Page 62 of Isabelle & Jason
She wanted to scream and rant that he was being a hypocrite. But she didn’t have the strength.
He got to his feet and moved across the room. She watched as he rifled through a drawer in his desk until he found what he was looking for. Then he turned toward her, holding a small, white card. He stared at it, brows furrowed. It was like he had an internal battle with himself, but when it was over, he held it outto her. “I know you don’t want to see anyone for this, but if you change your mind…”
Isabelle eyed the business card warily. He’d gone so far as to find a therapist for her. For some reason that didn’t bother her as much as it should have. With trembling fingers, she accepted the card. Then she watched the love of her life walk out the door without a backward glance.
23
Jason
Ishould have told her I loved her.
Jason paced in the kitchen. It was the only place he could go where he didn’t think she’d follow him. Because heaven knew that if she came after him and begged him to reconsider, he’d fold. It had taken everything in his power to follow through with the breakup.
Even now, he wondered if he’d done the right thing. Isabelle needed him. He could feel it in his gut. That sick feeling of unease that coiled in his chest was consuming him from the inside out.
Love.
He knew he loved her.
Mark had done a good job of convincing him that his infatuation was some kind of savior complex, but he was wrong, and Jason was going to prove it.
The first thing he needed to do was put some distance between himself and Isabelle. If his feelings for her remained thesame, then he would have no issue doing whatever it took to get her back.
He prayed that giving her that space was the right thing to do. He’d done it for her. He needed her to see that she could be strong on her own and that she was capable of doing what it took to heal.
Thankfully, the kitchen was empty. Lunch preparation would begin soon, but Nikki had gone home to deal with something family related. Daniel had asked Mark to help out with something in the barn.
The restless energy within Jason only increased the longer he went over the conversation he’d had with Isabelle. Never in his life had he doubted a decision so much.
What if Isabelle didn’t love him?
That had him stopping in his tracks and he stared at the door, prepared to dart through it and go beg Isabelle to take him back now. How was he supposed to go on, however long it was, without her? Just take it on faith that she’d come back to him?
It was possible she clung to him because he was a life preserver in the storm that her life had become.
Jason couldn’t stand that thought. He charged for the door, but at that very moment it opened and Mark entered. He stopped short, surprised.
They stared each other down for several moments before Mark glanced over his shoulder at the door. “Where are you headed?” He asked it with caution in his voice. “Isabelle…”
Discussing Isabelle was a sore spot. After everything leading up to last night, Mark had made his opinions known. Maybe he didn’t even like Isabelle.
No, Jason wasn’t going to think that way. Mark had been on their side in the beginning. But since he remained on the outside of their relationship, it was easier for him to be more level-headed.
Jason turned and strode away from the door until he reached the other side of the room as if it would be enough to keep him from darting past Mark and going after the girl he loved.
Was it love?
Or was this an obsession?
He slid down the wall and settled on the floor. Mark remained where he stood, his expression blank as he observed his friend having his own personal meltdown. Then he sighed and moved closer. His boots clunked against the kitchen tile until he reached Jason.
Mark grunted as he took a seat across from Jason. “You want to talk about it?”
Jason refused to meet his friend’s eyes. Part of him blamed Mark for what had happened between himself and Isabelle. But the more logical side of him could accept that his friend had only ever looked out for him.
“It’s over,” he whispered.
Mark stiffened.
