Page 38 of Isolated
"To see if she’s the one.”
Jax’s brows pulled together as Blaze asked, “Who? What are you talking about?”
Avalon sighed and sat down in the chair beside Blaze. “All these private investigators, and nobody seems to pay any attention to what’s going on around them.”
“I’m so lost,” Jax admitted.
“I think Landen’s lady has finally arrived,” Avalon shared, her eyes dancing with excitement. “How can I be the only one to have noticed? Aren’t you supposed to spot things like this?”
As she shifted her attention between Blaze and Jax,myattention zeroed in on two words.Landen’s lady.
Visions of Iris danced in my mind for what felt like the hundredth time today. And no matter that there wasn’t technically anything happening just yet between us—we hadn’t been on an official date for crying out loud—it didn’t seem I’d be able to keep this thing under wraps for much longer. If it didn’t work out the way I hoped, it’d be tragic.
Blaze asked, “Why would we spend our days taking notice of stuff like that when you’re so good at it?”
He wasn’t wrong. It was no secret that Avalon loved to talk, but as much as she did that, she observed. And being in her position in this office, she saw a lot.
Avalon laughed. “Fair enough. But now that I’m here and have made you aware of it, aren’t you the least bit curious?”
All eyes came in my direction. Jax asked, “Did you meet someone?”
I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out. How crazy would it sound when I told them I’d known Iris for just shy of two years and had done nothing to pursue her?
“She showed up here yesterday, just before lunch,” Avalon revealed.
Snapping my lips together, I sighed through my nose. This woman would never allow a piece of gossip to go to waste. But I wasn’t mad. If this conversation meant that things were going to go the way I wanted with Iris, I’d be happy with Avalon sharing it.
When I said nothing, Avalon added, “She looked so sad. Don’t get me wrong; the woman is an utter vixen. But it was clear she was having a rough day.”
A vixen. Easily the most accurate description of Iris.
Since Jax and Blaze kept their focus pinned on Avalon, she continued, “Her name is Iris. I got that much from her when she walked in and specifically asked about Landen. But I’ve been wondering since yesterday if she’s a new case, or if she’s just a woman he’s been hiding from us.”
It now seemed it was my turn to talk. I thought it was best to set the bar low and be grateful for at least part of the reality. “There is no new case. She’s just a friend.”
“A friend? How do you know her?”
“We go to the same gym.”
My response was met with silence and three sets of expectant gazes pinned on me.
Confused by it, I asked, “What? Why are you all looking at me like that?”
“Is there more?” Blaze countered.
“More what?”
“You said she’s a friend. Now, you’re saying that you both go to the same gym. Is there something else? Do you live near one another, or did you know each other in high school or something?”
I shook my head. “No. We just know each other from the gym.”
His brows pulled together as Jax chimed in. “But you said there’s no new case you’re working on for her, and Avalon said she was upset when she came in yesterday.”
Nodding, I confirmed, “Yes. That’s true. So?”
“So…” Avalon leaned forward, her mouth curving into a smile. “Don’t you find it strange that you’re saying this woman is just a friend when you only know her from the gym, and she came to where you work when she was upset?”
Right.
