Page 57 of The Bet
Chapter 17
“Yours?” She’d said it was if it was a violation of her basic human rights.
“Yay! He’s got a cool media room,” Jacob cried, excitedly. Tobias had brought the kid over once a few months ago, and Jacob had declared that Xavier had better games consoles and controllers than Tobias.
“But don’t you want to go to the movies, Jacob?” Izzy seemed determined not to let him have his own way, but in all seriousness, Xavier didn’t feel it was the best thing to do.
Jacob shook his head. “Can’t we play games at Xavier’s place?”
There was her answer.
Besides, she looked shaken up. How could he turn a blind eye to what he’d seen? For fucks’ sake, there had been $20 dollar bills scattered outside her door, and she had a pepper spray canister lying on the floor.
He was determined to get to the bottom of this.
“Okay, if that’s what you want,” she said to the boy. “It’s a shame because I thought you wanted to go to the see the movie.”
“Pleeeeease, Izzy?”
“Okay, fine. We’ll go to Xavier’s place.” He wondered if she hated him that much that she was willing to be so stubborn.
He was about to say something but, seeing the sour look on her face, held back. Something had shaken her, and he didn’t feel it was right to continue their verbal sparring. He’d let her have some quiet time to herself.
Once more, he had taken Tobias’s Merc and left his Ferrari in his brother’s underground parking lot.
He drove them all over to his apartment, mindful of the fact that Izzy had never been here before. They rode the elevator to his floor, and he let them both in to his apartment.
While most girls who came here for the first time fawned over his 8-foot tall windows that stretched across the 25-foot width of the living room, or looked up in awe at the high, wood-beamed ceilings, Izzy remained silent. She didn’t even look around. She didn’t even comment on the treadmill and punch bag in one corner. Nor was she impressed by the views overlooking Canal Street on one side and a local park on the other.
Jacob headed straight for the media room.
“No over 18 games,” Izzy warned. Then to him, “Jacob knows better than to play those games, but I can’t vouch for you.”
“Why don’t you come in and keep an eye on him?” he asked her, as she hovered around in the living-room.
“I’m fine here, thanks. I’m not a huge game player.”
“No?” Funny, he had her down as being one of those geeky girls who were into online gaming. “You don’t know what you’re missing.”
“I’m sure I’ll survive.” It was an exasperated sigh, as if she had to force herself to make conversation. He still had questions, but he could tell that now wasn’t the time. “Make yourself at home.”
He walked through the hallway to the media room.
“Let’s have some fun, kid.”
He spent some time with Jacob, leaving Izzy alone. It wasn’t ideal, dragging her all the way here then abandoning her, but if she didn’t want to join in, he couldn’t force her.
She was impossible to get close to, but now he had an extra three months and it was a saving grace. Problem was, Tobias and Savannah would be back next weekend, and then he would be fighting with them for Jacob’s time—because Jacob was the link to his time with Izzy. He wasn’t sure how he was going to overcome this logistical problem, but, as with most things, he would find a way or make one.
After playing a couple of games with Jacob, he left the kid to it and went back to check on Izzy.
She was on the couch, texting away on her cell phone. He wondered if she had a boyfriend now? Bummer. Because, if that was the case, it was going to be a serious problem, and one he hadn’t thought of.
“You okay?” he asked.
She hastily looked up, and stopped texting. “Yes.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to come and play?”
