Chapter 4: "No, stop!": Isobel and Jubal
Her date stood her up. She was already waiting at the table for fifteen minutes when the bastard texted that he couldn't make it out of work. Normally, this wouldn't bother Isobel but it started raining and she just took a cab to get to the restaurant. Good luck finding a ride, taxi or uber, in this rain in New York on a Saturday night.
While she was weighing her options, a text message came in from her ASAC. Thinking it might be a case, she was surprised to see a big panda hugging a little panda emoji, shortly followed by 'sorry, I missent' then 'it was meant to be for Abby' 'my daughter'. Isobel rolled her eyes, of course she'd remember his kids' names. She was about to text that 'it's alright' when an idea occurred to her. 'I'm sorry to ask but I need a favor' then a bear in tears emoji.
After explaining what happened and another ten minutes waiting due to traffic, Jubal walked into the restaurant. Isobel stood up with her takeout and met up with him.
"Good thing you texted me, there's no way you'd get a ride out there."
"I know. Thanks for doing this, Jubal."
He shyly smiled, which Isobel found adorable. "No problem, let's go."
When they arrived at Isobel's place, she invited him for dinner with her takeout. After dinner, the rain turned to a full on storm.
"There's no way you could go driving out there, Jubal" she said, looking out her living room window. "You should stay here for the night."
Shaking his head, he said, "It's alright. You don't have to do that, Isobel."
"Izzy."
She said it so softly that Jubal had to ask "Come again?"
"Izzy - it's what my friends call me."
Jubal's face lit up with a smile. "Izzy, then."
With her eyes twinkling, Isobel asked "What about you?" She laughed at his confused look. "Should I call you Juju, then?"
"Oh, you're going to pay for that," he threatened with his finger poking her side - her ticklish spot.
Isobel started running and giggling "No, stop!" with Jubal chasing her.
Notes:
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