Page 91 of One Day Like This (Excess All Areas 1)

Izabel thought to the donations in the back. “Well, if you like, I’ll go with you to see it. We can look at what you need and then we can—”

“Thanks, Izabel. But you’ve done enough already. I can’t thank you; I’ve got no way to repay you. But I’ll make it right. Pay it forward or something.”

Izabel felt the sting of tears but bit her lips together and sighed. “You’ve got this, Jon. But we’re here, even if you just need a cup of tea and some company, right?”

Jon nodded. “I know.”

He shuffled past her to the common room. Izabel sighed as he walked by and indescribable relief flooded her. She hadn’t realised just how worried she’d been about Jon. And she’d done something useful.

“Ma belle, Izabel.” There was only one person she knew with an Irish lilt.

“Joe, hey.” That explained why Russel and Lin were hanging around outside. They didn’t want accommodation; they needed haircuts.

He grinned at her as Dominic and Jackson walked by to get set up. “Heard you were kicking arse and taking names on this concert of yours.”

“To be honest, it’s a bit like a snowball running downhill. It’s gathered a lot of momentum. I’m completely out of my depth at this point, but somehow remarkably keeping it together.”

“Well, Ibrahim is pretty ecstatic.”

“Yeah. That’s why I want it to be successful.”

Joe placed his hand on her shoulder. “Can I just get a quiet word with you? Outside, maybe?”

“Sure.” A band around Izabel’s chest tightened, but she grabbed her jacket and followed him outside.

“I just wanted to check in with you ... that you’re okay,” he said.

“I’m fine. Why?”

Joe ran a hand along the side of his fade. “I heard. Well, I overheard ... a bit of what the two of you talked about that night. I know you’re stuck in a secret relationship with him. And it’s really bothering me.”

“Is this because I said no to you?”

He shook his head. “I have three younger sisters. Aisling, Roisin, and Saoirse. And I wondered how I’d feel if some guy was keeping them a secret. I got the message loud and clear last time we talked. But I just needed to check you were okay with whatever is going on between the two of you.”

“You’re a good man, Joe Lockwood. I appreciate you looking out for me. But right now, I already have too many men in my life looking out for me and thinking they know what’s best for me.”

“Understood. But if that changes, call me, Izabel. I mean that as a friend, right? You know how to get hold of me.”

Izabel let out a breath as soon as the door to the shelter closed behind him. She reached into her back pocket and grabbed her phone.

“Gem, are you free?”

An hour later, they sat in a nook across from the bar at the Midland Hotel. Rumour had it Mr. Rolls had met Mr. Royce in the same spot, but Izabel had more important things on her mind. She took a sip of the bottle of prosecco Gemma had insisted on buying.

“Any chance you can pick Mum and Dad up for me tomorrow if I lend you my car?” Gemma asked. “Their flight back from Marbella gets in at eleven.”

“I can’t. I’ve got too much on with the concert.”

Gemma sighed. “But I thought you were off tomorrow.”

“Define off. I’ve got a million things to do and calls to make.”

“I kind of already said you would.”

Iz could feel herself bending to say yes. The words were almost out of her mouth. But she imagined what Matt would say to her. “You know. You sort of ask and sort of tell me to do a lot of things for you. Like the photos of the reno, and the groceries, and now this. You’re my mate, I don’t mind helping you out, but you seem to be defaulting to me doing whatever you need. It’s becoming a bit irritating to be honest.”

“Oh, Izabel.” Gemma reached across the table. “Shit. I’m so sorry. I guess with the wedding and work and the studio I had a lot on, and just didn’t realise I was doing it. And you do say yes, so I didn’t even think it was a problem.”

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