Page 83 of One Day Like This (Excess All Areas 1)

“Seemed as though you and that guy from your brother’s band were having ructions, yesterday. Was everything okay? I hope I didn’t make things worse for you.”

Matt. When he’d gotten mad because he was jealous. “I’ve known Matt a really long time. We’re ... friends.” The word stuck in her throat, and here she was, wishing she could tell Joe who Matt was to her.

Joe tilted his head. “You’re a dote, darling. Anybody could see the look in that man’s eyes was more than friendly.”

Izabel crossed her arms in front of her chest. “We’re friends.”

Joe looked over as he waited for the red light to change. “Definitely just friends?”

“Yes.”

Joe grinned. “So, you won’t be offended if I ask you if you have a date for the night of the concert then?”

Thinking on her feet, she scrambled for an excuse. “The night of the concert, I’m going to be rushed off my feet behind the scenes, making sure everything runs on time.”

He glanced in his rearview mirror. “Well, the concert is still a while away. If you have time between now and then, would you perhaps have dinner with me? I really enjoyed spending time with you the last day or so.”

Izabel sighed. “It’s a really thoughtful offer, but I’d prefer if we just stay friends.”

Joe raised an eyebrow. “But not the same kind of friends as you and Matt, right?”

She shook her head mutely.

He pulled up outside her building as the rain stopped. “Understood. But if that changes, call me, Izabel. You can always reach me at the shop.”

“Thanks, Joe.”

“Anytime,macushla.”

Once she’d climbed out and watched the van disappear, she looked up what the Irish meant.

My darling.

How had things become so complicated?

Izabel was still frustrated an hour later when she turned off the shower and wrapped the towel around her. She was grateful to be home and to have washed off the day. Her phone sat on the bathroom counter, judging her.

She knew she’d been cold to Matt. But his messages had been like salt on a wound.

The ones that told her how sorry he was, and how he’d woken up dreaming about their future. He was clearly sorry, and she wasn’t even sure why she was still holding out on talking to him.

At this point, she felt as though her outburst might have been a big overreaction.

Izabel grabbed her phone and replayed the third message. “Iz. I don’t want to be an asshole, and I’m not giving up on you or us. I’m going to give you the space you need. I left a key to my place under the driver’s side wheel arch of my car. I hope you’re there when I get home, but I’ll understand if you’re not. I love you.”

She placed her phone back down on the counter and studied her muted reflection in the condensation-covered mirror. Was she really asking too much?

As she patted her moisturiser into her skin, she considered Luke and the ridiculousness of him warning off his friends from her. Would he really be more fixated on Matt ignoring his wishes than he would on her happiness?

She didn’t think so.

Well, he might need persuading, but would he really blow up everything around them to prevent the two of them being together?

And the band. Would Luke really blow up the good thing the band currently had?

Once she’d applied her body lotion, she went to her room and pulled on her comfiest outfit. Soft jogging pants and an oversized sweatshirt. On her dresser was the key to Matt’s place. She’d picked it up on her way into the building, but still wasn’t entirely sure what she was going to do with it. It was cool to the touch. Getting the key to his place should have been momentous; it should have been preceded by a conversation about where their relationship was going. A loving one that promised a pathway to a future together.

She pocketed it and went into the living room and opened her laptop. With Rachel helping to spread the word, Joe hitting up his contacts, and Ibrahim saying she could focus all her efforts on the fundraiser instead of worrying about the day-to-day administration of the shelter, there had been a steady stream of progress. Five bands were already in tentative agreement.

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