Thank you for all the feedback and emails on Izzy's love saga. It took a while to help her decide because as a writer, I fell in love with Josh and Jeff both. Imagine how hard of a choice it was for our heroine! Please leave your feedback and as ever, thanks for reading! Stay tuned for more stories like Izzy's!
The End
Sunshine filtered in through the window of Isabelle's cozy bedroom. She turned and stretched in her bed, slowly waking up to a serene, late autumn morning. She stretched and turned, fully aware of the fact that she was not alone. She smiled to herself as she watched him sleep. He looked as though he were really enjoying his rest, so she resisted to urge to snuggle into him in fears it would wake him. After a moment, she couldn't help herself. He groaned low, slowly wrapping his arms around her and burying his face in her hair.
"Mmmm, sweetie, you feel good," he uttered.
She closed her eyes and settled into the comforting strength of his embrace. It was with this man she had finally found her true love and solace. They had shared their amount of difficulties to finally be together, but she regretted nothing that had happened along the way.
She closed her eyes and settled in to fall asleep again, as she giggled to herself to hear him snoring peacefully. She thought back to a few months earlier when she had returned to her beloved Chicago after a brief stint working in New York.... It seemed like ages ago now. She closed her eyes and replayed the events that had paved the way to the very second she was living now....
"Izzy, look, I really need to talk to you," Josh said impatiently. "I- I just missed you so much. There were so many times I just wanted to pick up the phone and call you."
" Josh," Izzy said carefully. "For what it's worth, I missed you too."
She carefully checked her watch and figured she'd have plenty of time to run home, change, and then head down to Midway Airport to pick up Jeff. Her mind was whirling as she thought of Jeff's impromptu decision to come out to Chicago. But for now, she needed to focus on what Josh needed to say.
He bent so that they were eye to eye, and he placed his hands at her shoulders. He noted the confusion in her deep brown eyes. He was happy to see that the scar of the pain he'd caused her was now absent. There was a glimmer in them again. He hoped... Well, he hoped it was because of him.
"Izzy, I'm so sorry for the pain I caused you," he said, his crystal blue eyes glittering like ice. "When you were gone, it gave me a chance to do a lot of thinking. It made me realize that with you gone, it just didn't feel right to me. I know that we took our friendship to a pretty intimate level and I hurt you deeply when...well, you know when. But the truth is, Izzy, I was scared to admit to you and to myself that I love you. Plain and simple. Isabelle, I'm crazy in love with you."
Izzy gulped and closed her eyes, forcing herself not to cry. These are the words she had waited to hear from him, but the game now had another player. Jeff. She smiled a little thinking that as they spoke he was headed to Chicago. For her. There was no mystery with Jeff. He was mature, and best of all, there was no Molly to mess things up. Without another thought, her words tumbled out of her mouth like someone had just dropped a crystal vase.
"I... I met someone in New York," she said in a rush. "In fact, he's on his way to Chicago right now. I'm so sorry, Josh."
She watched his face fall, and for a very painful second her own misery from the spring mirrored itself on his handsome, albeit crestfallen, face. She hated that she felt the payback was due, but then, she felt pity.
"Oh," he said brokenly. He stepped back from her and looked as though he didn't know what to say. "I... I guess that's it then."
"Josh," she whispered, taking his hand in hers. "I guess it just wasn't meant to be."
They stood silently, a bittersweet moment lingering. She awkardly slung her laptop case onto her shoulder and took her leave. She didn't look back.
Josh stood frozen and numb. It didn't seem real, but just as he had been feeling guilty all summer for what he had done to her, he supposed he deserved this moment.
Isabelle let the tears win as she rode the El home to her apartment. Why was life always throwing her crazy curveballs like this? She admitted she had feelings for Jeff and wanted to see where they would go. She had no idea what to expect when she saw him at Midway. But then, there was Josh. She tried not to think about all she had buried deep down inside of herself. The thoughts and memories dared to haunt her as she drove along the Stevenson Expressway towards the airport, but as she edged closer, her heart warmed thinking about Jeff. It would be an interesting story to hear as he explained the reason for this crazy, impromptu trip.
She finally pulled up to the pick up area where he stood with his luggage. He looked dazed, but happy in a pair of jeans, a gray t-shirt, and his Yankees ballcap turned around backwards. She giggled when she saw him as he reminded her of a teenager waiting to pick up his prom date. He held out his arms and held her closely to him.
"You're insane, dude, seriously," Isabelle said, her heart thumping. "Really?"
"I thought you'd be surprised," he laughed as he put his things into the trunk of her car. "In any case, Bella, you are like medicine for a sick man. I've missed you like crazy."
He kissed her gently right before the airport security shooed them away from the curb. They drove in silence for a bit before she broke it with her nervous chit chat. That was so Izzy.
"So, I know you're dying to see the city with me because I know you've only been here a few times, but I figured we go get something to eat and then just relax by my place for the night. I assume you're coming into the office with me tomorrow?"
"Right on, babe. Sounds like a good idea." He was silent for a few seconds before talking again. "So, just wanted to let you know that I didn't get a return flight yet. Cavanaugh said I could work remote and email my work. And he also talked to one of your guys about doing that New York to Chicago swap thing. It totally looks like things could go well here."
"Ok," Isabelle replied, not exactly knowing what to say. "I mean, this is just so off the wall surprising to me. I guess we'll-
"Bella," he interrupted. "Here's the deal. I couldn't stop thinking about you. When you left New York, it felt like a piece of me went back with you to Chicago. I know it hadn't even been a day, but I can't describe it. You just... I dunno. You make me feel right again. I haven't felt this way since... A long time."
"So you were just moping around Manhattan and the notion suddently struck you to book a flight to Chicago to see me?"
"Um," he laughed low. "I had some help. From Bradlee. I think she saw something that we couldn't see before you left. When she got to work this morning, she had gone to my computer and had the airline website called up waiting for me. She saw me looking and told me to go for it."
Izzy laughed and felt her heart yearn for the friend she had made in Bradlee, her New York confidente.
"Ok," Isabelle giggled, assessing the situation. "You're suddenly here in Chicago to stay indefinitely while we figure out what's going on between us. You're a piece of work, Augustino. What am I gonna do with you?"
"Oh, I can definitely think of a few things," he said devilishly. "Wow, take a look at that skyline. Divine."
"Yeah, we're pretty proud of it."
