Page 24 of Liberating Bells
“And you caved?” I ask, already knowing the direction this is going, but still dreading hearing about it.
She shrugs. “It’s an important function for Mark to attend. He’s really trying to make partner, and every little thing counts.”
“Don’t do that,” I growl at her, bringing her attention back to me abruptly.
“Do what?”
“Act like your shit doesn’t matter.”
Izabel looks down at her drink again. “I know. My work does matter, but there’s just a lot going on right now. He’s not always this way. Things have been stressful at work for him and?—”
“Jesus Christ,” I grumble as I stand up from my seat and begin to pace, unable to keep myself still.
“What?” she snaps, jumping to her feet too.
I wave her off with my hand and continue to march a hole into my floor. “You! You should hear yourself right now!”
“What does that mean?”
I spin around to face her with a scowl. “What the hell happened to you, Bells?”
“Nothing! I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
I shake my head, frustrated. “The BellsI knowwouldn’t let something important to her get pushed to the side. The BellsI knowwould stand up for herself when someone is trying to bully her into submission.”
I give her a hard look. “Or at least that’s the Bells Iusedto know. I don’t know who you are anymore. You’re just thisshellof who you used to be.”
“You don’t know anything!” she shoots back at me, her eyes a blaze of fury. I see her start to tremble, her arms wrapping across her chest. “You don’t know me, Ryan! Not anymore.”
“Then why are you here!” I exclaim. “Why are you here? In my house? Telling me all of this? Acting like you don’t see what he’s doing to you!”
“You’re just like Juliet,” she whispers brokenly, her shoulders slumping and her eyes going blank.
I feel myself jolt at her words, at her tone, and I immediately know I’ve fucked up. I observe her close in on herself, completely shutting down. My heart stutters, and I come back to the present, the anger and frustration melting away.
What was I thinking, yelling at her like that?
Bells stares at me as if I’m a ghost, and then she walks around the couch. “I should go.”
“Wait,” I say softly. She turns back around and faces me. I observe her. She looks small, scared. “I’m sorry,” I plead. “I shouldn’t have yelled at you.”
“Yeah.”
I offer her a hand. She looks at me warily, but takes it. I lead her back over to the couch, and we sit down. Neither of us says a word. We just sit together, her hand in mine as I give her space. The condo is deadly silent. I hear the ticking of the clock in my study and sirens outside. But I don’t say anything, yielding to her.
“You don’t know anything about me,” Izabel says finally, her eyes still blank. “You don’t get to decide how I live my life.”
“You’re right,” I acknowledge. “I’m sorry.”
“Things are different now, Ry,” she says.
“I can see that.”
Izabel goes quiet again. I let her be, offering her comfort through the hand wrapped around mine.
“Do you hate me?”
I’m taken aback by her abrupt change of topic. I stare at her, trying to read her mind. When I get nothing, I let out a deep sigh and drop my weapons for good.
