Page 116 of Next Time I Fall (Excess All Areas 2)

Izabel sighed. Smoothed down her dress and smiled. “Weird, I know. But ... I wanted to meet you on my own. I didn’t want Jase or Matt or ... shit. I’m sorry. I should have let Jase be here. I mean, I should have asked what you wanted and ... I need to sit down because I think I’m going to faint.”

Cerys looked over to where Izabel had sunk into a chair and put her head to her knees. Izabel was as nervous and freaked out as she was. The tightness in her chest loosened. “I think that works better if you put your head between your knees.”

Izabel looked up. “Despite my best friend running a yoga studio and me having a free pass, I have the flexibility of a bookcase.”

Cerys smiled. “Hi, I’m Cerys.” She offered her hand, and Izabel took it.

“Izabel. Iz. Belle. Bella. People tend to call me whatever they want.”

“Well, no one can ever say my name right, so I totally understand that.”

A silence drifted through the room for a few moments as they sized each other up.

“I’m sorry, but I didn’t want Matt and Jase watching us when we spoke. I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about what I should say,” Izabel said finally. “I’m not all that great with any kind of conflict. But Matt assures me you speak pretty straight. So, I guess I just want to make sure you won’t let me and Jase and, well, you know, everything, get in the way of you and I being friends. Because I literally only have my brother as family, and I would love nothing more than for you and me to get along.”

Cerys took a deep breath. “I’d like that too. I barely slept last night worrying about meeting you today. Detroit was this bubble. A window of time that I got to know Jase that isn’t reflective of his normal life.”

“It’s more normal than you think. They live in each other’s pockets. Do you have any questions you want to ask me?”

“Knowing you wanted to talk to me first says a lot about you. And I really didn’t realise it until now, but I think I needed to know you didn’t still have feelings for Jase.”

Izabel sighed. “It’s embarrassing to admit that I didn’t have feelings for him back then, either, which is completely on me. I’m sorry that makes things awkward for you. Because from what Matt tells me, and the changes I’ve seen in Jase since he got back, you’re really good for him. This should be a happy thing. Not a weird thing.”

“It’s only weird if we let it be. I’m looking forward to getting to know you, Izabel. Because Matt missed you something fierce while he was away and would talk about you endlessly.”

At that, Izabel smiled. “I missed him too. Speaking of missing them, we should go get them from my brother’s, he lives two floors below us.” She stood, straightened her dress, and Cerys was surprised when she stepped forward and hugged her. “I’m glad you are here.He’smissedyou.”

Cerys grinned. “I’ve missed him too.”

When they opened the door, they found Matt and Jase in the hallway.

“Good to see you, Cerys,” Matt said, reaching for Izabel’s hand.

“Everything okay?” Jase pulled her to him.

“Everything’s fine.” She stepped onto her toes and kissed his cheek. “I promise.”

“You didn’t go to Luke’s?” Izabel asked.

Matt pressed the elevator button. “We did. No answer. Didn’t answer his phone, either.”

Cerys didn’t miss the stricken look Izabel gave Matt. “Let me just go check his apartment.”

“He’s a grown man, babe. He could have company.”

Izabel shook his head. “You know how he’s been recently, let me just go check.”

“Fine,” Matt said, leading Iz to the staircase. “We’ll meet the two of you downstairs.”

Jase and Cerys stepped into the elevator. “What’s the deal with Luke?” she asked.

Once he’d pressed the button, he pulled her to him. “Luke’s off the rails at the moment. Too much time on his hands, a bit more cash in his pocket. Dealing with some demons. He’s always been Matt’s best friend, but Matt and I have been working on our shit, getting closer, writing together. I don’t know. He’s a little lost right now.”

“That sounds awful. Hope he’s okay.”

When Matt and Izabel finally joined them, Cerys realised that as much as she cared about Jase, she already cared about his band too. Not just in a sound production way, but as people, as Jase’s extended family.

“He’s not there,” Matt said. “Left him a voicemail to remind him about today. We’ll see if he shows up.”

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