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She sighs and closes the book, placing it beside her. “It’s just that I haven’t heard from anyone in Boston since I moved. It’s been almost three weeks and not a single message from Bree, or my dad, or even Bryant.”
My body tenses at the sound of another man’s name on her lips, but she quickly leans forward and presses a kiss to my lips, appeasing me for the moment.
“It’s not like that, Doc. It’s just that we were friends, and he hasn’t reached out once. I’ve messaged all of them so many times, and I never receive a response,” she winces. “I guess it’s hard accepting that you’re just not as important to people as they are to you.”
I don’t tell her the reason she hasn’t heard from Hayes is because I blocked his phone number, because I don’t think it’s him that she’s most upset about. It’s her best friend and her father, and although I am an asshole, I would never cut contact between her and the people she loves most in the world. Even if I find myself wanting to occupy that category right alongside them.
“Have you heard from my dad?” she asks hopefully.
“Not since we’ve been back in Chicago.” My brows pull together. It’s not as if I expected us to be best friends again the moment we walked back into each other’s lives, but I would have expected at least a text to see how his daughter is settling into her new life that she never wanted for herself.
She sighs and allows her eyes to fall closed to warn off the tears that gather in the corners. I hate when she’s upset, especially when there’s nothing I can do to fix it.
“Do you want me to call him? Just to check in?”
Isla shakes her head, a defeated sigh falling from her pouty lips. “No, I’m sure he’s just busy. It’s not like all their lives stopped when I got hitched and moved states.” She lets out a forced laugh and leans back on the couch. “Aren’t you meant to be heading out tonight?”
“I can stay home if you want. I don’t have to go.” I do. But Storm will understand if I sit this one out. Ever since Ayvah, his fiancée, walked into his life, he’s a lot more lenient when it comes to these kinds of things.
“You haven’t been to work in a week, Doc. You’re going to go stir crazy.”
Not when I spend all my time watching you, I think to myself.
“What about if Bella comes over and you two watch a movie or something?” I offer.
A small smile tips up the corners of her lips at the suggestion and she reaches for her phone. She taps out a quick text before dropping it back to the cushion. “Maybe a girls’ night will do me some good.”
“I’m sure it will.” I press a kiss to her forehead, and I don’t miss how she leans into my touch.
“Thanks, Doc.”
“You don’t have to thank me for something so minor.” I chuckle.
“Not just for that.” She rolls her eyes. “Thank you for everything.”
I smile, something I did so rarely before she walked into my life, and stand, looking over at the time on the clock in the kitchen. “I should get going. Call me if you need anything, and please for the love of God, do not leave this apartment. I don’t think I’m ready to track you around the city again.”
She giggles. “I’ll stay in the apartment.”
“Good girl.”
I’m a few minutes out from the Saint James estate when I press Edward’s contact in my phone. It’s strange for him to not have reached out to not only Isla, but to me either.
I pull off the main road, the sound of the phone ringing and the tires on the gravel fill the otherwise quiet car.
I should have called as soon as I left the apartment, but I spent too long watching the cameras to make sure Isla didn’t get it in her head she was going to leave the apartment.
Once Bella arrived dressed in a pair of baggy sweats and a sweater that looked like it’s been washed five too many times, I decided it was safe to turn the feed off.
“Hi, you’ve reached Edward. Leave your name and number and I’ll get back to you when I can.”
My brows pinch together as my eyes flick to the time. He should be home from work by now, but maybe he’s doing overtime or eating dinner? “Hey. Isla’s worried about you. Call her,” I bark out the order and end the call. I never took him to be a shit father, but the way he’s treating his daughter right now makes me want to fly back to Boston just to punch him in the face.
Or maybe that’s just my protective instincts that know no bounds when it comes to her.
The gate opens for me before I can reach it, and I wave at the security staff as I cross onto the property. This place is ostentatious as hell, but now the younger generation is in charge, it’s becoming a little more modern as time goes on.
Rayne and Storm are standing at the top of the steps when I stop the car, and I waste no time getting out, slipping my phone into my pocket so I can check the cameras again in a little while.
