as the car moved through the streets. Izzy sat stiffly in her seat, her body finally relaxing from the night, her heels kicked off, her head leaning back. She reached into her bag to grab her phone, mostly out of habit.
The moment the screen lit up, she froze.
Her breath caught.
Twenty missed calls.
All from the same number.
Dominic.
Her fingers went numb around the phone. Her heart started pounding so hard it felt like it might break through her chest.
“Hey… what’s wrong?” Maya asked, noticing the sudden change in her face. “Izzy?”
She swallowed, her lips trembling. “He… he called me,” she whispered.
“Who?” Maya asked, already suspicious.
“Dominic,” Izzy whispered again, barely audible.
“What?” Maya said sharply, reaching over and snatching the phone from her hand.
She stared at the screen, then let out a loud laugh. “Bloody hell… twenty times.”
Izzy’s chest tightened. “Maya… ”
“Oh no,” Maya said, still laughing as she locked the phone. “This? This is exactly what I’m talking about. Let that asshole keep calling” She turned the phone off without hesitation.
“Maya!” Izzy protested, panic rising. “What if it’s important?”
Maya looked at her, suddenly serious. “If it was important, he would’ve cared a week ago.” She crossed her arms. “Let the bastard call. Do not pick up.”
Izzy stared at the dark screen, her emotions crashing into each other… relief, fear, hope, confusion. Her hands shook in her lap.
“But what if… ”she started.
“No,” Maya cut in firmly. “No what-ifs. You don’t run the moment he snaps his fingers. Not after how he treated you.”
Izzy nodded slowly, though her chest still ached. Part of her wanted to turn the phone back on, to hear his voice, to know why now. Another part of her was exhausted… tired of waiting, tired of hoping.
The car pulled up in front of her apartment building.
Izzy stepped out, her legs feeling weak. Maya followed, slinging an arm around her shoulders as they walked inside.
“Tonight was fun,” Maya said softly. “Don’t let him ruin that.”
Izzy nodded again, blinking back tears. “I won’t,” she said, though her voice cracked.
As they rode the elevator up, Izzy leaned her head back against the wall, closing her eyes.
Twenty calls.
And for the first time, ever he called not once, not twice, twenty times.
She didn’t know if that scared her… or made her happy.