Page 58 of Isabelle & Jason
No kidding. Jason bit back the scathing comment and waited for Finn to continue.
“Take it from a guy who spiraled after being kicked when he was down. Anytime someone turns to drinking in order to cope, it’s a sign they need to find help. Sometimes that help has to be forced because rock bottom looks different to everyone. Sometimes people don’t survive it.”
Jason flinched. He couldn’t stomach the idea of anything happening to Isabelle. He glared at Finn. “Seems to me you speak from personal experience.”
Finn nodded.
“Then why were you out drinking?”
“I wasn’t. I don’t drink. Not anymore anyways.” There seemed to be a lot to unpack with that statement, but Jason didn’t push it. None of his business.
One look in Merrick’s direction confirmed the truth, however.
“What would you have me do? It’s not like I can commit her. I can’t watch her every second of every day.”
Finn rubbed the back of his neck. “That’s the hardest part, I suspect. Sometimes the people in our lives are the only ones who know our weaknesses enough to use them for our own good.”
What did that even mean?
“Goodnight, Jason. It was nice to meet you.” Finn nodded to Isabelle. “Good luck. I’ll keep her in my thoughts.”
Jason stared down at Isabelle, who had closed her eyes again. She was completely out of it. Seeing her like this dredged up the worst of his memories of that night, and suddenly he was sick to his stomach.
“What’s going on?”
Jason turned around, finding Mark in the doorway, scrubbing a hand down his face. When he caught sight of Isabelle, his eyes bugged out and he looked more alert than ever.
“What happened?”
“Her demons came out to play,” Jason said, exhaustion lacing his words as he brought Isabelle to his bed. “Help me get her comfortable.”
“She’s not sleeping in here, is she? Mateo will skin you alive if he?—”
“He’s not going to find out,” Jason snapped with a heated whisper. “Is he?”
They stared each other down. Mark was clearly uncomfortable with the current arrangement based on the wayhe shifted from one foot to the other. His eyes darted to where Isabelle currently rested on Jason’s bed.
“What about one of her sisters?—”
“Not going to happen.”
“Why not?” Mark turned on him. “This isn’t your problem. She needs help, and you’re not doing her any good by pretending she’s fine.”
“I’m not pretending anything! I’m well aware that she needs to get help. But you can’t force someone to do something just because it’s right. They have to decide on their own that they need it.”
“And how exactly will that happen?” Mark’s exasperation dangled between them. He shoved his fingers into his hair and paced their small room. “All she needs is one person she can run to. One person, Jason. And she’ll cling to what’s comfortable. If you can’t let her go, then there is truly no hope for her. You understand that, don’t you?”
Jason glanced over to Isabelle. Yes, he understood. And it gutted him, because he knew what he’d have to do in order to force her hand.
“I’m not sure I can,” he whispered more to himself than anyone else.
“You’re not sure you canwhat?”
Jason sighed and moved across the room to grab the chair at the desk. He dragged it toward the bed and settled into it with a groan. “I’m not sure I’m strong enough to cut off ties to her. How can anyone expect me to walk away? She needs me.”
Mark’s hand landed on his shoulder. “No one expects you to cut ties, man. But if you really want to help her, you have to lay out new parameters. Boundaries are necessary.”
He knew that. Deep down, it was so logical.
