31. IZZY
“Aren’t you supposed to be ‘very busy’ today?” I jokingly asked Nick as he led me across the famous Baker Beach, his hand enveloping mine. I was trying to make a casual conversation, but I was honestly nervous about this picnic date.
“They can wait,” he answered nonchalantly. “I have more important things to do.”
It warmed my body, and I found myself flushing just a little. Easy, Izzy, I told myself silently. You can’t allow yourself to fall further for this man, or you might end up getting hurt again.
So, why did you say yes to this date then?A nagging voice teased me in my head.
The wind carried the salty scent of the sea, and a nice, cool breeze blew on my face as we settled on a slightly secluded spot with the Golden Gate standing tall on the horizon.
“This view always amazes me,” I whispered as I paused for a while to admire the postcard-perfect view of this San Francisco iconic bridge.
“Yeah, me too,” Nick agreed. “I like to come here from time to time when I feel really stressed.”
That made me look at him in bewilderment. It was something I never knew about him and something that seemed surprising about his personality.
I guess I don’t know him that well. I can’t even guess what he’s up to. Besides, he’s become so unpredictable since that fire accident.
Nick fumbled with the blanket, his attempt to set up a cozy picnic area both endearing and amusing. “Are you sure you know what to do with that?”
“Yes, of course,” he replied, but he didn’t look so confident. I was pretty sure he hadn’t done something like this for years, with so many people assisting him all the time.
A smile played on my lips, but beneath the surface, a wariness lingered. I couldn”t shake the nagging question: Why had Nick invited me to this evening picnic by the bay?
While Nick opened the picnic basket and prepared the spread, I marveled at the stunning view, the waves whispering tales of a city that had seen us through highs and lows. Despite the beauty surrounding us, a cautious part of me hesitated to fully embrace the moment.
Seated on the blanket, I savored the simple pleasure of burying my toes in the cool sand. He sat very close to me, with our shoulders touching, which was causing electric jolts to pass through my entire body.
Unable to contain my curiosity any longer, I turned to Nick. “Alright, spill the beans. What’s the real reason for this picnic?” I asked, my eyes narrowing playfully.
Nick flashed a charming grin but deflected my inquiry. “Let’s enjoy the meal first, shall we? The food won’t eat itself.”
I chuckled at his evasion, deciding to play along. I like this version of Nick—a bit relaxed, always smiling, sometimes even cracking a joke or two. He’d been like this since his birthday, during which he’d obviously been happy.
As we unveiled the culinary delights before us, my taste buds danced with delight. The spread was a testament to Nick’s impeccable taste. From gourmet cheeses and sandwiches to exotic fruits and expensive wine, the picnic seemed curated for royalty.
“Did Catherine prepare this feast?” I teased, suspecting her hand in the extravagant selection.
Nick feigned innocence, denying her involvement with a shake of his head. However, his laughter betrayed him, and he finally confessed, “Alright, alright. It’s my personal chef’s masterpiece.”
I couldn’t help but join in his laughter, the tension dissipating with each shared chuckle.
“Did I thank you already for that unforgettable party you threw me the other day?” Nick asked, leaning closer to me.
“Many times,” I answered, chuckling. “I’m glad you had fun. I didn’t invite many because I know you prefer intimate gatherings.”
“Good,” he said. “You know me well. But I would have preferred it to just be you and me, you know.”
I blushed and was glad that it was a little dark for him to see. “Well, now we’re all alone.”
“We are, aren’t we?” he whispered, his warm breath tickling my ear.
The night draped around us, the city lights outlining the majestic Golden Gate Bridge in the distance. The rhythmic sound of the waves crashing against the shore accompanied the night”s serenity.
A shiver ran down my spine as he put one arm around my shoulders and pulled me much closer.
“Thanks for the delicious food,” I said, trying to shift the focus to something else. “And the wine too.”
“Anything for you, Izzy. I’m just so glad that you’re well now. The doctors told me they’d be monitoring you still even from abroad.”
“I’m sure they’re quite happy to be back home already,” I said. Then playfully slapping him, I added, “You must have paid them a fortune!”
He shrugged. “What’s important is that you’re okay now.” He then turned his head toward me, and our eyes met in an intense gaze. “Izzy, you have no idea how scared I was when I saw you lying there in the dressing room, unconscious and covered in soot. And when your lungs almost gave out in the hospital…” He shook his head, and his eyebrows furrowed as he recalled the incident. “Oh, God. I’ve never been that terrified in my whole life.”
I was kind of taken aback that he was being so open about all this. I widened my eyes, but I could see that he meant everything he was saying. “Well, I’m still alive,” I remarked casually.
He took my hand in his and rubbed my skin gently with his thumb, sending tingles through my arm. He gently kissed my cheek and caressed my shoulders lovingly. I could feel my heart leaping and my entire being melting.
“For the first time since I was a kid, I prayed while you were sick. I prayed as hard and as often as I could.”
I was quiet as he bared his soul to me.
“And I promised myself that I would take good care of you if you survived,” he whispered meaningfully. “That I would never leave your side, that I would always be honest with you from then on…”
I did not know what to say. I was speechless. I just let myself sink into the warmth of his embrace.
The distant hum of the city seemed to fade away, leaving only the whispers of the night and the beating of our hearts.
“Izzy, I’m so happy that I met you,” he continued, his gaze intensifying. He shifted his position so that we were facing each other as we held hands in the dark. “You’re a beautiful, talented, and special woman, and you definitely don’t deserve how I’ve treated you in the past…” He paused and took a deep breath. It looked as if he was having a hard time pouring his heart out, which was understandable, given his personality. It made me appreciate him and this moment even more. “You’ve affected and infected me in various ways that I couldn’t understand, that truly confused me and turned my world upside down. I just…I didn’t know what to do with these unfamiliar feelings…I couldn’t handle them, so I kept on moving back and forth, pursuing you and then suddenly changing my mind…”
I sort of held my breath as I waited for him to go on. It was difficult to fathom that I was hearing all this from him now, after all this time.
“Please, forgive me for all those times that I turned my back on you,” he said sincerely. “I was a coward, and I’m so sorry. I never realized at first that I was…that I was…actually falling for you.”
My pulse quickened. I could feel my heart pounding like crazy.
“There was also a time that I felt like you didn’t deserve someone like me, that I would just end up hurting you. I mean, I’ve never fallen in love in the past. I’ve never been in a serious or long-term relationship. You’re the first woman who’s ever made me feel this way…”
His admission stirred a cocktail of emotions within me, a swirling blend of surprise, vulnerability, and a subtle yet undeniable acceleration of my heartbeat. His gaze, intense and searching, seemed to peel away layers, revealing the intricate maze of his feelings.
At that moment, I sensed the sincerity in his voice, the raw honesty of a man grappling with emotions he hadn’t explored before. It was as if he had unraveled a hidden chapter of himself.
He leaned forward and held my face with both his hands. “Izzy, when you got into that accident, when I thought I was going to lose you…it made me realize that I really, truly care for you, that I can’t stand to not have you with me by my side…I realized how much I yearned to be with you. I don’t want to waste any more time, Izzy. I love you—so much.”
His last words made my heart flutter and then soar. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. The emotions within me were so strong that I felt tears springing to my eyes.
I took a deep breath, allowing the gravity of the moment to sink in. “Nick,” I whispered, my voice barely audible in the night, “I love you too.”
He smiled, and I saw a glint of tears in his eyes. A silent understanding passed between us, and with a tender smile, he asked, “Will you be my girlfriend, Izzy?”
A swell of happiness embraced me. Without hesitation, I nodded. “Yes, Nick. I’d love to be your girlfriend.”
In that quiet corner of Baker Beach, beneath the moonlight and the watchful eyes of the Golden Gate Bridge, our journey took a new turn, and the chapter of us unfolded in the most unexpected and beautiful way.