Page 6 of Until You (Forgive Me)

“Come on, spill. I need to know... how did your date go?”

“Don’t ask.” Isabella rolled her eyes. “And before you say anything. I tried,” Isabella added, as May opened her mouth to interrupt. “I’ve never been so bored. He sat and talked about golf all night, his handicap, his ranking in their group. Finally, he boasted about how jealous his friends were that he’d asked me out. He then asked me how flexible I am.” A shudder wracked through her body at the memory. “That was before he invited me to his room to check out his golf club... I faked a migraine.”

May coughed to suppress her laugh.

Isabella grimaced. “I don’t know why I let you convince me it was a good idea.”

May smothered another giggle, but failed.

“I’m sorry,” she said, her amusement getting the better of her. “Admittedly,Mr Golf Clubmay not have been suitable, but he was attractive.”

“Good looking, but with no substance. If that’s all there is on offer, I’m staying single. All I want is a man who shows a little interest in me—other than how flexible I am! Is that too much to ask?”

May stared at her for a moment. “Maybe you are expecting too much. You’ve been single almost as long as I’ve known you. Phillipe doesn’t count, plus he was years ago.” Phillipe being a brief fling Isabella had when she and May had first started travelling together. Since then, her love life had been barren.

May tutted as she calculated on her fingers. “Six years—you seriously need to find your person.”

May was a huge fan of Grey’s Anatomy.

“I have my person, people... I have you and Arkhom, and when your baby’s born, then I’ll have them to spoil.” Isabella ignored May as she went to speak. “I have our clients and friends...” Isabella trailed off at the grimace on May’s face.

“That’s not what I meant, and you know it,” she said. “Meredith Grey had Christina as her person, but she also had a hot bod in the form of Derek Shepherd to keep her satisfied. You need your ownMcDreamy. Someone who can hold you, love you... someone to share your life with, give you mind-blowing orgasms. You’ve hidden yourself away for long enough.”

Now May was married. It was easy to forget what a romantic she was... Isabella blamed it on all the romance novels their guests left behind.

“Been there, done that,” Isabella said. “I tried it once, and look where it got me.”

“Look where it got you?” May scoffed. “You tried it over eight years ago with one guy... plus you were young, too young.”

Isabella couldn’t deny what her friend was saying was true. She’d been engaged at twenty. Far too young in hindsight. Her engagement had happened while her life was in chaos, her father having died only months before. She’d clung to Edward, a close family friend, imagining herself in love. It was why she’d missed all the red flags...

May stared at her and changed tack, her small shoulders shrugging. “I’m not complaining. Splitting up with a jerk face brought you to me,” she added. “Look on the positive side. The experience has made you courageous and independent. Don’t generalise all men because of one bad experience. You’re lovable, loyal, and gorgeous; any man would be lucky to have you.

Isabella bit her tongue to stop herself from laughing at her friend’s name-calling.

“Maybe Mr Golf Pro wasn’t the one for you. But you need to open yourself up to the possibility of meeting someone. We only get one shot in this life. Embrace it with both hands. You deserve happiness, my friend.”

May’s refusal to use Edward’s name ever highlighted her loyalty. Her accent and intonations added something special to her defence. Joking aside, Isabella knew she needed to put the past behind her, but if she was honest, she’d failed to meet anyone who even sparked her interest since Edward. Phillipe had been purely about sex, of wiping Edward’s memory away. Not that he’d succeeded, and she’d regretted it instantly. Her wounds were too deep.

“I know... I promise you, I am happy, May... My happiness doesn’t depend on having a man in my life.”

“A battery-powered friend cannot make you happy indefinitely. As humans, we need love, human touch.” May tutted.

“Maybe not, but at least my battery boyfriend doesn’t steal the covers.” Isabella winked, and May shook her head in despair.

“You don’t need covers. This is Thailand. It’s always hot!”

Isabella laughed. May always had to have the last word. “I’ve gotta go to work. I have a class to cover.” She got up and moved to the door before turning back. “I promise, I am happy. Happier than I’ve ever been. Being here... I’ve found myself. This is my home. What will be will be.”

She didn’t wait for May to reply. Isabella had to admit, finding her ownMcDreamywould be nice, but she didn’t envisage it happening anytime soon. She simply had too much baggage.

Chapter Five

Isabella

Seven and a half years ago

Isabella turned the key and walked into the apartment. Her heart rate lowered, and stress levels dissipated every time she walked in through the front door. This was her perfect home.

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