Page 34 of Isabelle & Jason
Her sharp eyes stalled the words he was about to say. “It’s not,” she seethed. “This is about the fact that you have been telling my family about what happened.”
His whole body seemed to jolt with her accusation as if he’d been struck by lightning. “What?”
Isabelle jabbed him in the chest with her finger. “Admit it. You told Marcus about what happened. I saw you.”
The scowl that formed on his face surprised her if nothing else. He leaned into her, forcing her to take a step back. The low, rumbling sound of his voice caused the hairs on the back of her neck to stand on end. “I haven’t said a word to your family. I wouldn’t do that to you.”
She glowered right back. “Then why is Marcus acting like something is wrong?”
“Maybe because you’re more transparent than you think,” he snapped back. “The only person I mentioned anything to was Mark.”
The blood drained from her body, and she felt weak. “What?”
“I didn’t tell him much—just that you were drugged and I took you to the hospital.”
She wanted to rage and scream, but his next words tamped down on her reaction.
“He was there that night, too.” This time, he spoke quietly, gentler. “I didn’t want him asking too many questions, so I gave him the smallest bit of information to ensure he didn’t push too hard.”
Why did she suddenly feel grateful to him? Jason was right. If Mark poked around too much, it would draw more attention to her. The fight went out of her body, and she fought the onslaught of emotion creeping back in. “I want to know everything.”
Jason didn’t move. His stance remained rigid. “I don’t know if that?—”
She stepped up to him this time, though her confidence was still wavering. “I need to know.”
He dragged a hand down his face. “It’s not really a quick story.”
“The Cliff Notes, then.”
Isabelle eyed him, watching for the crack in his defenses to widen. When his shoulders relaxed and he finally gave her a small nod, she knew she’d won.
“After dinner. Find me and we’ll… talk.”
Isabelle’s tearshad run dry. They both sat against the side of the house where no one would interrupt them. Her back pressed against the cool siding, and her arm brushed against Jason’s. She felt sick to her stomach.
From the moment he started telling her about when he first saw her to the moment he intervened in the alley, she’d been transfixed. Snippets of her memory flickered in her mind as he relayed everything he knew.
Then when he told her about dropping her off at the hospital and making sure she was looked after, her heart practically swelled in her chest. They’d been strangers. And yet, he’d been there for her like no one else would have.
Now, it was quiet between them.
The tension had fizzled.
Now, she just felt like a shell of herself—again.
Where was the closure? Wasn’t that expected once all her questions had been answered? She should feel better. But she didn’t. There weren’t any more questions. Understanding the events that occurred didn’t fill the hole she felt in her soul.
Hollowness.
Fury.
Pain.
They all remained.
She pulled her legs up to her chest and rested her forehead atop her knees.
“Are you…”
