Page 106 of Untethered Heart
There’s a knock on my office door, and Isabelle waits in the open doorway.
“Hey,” I say.
“Hi. Are you ready for our meeting?” The wide leg blue jeans and black mock neck sweater she wears are the most unlike her I’ve ever seen. At least her golden curls are still tied on top of her head with a scarf, the cream and aqua blue pattern keeping her softness present.
“Of course. Take a seat.”
I push my glasses back up my nose and lean back in my seat, ready for her to update me on her current projects.
She runs through her projects with Tenley, Legacy Malt, and finally, for Smoke and Barrel.
“So, everything is going well.”
“Good. And how are you, Izzy?” I ask.
The mask hiding her pain slips for just a moment before she shakes it off and shoots me a weak smile. “Fine.”
“You’re not in pain? No headaches or anything?” I push.
“No.”
“You ready to tell me why you were with Gage that night?” At the mention of my brother’s name, her lips tremble before she purses them, like she’s banishing the feelings away.
“He saw me walking home from a restaurant and offered me a ride.” She shrugs.
I throw my hands up, gaping at her. “Why didn’t you just tell me that before?”
She looks down at the floor. I wait until she gives me more. Anything.
“How’s he doing?” she whispers.
“You haven’t spoken to him?”
She shakes her head. “He won’t accept my calls. Won’t respond to my texts.”
Stupid, stubborn bastard.
I pick my phone up off the desk where it sits beside the framed photo Lex gave me for Valentine’s Day. Putting it on loudspeaker, I call my brother.
“What?” He sighs.
“Just checking in. How are you today?” I ask, watching Isabelle. She quietly leans forward in her chair, watching my phone like a hawk.
“Mase just took me for a check up with the doc. He showed me some exercises to do to keep mobility.”
“But he’s happy with how it looks so far?”
“Yeah,” he grunts.
“How’s Keeley handling the bar?”
“Fine.”
“Have you spoken to Iz?”
I’m met with nothing but silence on the other line.
“Gage?”
