Page 21 of Isabelle & Jason
When Charlie didn’t immediately demand more details, Isabelle lifted her head and stared at her friend. Her lower lip protruded slightly. The crease between her brows indicated her concern. Were her eyes shining with tears?
Crap. Did she know something? Who would have told her? Isabelle hadn’t said anything to anyone. Her thoughts spiraled and her breathing grew slightly erratic.
Charlie’s hand covered her own, and her soft voice dragged Isabelle to the present. “I know you’re not interested in dating. I get it. Sort of.” Her frown deepened. “But I didn’t realize it had gotten this bad.”
Isabelle stiffened, her blood running cold. What was Charlie talking about?
“I’m your best friend, sis. I notice things. You get nervous around guys.”
Heat flushed Isabelle’s cheeks, and she looked away. It had finally come to this. She already knew what Charlie was going to ask before she did.
“Do you need to tell me anything?Wantto tell me anything?”
Before Isabelle had a chance to decide what she was going to do, she shook her head vehemently.
“Are you sure? Because whatever it is, I won’t judge. It’s just that… you’re not really the same…”
“No,” Isabelle snapped, ready to bolt. But Charlie kept her hand placed firmly over hers.
“Okay. You don’t have to if you don’t want to.”
Every muscle in Isabelle’s body relaxed at that statement. She hated herself for this incessant need to keep this secret. But she didn’t want anyone to look at her differently. She didn’t want Charlie to pity her. Forcing a smile, she lifted her attention to her friend. “Thanks.”
Still, there were a million questions in Charlie’s blue eyes. She wasn’t going to just let Isabelle walk away without giving hersomething.
“Jason helped,” she blurted.
Charlie’s brows lifted. “Jason?”
Isabelle nodded, placing her hands on her flushed cheeks. “Yeah, he showed up and… made the guy leave.”
Her friend blinked several times, and a small smile started to spread across her face. “Is that so?”
“What, it doesn’t mean anything.”
Charlie squirmed, attempting to get more comfortable in her seat. “I don’t know, Izzie. Some guy noticing that you need help and coming to your rescue? Sounds like a match made in heaven.”
Isabelle groaned and rolled her eyes. “Definitely not. He works for my brother. He saw me struggling and he helped. Maybe he’ll get a raise or something.”
Charlie snorted as she reached for one of the glasses of water they’d been left with. “If you say so.” She watched Isabelle for a few moments, and then that knowing smirk touched her lips again. “If you’re not interested, then maybe you’d be willing to get set up on a blind double date with?—”
“No.” Isabelle snapped.
“You didn’t even let me finish,” Charlie whined. “Ash said that a new guy just started at the station. There’s nothing hotter than a firefighter, right? And you wouldn’t be alone. I’d be there. And so would Ash.”
Isabelle shook her head vehemently. “I’m not interested in dating.Anyone,” she added with emphasis, refusing to let Charlie believe there was a chance with Jason, too.
“You need to get yourself out there, sis. Whatever it is that’s holding you back… you’re not helping yourself by locking yourself away like Rapunzel.”
Isabelle picked up her menu, if only to avoid Charlie’s searing gaze. “Dating isn’t the most important thing in life. I don’t need a boyfriend to complete me. I get that you found love and you’re happy. Well, I’m happy just being single. And you’re going to have to accept that. Because my opinions aren’t going to change.”
“What about starting a family?”
“I have the best family already.”
“Kids?” Charlie pressed.
Isabelle glanced down to where the top of Charlie’s belly was still visible from her vantage point. A twinge of sadness filled her chest. Once upon a time, they’d made plans to have children at the same time so their kids could be best friends, too. That was in the before.
