CHAPTER 3: BROTHER

IZZY'S POV,

“Are you sure about this?” my brother asked when I told him and my mom about my plans to meet Tyler. “I don't think it's a good idea, the asshole doesn't even deserve to see your face. You shouldn't meet him after everything he did to you.”

“Ant please!” I groaned, shoving my mouth with the pancakes my mom freshly made for me. After the horror that morning was, I decided to have my breakfast with them. Mom was more than thrilled when she heard that and was in the kitchen, preparing fruit salad for Ant. “I don't need this right now, so leave it.”

I looked across the dining room, in the foyer, so that I don't have to look him in the eyes. It was partially because I knew he was right about me seeing Tyler being a mistake, and partially because I was afraid that he might suggest coming with me. And knowing my brother, I was sure things would get out of control if he was there.

So, I was hoping for that thought to never cross his head.

“Why do you want to meet him again?” Mom asked, walking out of the kitchen with Ant’s salad and my coffee. “That boy doesn't deserve any more of your time.”

“Mom, don't…” I stopped myself and tried to think of a better response than that. It might have been enough for Ant, but not for a worrying mother. “I just have to clear up a few things, and I need closure. I don't think I can move on with my life if I don't get one from him.”

Mom sighed, she almost looked like she was going to say something, but at the very last moment she stopped herself. While I was happy to know she wasn't going to argue with me about it, I wanted to know what she had to say. Somewhere deep inside, I was looking for reasons to not go, especially after sleeping with his dad.

“I think you're being an idiot, and you're going to regret meeting him,” Ant added with a mouthful of green leaves. “Nothing good comes out of meeting your ex, and yes I'm talking from experience.”

“I didn't ask,” I rolled my eyes and stood up from the table, taking my plate in one hand and the coffee mug in the other, to the kitchen where my mom was loading the dishwasher.

“Tell me truthfully,” Mom started when I handed her the plate. “Is it that important to meet him? And do you even want to meet him, after everything?”

“I don't want to, but I have to,” I sat on the floor, leaning against the kitchen island as memories of him flooded my head. There were so many things I wished I could have changed, but it was too late. “I need to know the reason. I need to know where I failed. Why my love wasn't enough for him?”

As I said that, tears filled my eyes.

I wasn't in the kitchen anymore, I was back in Greece, on the white sandy beach. The setting sun had coloured both the sky and the sea pink. I could see Tyler on his knees with a small white box in his hand—our families standing at a distance with tears filled in their eyes—as he asked the question I was waiting for him to ask for years.

‘Will you make me the luckiest man in the world and marry me?’ His words echoed in my ears, the promises he made, the future we planned together, all of it was just a distant memory now.

“You didn't fail him, love.” My mom sat down next to me, holding my hand. “You loved him. He is the one who cheated, it's on him. Only him. Always remember that. It was never your fault, it was always his fault.”

I nodded and after putting the coffee mug on the floor, I leaned into her arms. She held me tightly, wrapping her hands around me while whispering words of encouragement in my ears. She told me how much she loved me and that I will fimd someone better. I cried some more, letting out everything I was holding inside for a long time.

“Do you want me to come with you?” Ant asked from behind. “I can drive you there and watch from a distance. You wouldn't even notice me.”

I didn't know he was in the kitchen and felt a little embarrassed knowing he saw me crying over a guy, because when he broke up with his girlfriend of four years, I teased him about crying over a girl.

“No, I don't trust you with him.” I wiped my tears and pushed myself to stand up. “You being there might escalate things, and I don't want that today. I only want some answers from him.”

He snorted, “Yeah, it's too late for that.”

I turned to look at him with my eyes narrowed at him. I didn't like the sound of it, but at the same time I wasn't sure what he meant by it.

“Anthony! What did you do?” Mom asked before I could say anything. “Please tell me you didn't do anything stupid…”

My eyes widened when I realised what she meant, and the sheepish smile he put on only added to my fear. Though I was a little proud knowing that he went after Tyler for cheating on me, I couldn't help but think if Tyler asked me to meet him to discuss whatever happened with Ant.

“Ant, you didn't.”

“Guilty!” He raised his hand in fake surrender and that angered our mom even more.

“Anthony! Are you mad? What if he goes to the cops? Have you lost your mind?” She screamed, hitting him while he tried to hug her and tell her that Tyler's ego wouldn't allow him to go to the cops.

“You don't know that,” I said, checking the time on my phone. “Anyway, I have to go. I am meeting some of my friends before. And I swear Ant, if he says he is going to press charges against you, I'm not stopping him.”

“Take care baby,” Mom kissed me on the forehead and walked me to the main door. “And don't blame yourself for what he did. He is the one in the wrong. Don't let him gaslight you into thinking any of it was your fault.”

I laughed, “Gaslight? Where did you hear that word?”

“Love Island.” She answered with a proud smile, and that made me laugh even more. “Okay, you can leave now. Go!”

“Bye mom, love you,” I said one last time before walking to my car.

“All the best,” Ant screamed from the porch as I pulled open the car door. “And take some pictures for me. I want to see my work.”

I didn't respond and started the car, taking a deep breath as I drove back to the city, to show my friends that I wasn't depressed because a man left me.

It was only a few hours before I had to be in the restaurant where we had our first date and now it was going to be the place where we ended everything.