Page 118 of Until You (Forgive Me)

“It’s a leap of faith, but you’re ready to take it. I love you, my friend. Rip that bandaid off and get your man.”

Isabella smiled and pulled May in for a hug. “What am I going to do without you in my life every day?”

“Have lots of sex and call me... still living vicariously here... especially now I have a nine-month-old.”

Isabella pulled back from her friend and clasped her shoulders. “If you need me, ever. I will be back in a heartbeat. Promise me... I’m not happy about abandoning you.”

“You are not abandoning me. Nowgo. Before you miss your flight.”

Isabella pulled May in for one last hug before dropping and giving Kalaya a kiss on the cheek.

“Look after Mummy, and I’ll see you soon.”

It was Arkhom’s turn for a hug next.

“Follow your heart,” he whispered. “Thank you for everything. We will miss you.”

Isabella could barely see as she stepped through the gate. Her heart bleeding. She turned and waved. Arkhom had pulled May into his arms, her friend now openly sobbing. Dropping her hand luggage, she ran back through and flung her arms around them both for one last hug.

May wiped her eyes, “You mad woman... Go, or you’ll miss your flight, and I’ll have to do this all over again... my heart won’t be able to take it.”

Isabella laughed, wiping her own tears. Running back to her bag, under the glare of security, she wiped her face and grinned.

“I love you,” she shouted, before rushing down the corridor. She had a plane to catch, and a man to see.

∞∞∞

It was early morning when the plane landed. Sebastian and Scarlett were waiting at customs with a largeWelcome Home, Isabellasign, and balloons.

Isabella covered her eyes when she saw them, peeking through her fingers and laughing.

“Really... could you two be any more obvious? So much for cloak and dagger? What if the press had got wind?”

“It’s five AM... the airport is quiet,” Scarlett huffed, pulling her in for a hug.

It was then a man stepped forward with a camera and snapped a photo of them.

“Oh damn,” Seb said, chasing after him.

Isabella smirked, and Scarlett watched in horror as Sebastian caught up with him. He spoke to him for a moment, and the two walked back towards them.

Isabella tilted her head. What was he up to?

“Marcus and I have struck a deal,” Seb said, slapping the photographer on the back. “I’ve explained our plan and he’s agreed to keep quiet if he can take a couple of exclusive photos that he may sell in a couple of hours.”

Scarlett breathed a sigh of relief next to her. This was all getting far too complicated. Why she could not just turn up and say, Hi, I’m here, was beyond her. Scarlett wanted her to surprise her brother. At this point, Isabella didn’t care. She just wanted to see him. The past month had been painful. When the pilot had said they were coming into land, butterflies had taken off in her stomach, but the heavy weight she’d been carrying around in her chest had miraculously lifted.

“Fine, let’s do this... I really need a shower.”

They posed for several photos with the banner and balloons. Marcus thanked them. She didn’t miss the money Seb handed over, when he thought she and Scarlett weren’t looking.

∞∞∞

“Welcome back,” Scarlett said as they got into Sebastian’s boy toy car. “Don’t comment about the car... he’s very sensitive.”

Isabella’s eyes flashed between them. There was definitely something going on. Her friend’s smirk and the returning look he gave her was... intimate. But maybe that was her own love-sick brain reading into things.

“Does everyone know what is going on?” Isabella asked as Seb drove them through the London traffic.

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