14. Izzy

Chapter 14

Izzy

T he hot water from the shower was a necessary reprieve from an otherwise crazy day. Few days? I could barely keep track of time at this point. Oliver had not been entirely enthused to find me freshly fucked between Emilio and Maddox, but he had simply turned and left without any argument.

My heart beat anxiously inside my chest.

What if my worries came to fruition? What if by crossing the line I would lose the only three men I had ever felt such a connection to?

Emilio assured me he wasn’t going anywhere, as did Maddox, but what about the inevitable jealousy? What about the fact that I was married to Emilio? Certainly, a rift would form and what about me?

My job? My life? Emilio had apparently followed me to New York, but his entire family lived here. I couldn’t make him stay in New York forever and he even said that he made this place my home.

My apprehension was broken through by a vibrating noise. Shutting off the shower and toweling dry, I found my phone I had left on the counter.

Unknown caller .

I hesitated for just a moment before answering the call.

“Hello?” I asked with hesitation.

“Izzy.” Yara’s familiar voice was coated in relief. “I was so worried, nobody would tell me anything. Oliver said you were safe but then he wouldn’t give specifics. What’s going on? ”

The background noise was off . Machines beeping, chaotic voices calling out. “Who is Kazi?”

Yara didn’t speak for a few minutes. “How do you know Kazi?” The relief was replaced with paranoia. Suspicion.

I had never heard Yara sound so critical before. “Yara, where are you?”

Yara heaved out a sigh. “I’m okay, but I’m at the hospital. There’s something I really need to tell you. It’s important. But I need to say it in person, okay?”

“Aren’t you back in California?”

“Not anymore, I’m here. Izzy–” A sob wracked through Yara. I had never heard her so heartbroken before, and I became incredibly concerned. “I’m so sorry, about everything.”

“Hey girl! Hey! It’s okay you have nothing to be sorry for. I love you, mamacita,” I half joked, trying to calm her down.

It had the opposite effect, and she began to sob uncontrollably. “Please…please don’t call me mamacita anymore. I’ll see you soon, I promise.”

On the other side of the phone I heard the distinct word DNA , before the line went silent.

“Yara? Yara!” Now my own concern was settling into place.

After a few nauseatingly worrisome moments, noise cut through her phone again. The machines beeping. “Izzy, I”—her voice broke—“I fucked up. Please believe me when I say I love you and nothing I do is to hurt you.”

My mind raced with the endless possibilities of what had happened. Why was she at the hospital? What was going on? But at the end of the day, it didn’t matter. I trusted Yara. “I love you Yara. No matter what it is, we can get through it together. And besides, I have a whole wild story to tell you as well.” And I meant every word, but I knew in my gut that even though nothing I was doing was normal, Yara would support me. Just as she always had.

“Thank you girl! I will call you soon, I promise.” That was the last she said to me before disconnecting the phone.