Page 61 of The Mirage Guild

Natalia nodded, her gaze gentle but unwavering. “Max.”

I let out a long breath. “Yeah. Max. I think it might be easier for both of us if I . . . if we had some space to focus on what we really want, you know?”

Natalia nodded slowly. “What do you mean, ‘what we really want’? It seems to me that you’re really missing him.”

I sighed, feeling a tangle of emotions at the mention of his name. “I don’t know, Nat. It’s complicated. I saw him with his ex last night, Ana. The way he reacted when she first showed up, it was like he still had feelings for her.”

“And by the end of the night?” Natalia prodded gently.

“He seemed . . . okay with her, comfortable. They were laughing, and she kissed him on the cheek. It’s clear they’re not over each other.” I felt a lump forming in my throat, the words sounding more like a confession than an observation.

Natalia reached out, her hand finding mine. “Izzy, are you sure you’re not just assuming things? Have you talked to Max about how you feel?”

I shook my head, feeling a familiar fear creeping in. “No, I haven’t. It’s just . . . I’m scared, Nat. What if I’m not what he wants? What if I’m just a fling to him?”

Natalia’s grip on my hand tightened. “Izzy, I think he feels like a fling to you! Don’t you think it’s only fair to lay it out there? To actually talk to him?”

I looked down, feeling vulnerable and exposed under her gaze. “I’m just so scared that I’ve missed the boat, Nat. That it’s too late to get all the things I thought I had so much more time for. The house, the partner, the kids . . .” I sighed deeply as it all came to the surface. “It’s not fair for me to put that timeline on someone like Max. Someone who has so much more time to figure it all out.”

Natalia pulled me into a hug, and I allowed myself to lean into her embrace. “You won’t know until you have that conversation, Iz. And you owe it to yourself, and to Max, to be honest about what you’re feeling.”

Natalia’s words lingered in the air as we sat there on the stoop, the city sounds providing a soft backdrop to our conversation. Her advice echoed in my mind, stirring a mix of apprehension and resolve within me.

“I know you’re right, Nat. I just . . . I don’t want to open up old wounds or create new ones,” I admitted, my voice quivering slightly. “But you’re right. I need to talk to Max. I need to know where we stand.”

Natalia nodded, understanding etched in her features. “It’s the only way you’ll find peace, Iz. And who knows? Maybe it’ll lead to something beautiful.”

I let out a half-hearted chuckle, the idea seeming both terrifying and exhilarating. “I just wish I could be as confident about this as you are.”

Natalia gave my hand a reassuring squeeze. “Confidence comes with taking that first step, even when it’s scary. You’ve always been braver than you give yourself credit for, Iz.”

We sat in silence for a moment, the weight of the decision ahead pressing down on me. I knew what I had to do, yet the idea of laying my feelings bare to Max was daunting. The possibility of rejection, of misunderstanding, loomed large in my mind.

But then, I thought about the alternative: living with the “what-ifs,” never knowing if there could have been something more between us. That possibility was even more unbearable.

As I sat there, in the comfort of Natalia’s understanding, my fear of being alone battled my fear of being in a relationship that wasn’t right. I had made so many assumptions about Max and his feelings, about Ana and their history. I had let my insecurities dictate my actions without truly comprehending his perspective.

“I just . . . I don’t want to make a mistake, Nat. I don’t want to invest my heart in something that isn’t going to last,” I confessed, my voice barely above a whisper.

Natalia pulled back, looking me in the eyes. “Izzy, love is always a risk. But it’s a risk worth taking. Talk to Max. Be honest with him, and with yourself. You might be surprised at what you find out.”

As Natalia stood up, ready to leave, she gave me a knowing look. “You’ve got this, Izzy. Just be honest and open. The rest will follow.”

I watched her walk away, her words echoing in my mind. It was time to face my fears, to take that leap of faith. I needed to talk to Max, to lay all my cards on the table. It was the only way I’d ever find out if there was a chance for something real between us.

Her words resonated within me, a mix of fear and hope swirling in my chest. Maybe it was time to confront these feelings head-on, to stop hiding behind assumptions and fears. Maybe it was time to have that conversation with Max, to truly understand where we stood. And maybe it was time to be brave.

TWENTY-NINE

ISABELLA

I woke up with a determination that felt foreign yet necessary. Today was the day I needed to reach out to Max, to clear the air and confront whatever was brewing between us. The uncertainty of it all had been gnawing at me, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that I needed to make things right.

Lying in bed, I stared at the ceiling, my heart pounding with a mix of anxiety and resolve. I grabbed my phone from the nightstand, its screen lighting up the dim room. Drafting the text took longer than I expected, each word weighed down by the gravity of what I was about to do. I settled on something simple yet direct:

Isabella: Hey, Max, can we grab lunch today? There are some things I feel like I need to clear the air on.

I hit send before I could second-guess myself. The message was delivered, leaving me in a state of suspense. I tossed the phone aside and got out of bed, trying to shake off the jitters.

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