Page 28 of Up All Night
“I definitely did not tell him that.I did tell him about the botched meeting, but besides that, he may think that I’m dying or something.I did not make myself that clear.I’m going to go and jump off a cliff now."She jokes mirthlessly.
“We just need some damage control."Bowie suggests.
I nod.
“Before Rush jumps on a jet and makes his way here, you better call him back.Did you tell him what happened in the meeting?"Bowie asks.“Because that could be your out.You could just chock it up to freaking out over the team not showing up and pissing your father off."
Izzy shakes her head quickly.“I can’t.I know if I get him on the phone again, I’m going to lose it.It’s going to blurt out of my mouth before I can stop it.I’m a fool.I’m a pregnant fool.He’s never going to marry me.I’ve acted like an idiot."
This is where I interject.“Let me remind you that it takes two to tango.You are no more of an idiot than he is.You didn’t get pregnant all by yourself, Izzy.And I’m sure that when he finds out, I give him credit if he doesn’t flip out, too."
I realize that I’ve just crossed the line and made it worse.“There is no way in hell that I can handle speaking to him right now."She gasps.
Bowie places her hands on Izzy's.“How about if I call him?He knows that I’m with you.I could just reach out and let him know that you are going to be okay.Otherwise, he may just hop on a jet, and then you’ll have to face him in person.I think you need a couple of days to wrap your head around this, Izzy.Before you speak to anyone else about it."
Izzy hands Bowie her phone.“Go.Do it.Fix it for me.I’ll owe you one."
“Come on."I offer.“Let’s go get you some fresh air.We will go for a walk while Bowie makes that call for you."
The truth is, I can’t help her.And since we’re in one of the most romantic places on earth, it’s very difficult to not talk about love and what happens when you’re in love, and most of all, the trouble that it causes.If I’d known better, and if I had come here six weeks ago, I might have been a better shoulder to cry on than I am now.While most people come here for business or pleasure, I came here for escape.
The moment I learned that both these girls knew Stone Lawson, I should’ve run.That was my first mistake of many.Many that I’ve made in the last month and a half that I can’t take back.And it’s only a matter of time before they find out that I lied to them.It’s only a matter of time before the whole world knows why.
“He took it well.Everything is fine."Bowie reports when she catches up to us.
“What did he say?"Izzy asks.
“Well, you’ll be glad that you let me call him.He was arranging to hop on a flight to come see you."
Izzy exhales her relief.“What did you tell him?"
“I let him know about the oddities.Your strange phone call in the hotel room, the botched meeting that a nameless person somehow screwed up, and it seems like there are other strange things happening back at home.I think that Rush and Jagger are going to connect with your father about it.It seems pretty serious now that there are multiple events."
I decide that it's getting too intense here."Okay, now that we've got that on the back burner, what can we do to help get you through this."I ask steadily, trying to get both of them off this topic, which seems to be accelerating.
"I don't really know."Izzy says with a soft huff."I never thought that I would be in this predicament.I mean, my career, my life, hell, I don't even have one steady home for this child.I have two, and with all the traveling I do, I don't see how this is possible."
Going out on a limb, expecting her to turn me away, to reject me since I barely know her, I reach out to touch her hand, resting mine in hers."If it's not for you, if this is going to effectively ruin your life, then maybe you should just have an abortion and tell no one.Not even Rush."
Bowie looks blankly at me."Isn't that a little unfair?"
"Not if she thinks that Rush is going to pressure her into having it when she doesn't want to.Look, I'm not advocating it.I don't go looking for ways to fuck over men.I just feel like too many women do too many things without considering all their options."
Izzy shakes her head."No.I'm going to tell him.Thankfully, Rush is not an asshole.I just need to tell him when I'm ready."
Bowie looks at her."I agree.He will be understanding and supportive.And if he's not, then his brothers and his sister will kick him in the ass.This is a large family, and nobody rejects babies."
The pep talk lasts longer.However, I zone out, being triggered by my own recent past.
A pair of arms wrap around me from behind as I stand in the hallway by my office.I knew he would be here today, and part of me was hoping that we would cross paths.I do, however, jump, but I manage not to squeal.“God, Stone!”I hiss, unable to hide the smile.“Lucy is just in the boardroom.”
His breath tickles my ear.“And that’s precisely why I’m here now.”
I pull away from him, even though every cell in my body begs me not to.“Anyone could walk straight down that hallway.”
“Fine.”He huffs like an errant child, even though the way he does it is gallantly.Like I caught him trying to steal the last cookie, but he stole it for me.“What’s say I come pick you up and we go to my place tonight.I haven’t seen you all week.”
Neither of us is tied to the other.We both made that perfectly clear.Despite the fact that my inner child pleaded with me to give in and gush all over him, letting him know that all I ever think about is him.I told him, steadfastly, that we can never be a ‘we’, because of Lucy.If only he wasn’t her client.If only I met him last year, when I was with the other realty company.But for now, I’ll take what I can get of him.All of him.As long as I’m careful not to give him all of me.“We’ve been through this, Stone.”
