Page 48 of Isabelle & Jason
She held up her phone. “Charlie said that Ash’s meeting is going long. She didn’t want to make us wait in the truck. You want to go in?”
He studied her intently. Was she wanting him to stick it out in the truck with her? Why wouldn’t she want to go inside and wait with Charlie? Something niggled in the back of his mind. Something Mathew had said about healing in every aspect of Isabelle’s life. Was she still closing herself off from others?
Refusing to second-guess the gut feeling that told him he should encourage Isabelle to get out of her comfort zone more often, Jason turned the key in the ignition and pulled it out. “Sure. We can wait inside. The air conditioning would be nice.”
It was slight, but Isabelle’s expression fell. She nodded almost glumly and pushed her door open. They wandered up to the front entrance of the fire station, and Jason opened the door for her. She gave him a small smile, and a whoosh of cool air enveloped them.
“She said it was down the left hallway.” Isabelle lifted her focus from her phone and pointed. Together they headed in that direction.
“Izzie!” Charlie bounded toward them from where she sat. “Sorry to make you wait. I brought Ash some lunch, but right as my brother dropped me off to eat it with him, he got pulled into ameeting.” She lifted a paper sack. “I guess he’ll have to scarf this down without me.” Her eyes flicked to Jason. “Hey, you.”
His grin widened when he noticed the pointed stare that Charlie tossed in Isabelle’s direction. When the best friend couldn’t hide her glee, that was always a good sign.
“How much longer do you think the meeting will go?” Jason asked.
She shrugged. “Heck if I know. He’s got a couple newbies in there with him. I don’t know if this is a training meeting or?—”
At that very moment the door opened. A couple men shuffled out, but it was the second to the last that had Jason doing a double-take.
Isabelle paled and the hand he held went clammy and shaky all at once.
“Izzie?” Charlie moved in closer. “Honey, you’re shaking. Are you okay?”
“Bella?” Dillan’s surprised voice made Isabelle flinch. “What are you doing here?” His eyes darted from Isabelle to where she held Jason’s hand, then flickered up to Jason. “Do you live in Copper Creek?”
Isabelle was breathing heavy, sharp, and shallow breaths. Jason didn’t waste any time in pulling her away from Dillan and Charlie, though the latter followed without prompting.
“Izzie, what’s going on? Are you okay?”
Isabelle’s pleading look was all Jason needed to understand what she was dealing with. She hadn’t told anyone in her life what had nearly happened. She had wanted to forget it, and the man responsible for all the nightmares was standing just a few yards away, speaking to Ash.
Charlie didn’t seem to notice that the reaction had coincided with Dillan’s presence. She placed fluttering hands around Isabelle’s face. “You need tobreathe.”
Gasping, Isabelle nodded and turned her face into Jason’s chest. He wrapped his arms around her, and when Charlie sent her a worried look, he said, “Go get her some water. She’s a little dehydrated. She hasn’t been feeling well lately.” It was a terrible excuse, but Jason had to pray that it would work. The last thing he wanted was for Charlie to find out what was really happening. Isabelle didn’t need another person with good intentions breathing down her neck when all she wanted was to feel normal again.
The second they were alone, he ducked down to meet Isabelle’s gaze. “You’re going to be okay. I have you. I’m not going anywhere. Now, focus. Breathe.” He demonstrated for her, his hands framing her face. Nodding with each breath, he finally got her to settle. When he looked up, he didn’t see Dillan anywhere. Charlie had been snagged by Ash, and they were looking in Isabelle’s direction.
“Isabelle, Charlie’s on her way back with Ash. Do you want them to?—”
She shook her head vehemently.
“We can say you’re sick.”
At that, she nodded.
“Okay.” He forced a tight smile when Charlie and Ash reached them. “I think we’re going to have to take a raincheck. She’s a little lightheaded.”
Charlie frowned. She wasn’t buying it. Who knew how much experience Ash had with this sort of thing, but Jason had a feeling he didn’t believe what was being said, either. Regardless, they didn’t argue.
After Isabelle’s breathing was under control and they’d dropped Charlie off at her home, Jason turned to Isabelle. He didn’t know how to broach the subject without sounding insensitive. It was probably best to jump in. “Maybe you should reconsider seeing someone?—”
“No.” Isabelle’s response was firm, unyielding. “I don’t need to see anyone. I just don’t want to seehimever again.”
“Isabelle—”
“Drop it, okay? He’s working at the fire station now.” She barked out a disbelieving laugh. “I can’t believe it. What did I ever do in another life to…” Her voice trailed off and she shook her head. Then she turned to him and took his hand in her own. They were still in his truck, parked out front of her home. “Thank you for helping me through that today. It was… a surprise.”
If that wasn’t the understatement of the century, Jason didn’t know what was. He almost asked if she would be okay with him having a chat with Ash, but he thought better of it. The state of Isabelle’s mind was rocky at best. When things settled down, he’d bring it up. And hopefully by then she’d be willing to seek therapy on her own. He certainly refused to overstep again and make matters worse than they already were.
