Page 75 of Love JD

I shrugged, trying to slam a mask of indifference over my features. “I’m fine. My health is good. I’m not getting involved past what I can handle. I’m not an idiot, Tristan.”

He nodded, scrubbing the back of his head. “I know that—of course you’re smart; I didn’t mean to say you’re not.”

“Then go,” I bit out, fighting a storm of tears so intense, I knew it was going to be a full-blown monsoon when I let it loose. “Please.”

Sighing in defeat, Tristan ran his eyes over me. “I’d feel better if you came with me. My hotel room has an attached second room you’re welcome to stay in.”

“Pass,” I hissed with narrowed eyes that were rapidly blurring with tears.

I could see it in his expression, in the way his emotions played over the handsome planes of his face—Tristan had regrets. Lots of them. But I didn’t give a shit about them right now because all I wanted was for him to leave me alone. “I’ll come check on you tomorrow,” he offered.

“Don’t,” I suggested tightly.

He rolled his eyes to the ceiling again. “Isla…”

“Get. Out.”

He tapped his fist on the counter, and then finally, my emotions must have broken through the mask I’d tried to craft. Tristan got a good look at whatever had leaked out of my expression. Startled, he straightened. “I’m not leaving you alone.”

Sniffling, I reached over, swiped up my phone, and dialed Azura. Tristan watched me warily, and when Azura picked up, I tapped the speaker button. “Hello?” she asked, her voice raspy.

“Azura, it’s me,” I said, and my voice cracked.

“Isla?” Her voice perked up with concern. “What’s wrong?”

Tristan groaned, covering his eyes. “Fuck.”

“Tristan?” Azura asked. “What’s going on?”

“Please tell my brother,” I gritted out, my voice wobbling, “to go back to Seattle.”

Silence stretched between us. Tristan rubbed his face, nodding and looking resigned. “Here we go.”

“What the fuck did you say to her?” Azura demanded. “Is she crying? Wait, why are you in Denver, Tristan?”

Tristan blew out a long breath. “I came to check on her.”

“And in doing so, you made her cry?” she clarified.

“Yes,” I croaked.

“Is this because of Zev?” Azura barked. “I told you to leave my brother out of your personal vendettas, Tristan Valehart.”

Tristan glared at me, his two-toned eyes glinting dangerously. “You’re in deep shit for this.”

I blinked and tapped the red button. “Get out.”

Growling, Tristan backed away as his phone buzzed with a call from Azura. “Hey.” He winced. “Oh, I hear you,” he answered, shooting me another glare. “I’m going. I’m going, you termagant.” I flipped him off as he went, and he rolled his eyes, listening to Azura. As he opened the front door, I heard him whisper in a lethal tone, “Oh, I’m coming back, Princess. Careful what you ask for.”

I slumped against the counters, my face crumpling along with my resolve. Tears dropped to my cheeks as I stared at nothing. Tristan had come into this kitchen and well and truly burst my happy bubble. The facts of the reality of my situation piled on top of me with merciless weight. Zev was going to lose his job because of me, and almost as bad, I realized he had a whole life that I didn’t fit into. There was no rational way that someone like me would click into place in his world.

Even now, what would happen if I had an episode? He’d worry. I knew he would. And then what? I knew he’d fly back even if it was a bad time for him because that was the way Zev was. It didn’t matter if I was girlfriend one or girlfriend thirteen. He cared—he’d showed me that. It had been my fault for not asking if we were exclusive, but it didn’t really matter in the end.

Zev had been far better off before I’d dropped into his life.

Chapter twenty-five

Isla

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