Page 52 of Isabelle & Jason
Her scowl returned.
“So, go. Run off and hide. Just remember, there are consequences to every choice you make.”
She scoffed but surprisingly didn’t argue. Instead, she spun on her heel and stormed off toward her house.
He growled, raking both hands roughly through his hair. His jaw clenched so tight it ached. This was the first big fight they’d had. The worst part was that he didn’t know what it meant forthem. Were they broken up? Was she going to call him later and apologize?
“Yo, you coming back to help finish dinner?” Mark’s face appeared around the edge of the building. To his credit, he looked worried. There was no telling how much he’d heard. Hopefully not much.
Jason gave him a sharp nod and charged toward him.
Apparently,Isabelle was as interested in talking out their argument as she was in discussing what had caused her change in behavior. The following morning when Jason had shown up for their run, she arrived all smiles as if nothing had happened.
Jason hadn’t had the courage to point out that they needed to talk.
Yes, he was a coward.
But until he could figure out how to best bring up such a topic without sending Isabelle off the deep end, he refused to add to the conflict. So he went for the run without mentioning it, then met his brother for lunch.
“You look terrible,” Mathew said before taking a bite of his sandwich.
Jason dragged a weary hand down his face. “Gee, thanks.”
His older brother smirked. “I aim to please. Would your appearance have anything to do with a certain girlfriend?”
They were once again at Sal’s. It seemed to be the best place to meet up when Mathew was between shifts. Jason wasn’t terribly worried about bumping into anyone who might overhear. He’d practically pleaded with his brother to meet him. After bumping into the man of Isabelle’s literal nightmares, Jason wasn’t sure what he should do.
“So. Why have you dragged me out here again? So soon?” Mathew said before taking another bite.
If Jason could wipe the smug look off his brother’s face, he would do so. The truth was that Mathew was probably within his rights to be smug. He’d been the one to tell Jason that he was walking the ledge of something dangerous. He hadn’t said it in so many words, but the message was there.
Jason was teetering.
And he couldn’t exactly bring up his issues with Isabelle with anyone in her family.
Mark wasn’t happy with him.
Mathew was all he had.
He sighed again and leaned forward so he was close enough to his brother to whisper. “He’s here.”
Mathew arched a brow, his smirk never leaving his face. “You’re going to have to expound on that statement.”
“Her attacker.”
At first, his brother’s brows furrowed. Then they shot up and he looked around the diner. “He’s here? As in?—”
“No,” Jason bit out, “not in the diner. He’s in Copper Creek. He’s a new firefighter.”
Mathew’s eyes widened and a low growl escaped his throat. “You’re serious.”
“Yeah,” Jason gritted. “He’s a firefighter. Works with Isabelle’s best friend’s husband.”
His brother fell back in his seat and shook his head. “Wow. I take it Isabelle knows?”
“Why do you think I wanted you to meet with me so bad? Seeing him brought on a panic attack. I don’t know what exactly his presence triggered besides the physical attack, but…” Jason shook his head, the fury from that day returning. “She’s not doing so great.”
“No, I’d imagine she wouldn’t be.”
