Page 83 of Never Started
I stay silent, never looking away from her, allowing her to continue at her own pace when she's comfortable. I stop my pacing, returning to sit next to her, reaching for her hand, holding it in mine atop her thigh.
"When we were young, V and Natty started coming over when things would get heated at their house." I nod, already knowing this and not sure how any of this correlates. "Well, after a while, my dad decided to step in. He contacted their parents to see if there was anything he could do to help. Via's dad refused to talk to him about it, simply saying it was a family issue and that he appreciated our family for allowing them to come over when they needed it."
Izzy's eyes dart to mine, and for a second, I see the pain she hides so well. She's always so happy and outgoing, and she's never scared of a good time or speaking her mind. This—this is another side. The side that many aren't privy to. It's real. It's raw. It's her.All of her. The pieces of her that she hides away from the world because she believes she has to.
She will never have to hide anypart of herself where I'm concerned. I want it all.
"What my dad failed to mention to any of us,” she says softly, “was that he also spoke to Via's mother. Somewhere down the line, lines blurred, and their speaking becamemore."
“What the fuck?” I gasp, then cover my mouth to try and take it back, as if it isn't already too late.
"I walked in on them in 2015. My dad begged me not to say anything to anyone. Especially my mom or Via. He promised it would never happen again. Well, he lied. It did. It never stopped. He has no idea that I know it continued on until Via’s mom passed away."
"Iz..." I have no idea what to say. She doesn't want Via to know, so she's obviously held this in to protect her.
"I know you're going to tell me that I need to tell her, but I can't." She stands and turns to face me head-on, grabbing her chest. "She doesn't need the added pain of this, especially after how far she's come."
"Actually," I say, then pause, stand, and walk over to her, wrapping her in my arms. "I was going to say that I get it now. I getyou."
Izzy pulls back, slightly out of my grasp, until our eyes meet.
Her brows draw together in confusion. "You do?"
I nod. "Yeah, I do. I get that you've witnessed betrayal and feel betrayed... But I think the worst part is that you were pressured to keep the secrets for everyone else's benefit. You were also forced to move on daily as if nothing was broken. 2015? Fuck, Iz, you were a kid. For ten years, you’ve felt like you're betraying the ones you love by keeping this from them, even if it is for the best. You've been scared to fully open up to me, to us, to anyone. And you're still scared—not only of how others may hurt you if you let them in, but also of how you might hurt them, as well."
I raise my hands, one cupping her chin, angling her face to look up at mine, the other running through her hair. She lets out a sharp exhale, sinking into my touch.
Breathing her in, I continue, "I understand. Thank you for trusting me enough to make me understand," I pause briefly. "But Iz, tell me. What is holding you together while you're out here trying to hold everything together for everyone else? Who is taking care of you?"
"I can take care of my damn self," she clips back immediately, raising challenging eyebrows at me, as if she's daring me to push her any further.
Well, she's back!That's my girl.
"I have not a single damn doubt about that." I stifle the inappropriate chuckle that tries to push its way out. "If you were ready for more, why not come back to me? You knew where I stood, and I know, to this day, you wanted it too."
"You've been done with me, Jett." Her voice is small and insecure. So unlike her.
"Ha,"I laugh without any humor. "I wish I could've been, Izabel. Trust me. Life would’ve been a lot easier these past few years if I had been."
Her features remain soft as her eyes shoot up to mine. "There are no easy answers," she says firmly, displaying that sass I know all too well, just before she looks away and begins pacing again.
"Well, it's a good thing I'm not looking for easy;I'm looking for real."
Chapter thirty-eight
Izzy
November 2023
"Real?" I ask with an unamused huff.
"Yeah, real." He raises his eyebrows, confused.
"Realis you scare the fuck out of me. Even now. Even after all this time. How could I come back to you when you're the biggest threat?" My words come out harsh, but I don't intend for them to hold venom.
To my surprise, he doesn't look shocked or even taken aback. He challenges me like he always has.
Jett stands, pulling me to him. Our bodies collide as he wraps his arms around me. The tips of his fingertips trail lazy patterns, tracing up and down my arms, sending shivers throughout my entire body.
