Page 15 of Liberating Bells
Liam looks up from where he’s aiming and glances over at Todd. Todd shrugs, and Liam’s attention goes back to the game at hand.
“Mark’s a jackass,” Todd answers.
“And he will never eat my damn burgers. I can grill a mean burger,” Liam grumbles. I ignore him and respond to Todd’s assessment.
“I know that already. I’ve known that from day one.” Every encounter I’ve had with him since high school has been less than ideal.
“Yeah, well, now he’s a next-level jackass.”
“How so?” I prod him.
Todd looks at me warily. “He’s super type-A. Loud. Arrogant. Controlling. And he’s a lawyer who thinks he’s got all the answers.”
“It will be even worse once he makes partner at his firm,” Liam chimes in. “Your turn, Ry.”
“Oh, he’s going for partner?” Todd asks, frowning. This is clearly news to him. “Great, that’s just what his ego needs.”
I bite the inside of my cheek as I line up a shot and miss again. Liam gloats from his position. He’s got a massive lead on me. “Is he—does he always treat her the way he does?” I ask him, thinking about the close eye Mark was keeping on Izabel at the party. Though I haven’t witnessed this side of him much since I’ve returned, I remember this being a dominant trait of his while Izabel and I were dating. He didn’t hesitate inletting her know when he didn’t like something she did. I have no doubt that this carried over from their friendship into their relationship.
Liam stands up straight, all amusement lost from his face. Todd is still frowning as well. They look between each other again, and then Liam pats me on the shoulder consolingly. “He’s not a good guy, Ryan. None of us know why she lets him stick around.”
I lean back into one of the chairs at our table and try to ignore the dread lingering in the back of my mind. “Yeah, I was afraid that would be your answer.”
The Izabel I’ve seen since being home is vastly different than the one I knew all those years ago. It’s something that has been making my mind spin, trying to reconcile the fiery, take-no-bullshit version of her I fell in love with, with this new accommodating version who is all too willing to step back and watch the world pass with no say in the matter. It’s somewhat unsettling, and I’m not sure what to do about it.
The guys fall silent for a minute. Liam purposefully misses a shot, his attempt at cheering me up. The admission hangs around us like a dark cloud. I can’t say I’m surprised, but I wish I could be.
I’m not sure what to do about it either.
Izabel once meant the world to me. She still does. But is it my place to step in and confront her about it? Probably not. We haven’t been in each other’s lives in years. And I keep having to remind myself that just because she comes to my office and gives me a “welcome home” present doesn’t mean she wants me back. We grew apart. It’s not her fault, or mine. It was just the way things worked out between us.
I try my best to ignore the sympathetic stares I’m getting from my friends. They can’t possibly know what’s going through my mind, but they know that seeing her again with Mark is hardfor me. It would be hard to see her with anyone. But especially Mark.
I was always suspicious of him from the first day she told me they were hanging out. Izabel assured me it was all platonic, so I bit my tongue. To give her credit, she and Mark didn’t start dating for a few years after she and I broke up. He was just waiting for the opportune moment.
“You know…” Todd mutters from next to me. I still haven’t gotten up to take my shot yet. I peer at him with an eyebrow raised. “They do say that the best way to get over someone is to get under someone else.”
He motions with his head over to the bar where a beautiful girl sits, alone, sipping on something out of a martini glass. I roll my eyes—what a typicalToddthing of him to say. “That brunette has been staring at you all night.”
“She has not,” I say incredulously, though my eyes remain on her. Sure enough, once she thinks the coast is clear, she glances at us over her glass’s rim. Her head snaps away quickly once she realizes I’m staring back.
“See?” Todd says, grinning. “You should go buy her next round.”
Liam’s watching this whole exchange with unbridled amusement, but he doesn’t say anything. Todd shoves my shoulder, and I groan.
“Fine. I’ll go buy her a drink, but that’s it.” I point to Liam. “I’ll know if you cheat.”
Liam rolls his eyes. “Whatever, dude. Just call this one already. I’m one shot away from finally kicking your ass.”
I chuckle as I walk away from my friends. My eyes are locked on the beautiful woman at the bar. She sees me coming and sits forward in her seat, trying not to meet my eyes. Settling into the chair beside her, I lean my elbows on the counter and get the bartender’s attention.
“Hey, I’ll have a Jack and Coke and another one for the lady,” I say, smirking at the girl next to me.
Her eyes widen, and she turns to me. “Well, that’s kind of you. Whatever did a girl like me do to deserve your attention?”
“Please, you were practically mind-tricking me into coming over here,” I tease her, giving her a wide grin.
She shrugs a shoulder and smiles back. “So what if I was?” She pauses, and then extends a hand. “Josie.”
