Page 19 of Lost & Found

Even the counselor she’d found agreed that we were in vastly different places and that the bridge between who we were and what we wanted was too wide to connect anymore. All our sessions were the same recycling of emotions. They ended with her crying, like she was doing now, and me feeling like shit.

I refused to spend the rest of my life apologizing for wanting more. And that was the crux of the matter. With Hannah, it was never a compromise, and what I wanted didn’t factor into things. With her, I was reduced to nothing.

“Did I lose you?” she asked.

“A long time ago, actually. But neither of us realized it.”

“How can you say that? What if I told you I’m willing to try harder?”

“We agreed. It’s for the best if we moved on. I’ll call you later, okay?”

As cold as it was, I ended the call. My mind shifted away from her, and the pain in her voice. The emotions she had were often volatile. Like a storm I’d weathered many times before and didn’t want to experience again. Five years was long enough. I let out a long breath and refocused.

As I pushed the door open, my soul felt lighter. I wasn’t about to let Hannah ruin the mood I was in. The bell chimed. Isabella’s crew greeted me. The smell of rubbing alcohol filled the air. The receptionist, who was new, eyed me up and down. Her lips curved in appreciation.

“Isabella in?”

“Oh, you must be Pasha,” she stated.

I flashed her a smile. “I am. And who might you be?”

“Anyone you want me to be,” she said sensually, leaning forward. With the move, her cleavage showed beautifully.

“Is that so?” I drawled, unable to help the smile that spread across my face.

“Quit flirting with Stephanie, asshole.”

I lifted my eyes to the person I’d come to see. A slow grin erupted across my face at the look of annoyance on hers.

“You’re so bossy. I was over here trying to spread a little happiness, charm this lovely lady.”

Isabella arched a brow, unimpressed. Her makeup was expertly applied, making her eyes pop. She was wearing her famous cherry-tasting red lipstick, and I briefly remembered how they’d felt on mine that night long ago. I groaned, remembering the taste of her and the way she’d looked at me after.

“Keep that charm in check, or I’ll kick you out and give the next customer your tattoo design. Free of charge.”

I raised my hands in surrender, flashing her my most innocent grin. “As you wish, princess.”

Theo’s laughter reached her ears, making her face flame to match the lips.

“I swear it’s a good thing you are family. Kinsley’s waiting by my station. What the hell did Alek do to her this time?”

With a final wink at the receptionist, I leaned down to murmur in Isabella’s ear. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

She bristled. Getting under her skin was my favorite pastime. I walked back to Isabella’s station, and Kinsley was drinking a smoothie. She patted the seat, calling me over. As I settled into the chair, she talked a mile a minute.

“Wait until you see it. It’s amazing, stunning and I know you said you didn’t want me to hold your hand and all, but I’m here just in case. We don’t have to tell anyone. It can be our secret. Well…Izzy will see it, but she’s good at keeping them.”

“We don’t keep secrets in this family,” I reminded her. “And you do know she’d never let me live it down.”

I notched my head in Isabella’s direction. My phone rang once more. Hannah again. I silenced it.

“Why is she calling?”

“Doesn’t matter, mouse,” I said, raking my hands through my hair.

Isabella glided over, her feet floating across the floor. She was actually quite graceful, even in her Doc Martens. She had a quiet confidence, one of the things I admired about her. It occurred to me I’d never seen her dance, and I had a strong urge to.

She was dressed in her normal attire. Black jeans with rips in the knees and a grunge rock T-shirt. Normally she was five feet five, but the heels on her boots gave her an extra inch today. Her long, straight black hair was braided and lay down her back in a thick plait.