“You have?”
“You two aren’t as sneaky as you think you are.”
Sure, we had a few moments where we slipped up, but I didn’t think anybody had noticed, let alone Izzy. She was so busy with her wedding that I didn’t think Odette and I were even on her radar.
Apparently I was wrong.
“I didn’t catch you in the act or anything, which would’ve been absolutely disgusting, by the way.”
“For me too.”
“It was so many other little things that clued me in,” she continues. “For starters, you can never seem to take your eyes off her or her you. You constantly seek the other out for silent affirmation. Then therewere the excuses to be together. To work together. The fact that she was ‘babysitting’ your cat for you. And, of course, your beloved gray flannel hanging up next to her door.”
Shit. I was wondering where that had gone.
I really thought we were doing something right by sneaking around so we weren’t making a big deal of it before the wedding, but I guess it was all for no reason if Izzy and Ezra caught on so quickly.
“Which brings me to why I am here.” She punches me again.
“Ow!” I rub at the spot. For someone so small, she sure hits hard. “What the hell?”
“That’s what I want to know. What happened between you two yesterday? She’s been quiet and distant all night, and I know it’s not just because she’s walking on eggshells around me because of what happened. It’s more than that. So, what did you do?”
“Me? I didn’t do a damn thing.”
And that’s kind of the problem. Ididn’tdo anything. I just stood there and nodded, and I went along with whatever she said, even though everything inside me was screaming,Tell her you love her.
I didn’t, and now it’s too late.
“I did nothing,” I whisper.
“Why the hell not? You know Odette. You know how she feels about the curse. You know that that woman always has one foot out the door, ready to run and blame the curse for everything. She’s beating herself up for what happened yesterday when none of it was her fault at all, and it damn sure wasn’t that ridiculous curse’s fault either.”
I agree with her on both fronts. Odette had nothing to do with Craig and Izzy’s demise. The blame solely falls to Craig’s shoulders. My girl shouldn’t be bearing that weight at all.
“I understand why she got scared, though. I know what it’s like to have your future ripped out from under you.”
“Yeah, and so do I. Join the club. BYOS.”
“BYOS?”
“Bring your own snacks.” She rolls her eyes. “Look, Noah, I get it. I understand why you’re both scared. You have issues from your relationship with Chelsea, and Odette has issues with the so-called curse. You both feel like you’re doomed to fail because of your past. But you’re not your past. We’re in the here and now. Things change. People change.Circumstanceschange. Like, for example, someone who swore off marriage might suddenly find himself falling in love again and want just that. And maybe another someone could feel the same way. And that first someone is on the brink of letting that second someone walk out of their life for good because they’re chickenshit.”
“Gee, Izzy, I don’t think you could possibly be more subtle than you’re being,” I say sarcastically.
She shrugs. “I’m just trying to be direct, which is something you two should try.”
I sigh, running a hand through my hair. “I get it, okay? I should have said something to her. I shouldn’t have let her walk away. Why the fuck do you think I’m drinking at nine in the morning?”
She grabs my glass of Glove Save, draining the rest of it. She wipes the back of her hand across her lips. “To be fair, drinking sounds like a great idea right now.”
I have no doubt she feels that way after yesterday. I felt bad witnessing it, then having to go to the diner and explain to everyone why our bride and groom wouldn’t be showing up or going through with the wedding. It was traumatic for me, and I was only the messenger.
“How areyouthe one comfortingme? You just discovered your fiancé was cheating on you last night. What the hell are you even doing here?”
For the first time since she walked in, her facade fades. Her shoulders inch inward, and she slumps against the bar top. “I don’t know. I guess I need the distraction. Or maybe ... maybe I had my suspicions for a while.”
She says that last part quietly, and it makes me want to punch the prick all over again.
