Chapter 50

My mom was going to kill me. I hopped up and put on my shoes. Isadora swung the door open and I locked eyes with Brees. Her mouth fell open and she took off down the stairs. I ran after her. I didn’t know why she was there, but I had to explain to her why I was there.

“Brees, stop! Let me explain!” I yelled, running after her.

I made it to Quinn’s car and I grabbed Brees’ arm.

“Don’t you dare touch me,” she said.

I could hear pain in her voice. It was a familiar melody that I had put into her voice before and I was so tired of doing it to her.

“Brees, this isn’t what you think,” I said.

“So you didn’t stay the night with Isadora last night?” she asked, pointing towards Izzy who lurked in the doorway.

“I did, but not in the way you think,” I tried to reason.

“Please don’t call me or text me ever again. I truly don’t ever want to speak to you again Keegan Patts!” she shouted, slamming the car door.

I refused to lose her again. Especially like this. I was breaking it off with Isadora, not doing whatever Brees thought I was doing. Quinn pulled off and I watched solemnly as they drove off. This can’t be happening.

I called Brees’ cell phone. It went immediately to voicemail. I hopped in my car. Isadora ran down the steps waving her arms.

“Keegan! Don’t go!” she yelled.

“I have to go after her, Izzy. I love her. Why didn’t you wake me up last night?” I screamed.

“But what if I love you?” she asked, starting to tear up.

I hadn’t thought about that. I hadn’t considered her feelings at all. I knew she was hurt, but love? Did she really love me? I thought about what my mom had said and figured maybe it wouldn’t hurt to let Izzy hang around a little longer until Brees and I could talk.

I turned off my car and stepped out. I reached out to Isadora. She came to me. I wrapped my arms around her.

“Izzy, maybe when you get home next week, you can join us for the New Year’s Eve party?” I said, trying to comfort her.

“You mean it? You want me there?” she asked, snuggling her head into my chest.

“Of course. We can still be friends right?” I asked, smoothing her hair with my hands.

She looked up at me. Her cheeks were flushed pink.

“Yeah, I would like that,” she said.

Before I could let her go, she stood on her tip toes and kissed me. It was a soft and sensual kiss. I didn’t pull away, although I should have. I think my mind was just all over the place.

“I will see you later friend,” she said, winking at me and heading back into her house.

I touched my lips and pondered what any of this meant. Did she understand that I didn’t want this any more? Was that a goodbye kiss in the sense of we are now only friends? I really didn’t know. I would need to straighten her out when she came back from Italy, but that was a problem for next week. What I did know is I had to get Brees to talk to me and right now it felt impossible. How could I be so reckless? Why didn’t I just communicate with Brees what my plan was? She would have understood. And now the woman that I love so intensely, can’t even stand the sight of me.