unfinished

chapter 18

Hobi frowned as he entered the main space of the loft.  Groups of three and four were scattered all over the space, drinking and chatting and building friendships.

No wonder Sky let Tae seduce her away, everything was going perfectly. Perfectly for everyone except him. 

He had been so close to breaking thru Izzy's reserve, he knew it.  But now he was willing to bet she had carefully put that wall back in place.

He was exactly right.  He could not find her because she had slipped into a bathroom and was hiding until she felt like she was firmly in control of her emotions.

The paintings had deeply shaken her. They lingered, making her examine fears and emotions she thought she had deeply buried. 

She looked at herself in the mirror,  carefully noting the fuller face that looked back at her, running her fingers along the fine lines only she could see on her forehead, noting the smile lines at her lips.  She was not that child she had been when Hobi left.  She had years of dealing with those emotions, keeping them in check.  She straightened her shoulders and nodding at the weary woman in the mirror, returned to the buzz of the party.

She saw Hobi almost immediately.  He was standing casually against the bar, drink in his hand, head thrown back in laughter.  She moved toward him, drawn like always to the light that always haloed him.

Hobi laughed at Jimin's latest celebrity story.  Damn it was good to have his friend back.  He caught Izzy walking toward him and felt that warmth spread throughout his body.  He asked the bartender for her favorite drink and handed it to her as she reached his side.

“ Still favor the fruity drinks?” he asked as she took the sunset colored concoction from him, their fingers brushing. 

The contact jolted them, memories of dozens of times they had shared drinks, stories and lives. They stood for a moment, her face turned to his, his head bent to catch her answer, the drink held between, almost forgotten other than as an excuse to touch.

A call that the meal was served led them naturally to the tables where the servers were setting out heaping platters of food.

The meal was informal with plates and dishes being passed and shared.  She found herself sitting next to the blond she noticed earlier in the Chanel leather jacket.  The Chanel jacket she had watched him toss on one of the sofas, the jacket she would bet he had no idea where he had left it. 

“HI,  I'm Jimin,” he offered with a smile that packed a sucker punch.  He was no exception to the model rule apparently held by this friend group.  She was not surprised to find out later that he was the one who had actually worked as a model.

“Isabelle" she responded as he served her a delicious smelling meat dish. She could not help but notice Hobi watching her as he slipped in the seat next to his friend.

“You have a charming accent beneath that east coast polish,” Jimin said, “ Tell me where you are from originally .”

“ A town so small you could not find it on a map,” Hobi answered for her. “ And if you think it's charming now you should have heard her fresh from the mountains.”

That earned him a mock glare and a retort from Izzy and the conversation never lulled after that.

Jimin shared about his recent stint in Belgium and the best places to eat in the city. 

Hobi asked him about Veronica, who Izzy guessed to be a girlfriend.  He shared that she had been on a months long shoot off the coast of Africa.  He had been to visit twice but he was ready for her to be home.  He planned to be settled at home for the rest of the year, but he was unsure when she would make it back. 

Izzy sensed something about him that was in jarring contrast to his causal comfort in the presence of his friends.

Jimin was smiling the entire meal. Hobi had asked all the prying questions about his relationship he had expected, but all that information was scattered among references and memories of things only Hobi and Izzy knew. 

Eventually Jimin grew quiet and felt the conversation flow over him.  It was not as if he felt excluded.  On the contrary he knew he was present in, but not part of, a very intimate conversation between these two. 

He watched Hobi smile even more deeply, leaning across him to tease and laugh with the beautiful girl seated to his left.  It made Jimin lonely. 

It had only been a week since he had seen Roni, but he missed the laughter, the flash of appreciation in her eyes when she looked at him. 

He was happy for Hobi.  He had seen his friend in love, or in what passed for love in those days.  He had watched him date girls he cared for deeply or wanted badly or both.  But he had never seen his friend so in tune with someone. 

He would bet neither of them realized how their eyes sparkled with the teasing banter or how they leaned toward each other. As Dae stood and began to speak, he watched how reluctant Hobi was to end the conversation.

That did it.  Jimin made his mind up in that moment to have a serious talk with his friend. 

As a group they had learned how fragile feelings were and how fiercely you had to fight for love.  Jimin was sure it was Hobi's turn and he saw no need in wasting precious time.

Izzy looked at Dae as she spoke, but her head was swimming with thoughts of Hobi. 

She had missed him so much, had missed everything about him. She looked at the glass beside her and shook her head.  She felt the buzz of the excellent liquor burn through her, but she knew the intoxication was from the man seated down the table. 

For all his radiating warmth and engaging smiles, he was dangerous. But then he had always been dangerous to her. 

So many possibilities crowded her head, things she had not allowed herself to hope for years.  Tonight she felt cracks begin to form in the armor she had bolted to her heart. 

That thought sobered her.  She could tell the night was ending.  Soon everyone would stand and begin to gather their things and wrangle for positions in the car rides home. 

She could already see liaisons forming and part of her hoped the morning after would not cause issues with the project.

The other part of her  envied the ease of freedom of finding someone to love, even if for the night. 

She caught Rege glancing at her, seeming to confirm she would not change her mind and share his bed this night.  She shook that thought away just as the first car was announced.  It was quickly filled with those who had made their choices for the evening. 

After a another car filled and left, then another, she noticed Dae speaking softly with Hobi and tensed. 

Of course Dae would leave with Jin and it was logical for Hobi to escort her home. 

Her heart hammered as she thought of him reaching for her hand in the car.  She could almost feel him as she imagined him pulling her into his lap, her breasts crushed to his hard chest, his mouth so sweet and tender on hers.

She closed her eyes to try to gain control.  Not like this, not after a night where she had felt the rush of  connection rekindle between them. 

If…..and that was a HUGE if…. There was still something between them it deserved more than a last minute decision.

Olivia would say she was overthinking again.  She frowned at that intrusive thought.

Hobi watched her from across the room.  Dae had made one last check to see if he had changed his mind.

“You look like you were having a great time,” she coaxed, knowing by the set look on his face his answer was still “no"

  “ Hobi, I'm not saying you will stay…”

“ Stop….” He said, his voice and expression immediately causing her to still. 

He seldom, if ever, used that tone with her and she immediately knew she had pushed too close.  He gave her a brief hug before she could apologize.

“Tonight was lovely.  We had a wonderful chance to reconnect.  She allowed me closer than I have been in ages.  I do not want to jeopardize that progress in any way,” he paused to look at Izzy.  “I am content for now.”

Dae nodded her understanding then watched as he turned to go to Izzy.

He stopped in front of her and gave his best smile.  He could tell she had tensed at his approach.  She was worried about this too.  He hated that for both of them.