Promises, Promises (29 page)

“You sure?” I asked her again. She nodded and smiled. She turned and walked out back to the bar. I just stood there trying to think if she really was alright. I didn’t understand it. Why wouldn’t she be jealous?

I walked back out and Clark came over saying we had a VIP so I went to attend to them. I glanced back at the bar and Izzy was serving drinks as if nothing happened. Mark was on the other end serving Fucking Whore and her friends drinks. I hoped he’d make sure Izzy stayed at the other end away from them.

I came walking back down to where Izzy was serving. She looked up and smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. They still had that same vacant look. Fuck. Of course it’s not okay. Why did she keep trying to tell me that?

Several chicks came up to me to talk with me and flirt. I was trying not to talk to them, but they were customers too and I didn’t want to be rude. No wonder none of my relationships ever worked out. I always had girls coming up to me. I looked around and tried to find some guys to hook them up with. I found a couple of suckers and brought the ladies over to them. I caught Izzy’s eyes watching me and she smiled. Well, good, at least I didn’t fuck that up. Maybe I scored some points to get me back to where I was before Fucking Whore’s kiss. Maybe.

Finally, it was closing time. Mark came over after Fucking Whore and her friends left, telling me they said a ton of shit about Izzy so he made sure she didn’t go near them. I thanked him and then I walked over to Clark and asked him not to let Fucking Whore or her friends in ever again. He nodded saying, “No problem.”

Just then, my phone chimed with a text from Fucking Whore.
I loved kissing you and I think you missed it too. Call me. Let’s have fun like old times.
I shook my head and clicked off my phone. What the fuck was wrong with her? I looked up at Izzy and watched as she cleaned up. She was trying to force jokes out with Sandy and Mark. Or was that my imagination that she was forcing it. Was she really happy and making jokes? I wouldn’t have been if I were in her shoes. Shit. Maybe she really does understand and is alright.

Everyone was done cleaning and we were heading out. I grabbed Izzy’s hand as I locked up. We started walking toward her townhouse. Normally, we would discuss which house we were going to, but I wasn’t even going to give her an option that I wasn’t going to be with her tonight. I didn’t need her thinking I was going to be with Fucking Whore or something.

We walked in the door and we both started to laugh. Did I mention that Flynn and Mel finally hooked up? It was a couple days after the block party. Now they were fucking like rabbits and that’s all we ever heard when we stayed there. Clark said it made him so horny, he had to keep giving Tina booty calls.

Izzy walked over to the fridge and grabbed a beer. I sat at the kitchen island and watched her carefully, trying to gauge if she was upset. She chugged the whole thing down. I watched in awe realizing that I didn’t think she even took a breath. Normally, I would chalk her chugging that beer down just because she really likes beer, but tonight, I was pretty sure it was to calm her nerves. She finished and took a deep breath and put the bottle in the recycling bin. She looked at me a bit sadly. “I’m tired, I’m going to head up.”

“Yeah, me too, let’s go.” I stood up, trying not to appear nervous as I still had no idea what was going on in her head.

“You’re staying?” She looked surprised.

“Do you not want me to?” Not that I was going to give her that option.

“Yeah, that’s fine.” She nodded her head and went upstairs. I felt like I was waiting for her to burst at some point. I just wanted her to say something about the fucking kiss. Scream at me. Something. But she didn’t. She grabbed her PJs and went to the bathroom, changed and came back. She pulled the covers back and got into bed. She didn’t say a word. I stood there just watching and waiting.

“Are you going to sleep here? Or just stand there watching me sleep?” she asked with a half-smile.

“Yeah, no, I’m...we’re going to sleep.” I pulled my shoes, shirt and jeans off and slid into bed next to her.

I pulled her close to my chest and kissed her hair. I was afraid to make a move because I wasn’t sure if she wanted that. She looked up and kissed me forcefully. God she has an amazing mouth. I pushed my tongue past her lips and she let me in. We kissed for a while and I wasn’t going to make love to her, but we were getting so heated up. Our kissing became deeper and I felt like I wanted to prove to her that I choose her and not what’s her name.

I rolled on top of her and she did that thing with her arms, where she puts them immediately over her head. God I loved that. It was like she gave me full control over her entire body. It was the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen. No one I’ve ever been with did that. I was consumed with desire for her. I wanted to make sure she understood it was her I was with and not thinking about any other woman.

“You are the most incredible, sexiest woman,” I whispered in her ear. I moved myself so my hard cock was right at her warm wet opening just waiting for me. I entered her slowly, feeling her every movement. I bent down and kissed her passionately as she moaned into my mouth.  My thrusts were slow and intense and our breaths were steady and fast. It was the most erotic lovemaking we’ve ever had.
Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore and knew I was going to have the most intense release. “Come with me baby, I’m going to come so fucking hard.” She came immediately and she clenched me tight, pulsing while moaning so loudly. As I came down from my orgasm, she continued to shudder with the after effects of hers.

I kissed her over and over again. It was the type of lovemaking that made you want to cry, but since I’m a guy, I wouldn’t do that. Instead I whispered, “God, Izzy, you’re everything I’ve ever wanted and more.” I looked her in the eyes and she was tearing up. I was still inside of her, kissing her deeply again. I collapsed my body on top of her letting her feel every ounce of my weight. I buried my head in her neck and hair, kissing her ear. I pulled myself out of her, lay on my side and pulled her close into me. I closed my eyes and fell asleep.

I wasn’t sure how long I had been asleep but my phone chimed a text. I was pretty sure I knew whom it was from. I glanced over at Izzy and she was fast asleep. She looked like an angel. Her head was turned and her hair was fanned out underneath her. I wanted to kiss her sweet lips, but was afraid of waking her. I pressed my lips to her forehead instead. She stirred briefly and curled onto her side. “God, I think I’m in love with you.” I whispered, kissing her cheek and settled in next to her holding her tightly as I fell back asleep.

I woke the next morning to an empty bed. I sat up wondering where she went. I looked over and my phone was on the nightstand. Fuck. I hope she didn’t read the texts. I checked and there was a text from Izzy,
Went for a run. Be right back. X
. Well that doesn’t seem like she’s mad at me.

I checked the text from Fucking Whore...sure enough, that’s what woke me during the night. Seemed more like a drunk text saying,
You were the best fuck I’ve ever had.
Too bad she didn’t think that before she fucked some other douche. Not that I really care anymore. All I wanted and needed is Izzy. I remembered what I said to her before falling back asleep. “I think.” I don’t ‘think’ that anymore. I know it. I
know
I’m in love with Izzy. I am head over heels completely and totally in love with Izzy. I stood up smiling at my realization and pulled my jeans and shirt on and walked downstairs.

Mel and Flynn were already down there drinking their coffee. They were smiling at each other whispering about something, touching hands. I smiled. It was good to see my buddy so happy. I grabbed a mug. “Morning.” They smiled happily at me.

“Hey, Z!” Mel exclaimed.

Clark walked in through the front door just then. I looked up at him, “Tina?”

He laughed. “Nah, a brunette who really wanted to get in last night!” I laughed at his intended pun. “Hey, by the way, I’m really sorry about letting Sheila in last night. I didn’t think she’d be stupid enough to try anything. What happened?” Clark asked.

Mel and Flynn looked at me with huge eyes. I took a deep breath looking at the door to make sure Izzy wasn’t walking in. I lowered my voice, “Fucking Whore walked into my office while I was working on the books and closed the door. I got up to get her out of there and she kissed me. Izzy walked in right then.” I told them, shaking my head.

“Holy fuck!” Clark exclaimed.

“Oh my God! What did Izzy say?” Mel asked, looking worried.

I swallowed hard. “That’s where I’m totally confused. I explained it to her and she said ‘it’s okay.’ Like it’s no big deal.” I looked at Mel, “that’s not normal, is it? I would have thought she’d been jealous or screamed at me or something!”

Mel looked as shocked as I was last night. She glanced over at the door again and asked, “Nothing? Like, she didn’t flip out?” I shook my head no. “Shit. I pulled her off a girl one time just for flirting with a guy she was dating in college. That is so not like her.” Mel said shaking her head, her eyes were huge and she looked very worried about her friend.

“That’s what I thought. I mean, not that I wanted all that jealousy or anything, but she just fluffed it off as nothing.”

I took a sip of coffee and heard the front door open. Izzy came back in looking like she ran a marathon. Her face was all red and she was sweating way more than she usually did when she came back from her runs. She went to the fridge and took out a water bottle and drank just about all of it. We were all watching her and she stopped and looked at us. “What?” she asked with huge eyes.

I laughed, “Nothing, umm, you just look like you ran to the state line and back.”

She chuckled. “Yeah well, I had a
REALLY
great run.” She kissed me and said, “I’m going to grab a much needed shower.” Smiling and gesturing to her sweaty body and she ran up the stairs.

We all just sat there looking after her. Mel took a deep breath and shook her head. “It’s got to be something with her ex. She never used to act like that. Old Izzy would have had your balls on a platter.” Uh, yeah, suddenly I was glad I wasn’t dating old Izzy.

Flynn piped up. “Hmm. That’s odd.” His brows were pulled together as if he were trying to remember something.

Mel asked, “What is?”

“Well, that night we were drunk...” We all started laughing because wasn’t that pretty much how most of our stories began? “No, hear me out. The night you first kissed Izzy that you don’t really remember, we were talking about jealousy and I remember her saying something about her ex making her jealous on purpose, but I never thought anything of it. Well, until now.”

Mel just stared at him. “Wow, he really did mind fuck her, didn’t he?”

I just shook my head. What the hell is going on in my girl’s head? What did he do? “What, like you think he conditioned her not to be jealous or something?” I whispered, not sure if the echo thing works both ways up the stairs.

Mel said, “I wouldn’t doubt it. I mean a girl who used to go crazy on other chicks for flirting doesn’t walk in on her guy with his ex kissing him and not flip out.” She said shaking her head.

No, I guess she’s right. So what did her ex really do to her?

Chapter 22

Izzy

I had an amazing run and was able to clear my head and think. I was pretty sure I heard Z say he thinks he loves me. I was sleeping, but his phone chimed a text and it woke me briefly.
Thinks
. I guess that’s more than any one has ever really said to me. Even my own mother barely said she actually loved me. I could probably count the times on one hand. I knew I was in love with him. I wanted to be with him all the time. I loved the look in his eyes he had for me. I loved his smile. I loved how he made love to me and made me feel special and so cherished.

During my run I also thought about being jealous. Sheila was …gorgeous. To say that word seemed like an understatement, actually. She should be a model. Maybe she is one, I never thought to ask. I’m not sure I really wanted to know.

But during the first year of my relationship with HIM, I learned that jealousy only resulted in bad punishments. The first time was the hardest lesson. I sat at a party and had to endure watching HIM make out with a tall gorgeous brunette in the corner. HIS eyes constantly flicked over to mine to make sure I watched. I tried to contain my jealous rage until we were in the limo ride home. But after the door shut, I let HIM have it. I yelled, screamed and came pretty close to slapping HIS smug face, but HE had caught my hand before it made contact. HE had smirked and told me that he was trying to teach me a wonderful life lesson in containing my jealousy. That evening HE followed through on teaching me the lesson.

Maybe HE actually did me a favor and I did learn something. Remaining calm was probably for the better in my relationship with Z. Not to mention, it would have given Sheila the satisfaction of seeing me upset. I guess that didn’t stop her from contacting Z, though, since I saw the text on his phone when I pulled it out. I had placed his phone on my nightstand so he would see my text. When I double checked to make sure my text came through to his phone, I noticed one from Sheila. Going for a run never felt so great.

I ran into Mark when I finally came back down to a jog. He ran alongside of me with a smile. “I guess you have a lot on your mind. I’ve never seen anyone run so hard and fast!” I had laughed at that. “Maybe you should train to be a professional,” he teased me. It was nice to see him. After all, he didn’t know anything really about me except my college days. He didn’t know all my baggage or the crap I’ve been through. A nice pleasant conversation just felt good. He invited me to his gym, but again I turned him down.

I was pretty sure when I returned to the townhouse the gang was discussing the Sheila incident. I didn’t want their sympathy. I was tired of pity eyes and sympathetic smiles. I just want to get on with my new life. Being with Z was...fun, exciting, sweet, romantic. It was everything I wanted a relationship to be. And then Sheila happened. Now he was going to be pining to me because he felt sorry about it all. I didn’t want that. I hoped after my run, we could just get back to where we were before Sheila’s kiss.