unfinished

chapter 74

“But Izzy, what I was trying to say was that time changed us, made us grow up and learn what we wanted and what we didn’t.  We became successful in our jobs and learned some hard and lonely lessons.  That time prepared us for right now.  It made us ready for our time,” he explained.

“Yes,” she sighed.

“Are you worried? Do you need money?” he asked, trusting he could ask her the hard questions.

“No.  I cashed out enough to get me started.  David is working on the buy out so I think I will be fine,” she answered.

He hesitated, but he had to know.

“Do you want to go to a hotel?” he asked, watching her face.

She understood what he was saying and the things he left unsaid.

“I know it is unfair that I just showed up with all my things in a suitcase, but I really just want to be with you, if that’s….”

He crushed her in a kiss before she finished.

“ Yes, oh Izzy, yes.  Whatever you want, however long you want,” he promised. 

She let out a deep breath, relief flooding her body.

“Work?” he asked. “I know Dae would hire you immediately.  Jin would also need someone with your skills and experience.”

She shook her head.

“I don’t know right now.  For the first time in my life I don’t have a plan.  I don’t have a calendar or projects or self imposed deadlines. And Hobi, it feels nice,” she confessed.

He hugged her.

“I’m so proud of you Izzy.  For hundreds of reasons, but most of all I am proud that you finally know how phenomenal you are and you have decided to fight for yourself.  You are worth it all!” he said, causing tears to spring to her eyes.

“Oh Hobi, you made me look at myself and see that, see that I was worth fighting for,” she said.

“Later tonight I will have to call Olivia and I will listen to her cry and whine and accuse.  In the end I will tell her to put her offer in writing. And I will tell her I choose you. And I will chose you every time, over and over again and nothing will change that,” she promised with her whole heart.

This time he was the one with tears sparkling.

“Izzy I have waited for years to be chosen, to be someone’s first pick, never believing I was quite good enough.  Olivia and her mother made sure of that.  But then there was you.  You always made me feel special, wanted  from the very beginning.   And now, knowing now that you left everything behind and traveled halfway around the world to be with me? It leaves me breathless!”

“I have made so many mistakes with you and lost so many opportunities and left so many things undone. Not anymore, not again. I love you.”

“Stay, please stay here with me and let’s do this together,” he asked, his eyes pleading.

“Yes  Hobi, that is the only way I was brave enough to do this, because I knew we would do it together,” she responded.

He kissed her and held her in his arms, the quiet wrapping around them like an old quilt.

Hobi smiled into her hair as he felt her body relax into his. She felt his body shift and realized they had been sitting on the floor for more than an hour.

She moved out of his arms, pulling him with her, laughing as his sore muscles protested.

“We’re not 22 anymore,” she said.

He gave her a wicked wink and pulled her down on the couch to snuggle next to him.

“Thank God for that,” he said as he selected music for them. 

He quirked a brow at her seeking her "ok" as he nodded at a report on the table.

Her Hoseok, ever learning and preparing.  She handed it to him with a kiss and watched as he quickly became engrossed in his work. 

He was so sexy when he concentrated like that. 

Then she laughed at herself.

When did she not find him sexy?

Sexy and sweet and smart and kind, she listed them all in her head as she closed her eyes and listened to the music.

As she drifted, she thought about Sky and her new interest in dance at the loft.  Then she remembered the empty store fronts that were open on the same street as the studio. 

Then she wondered about the work that Jimin did and some ideas she once had about marketing. 

Then designs she had seen Dae working on popped in her head. 

She knew Olivia would be begging  her not to leave.  She wondered if Hobi thought she could open an office here and still find a way not to spilt the company.

She thought about the supper they had promised with Sky and Tae and she could not wait to see Lyra and she wondered if Dae would show her the best places to shop.

And she would be lying if she said the thought of  Hoseok cradling a baby did not pop in there somewhere along the way.

And then she stopped and realized that she was wrong when she told Hobi she was adrift with nothing planned.

Here tucked next to him, watching him deep in study, she realized she could not even list all the opportunities she had in her life.

The possibilities were a bit overwhelming, but the truth grounded her.

Everything, all of what had been and what could be, brought her back to this man, this home. 

She knew the love he offered; the chances they would take would never end. 

Maybe Olivia was right. 

Hobi, and her life with him would always be unfinished, and together they would chase it wildly until the very end.

And then, one random Tuesday night, it was finished. 

We move away from these lovers as they find all the ways they fit and fix all they ways they don't!

As always I want to give you all my love and gratitude for choosing to spend your time with my writing.  It means more than I could ever express.

This time it feels harder, even more bittersweet to let them go. I know you all feel the weight of the change coming for all of us

I continue to write YoonGi's story and I WILL NOT abandon vampire Jin!!! NamJoon will be an adventure to write and I would never leave sweet sweet Jimin without a love of his very own!

Let's work hard and do our best! Promise?  Surely all of this " to do" list will carry us into 2025 when we will get whole new inspiration!! Maybe we should be thinking now what the next series will be!!

I love and treasure you all.  I hope you find me again when Yoongi's UNBOUND is ready. Best wishes and good health until then!!❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️