Page 29 of The Wrong One

“It was a hell of a rock,” I said. “He’s definitely trying to impress her and everyone else. He wants everyone to know he’s got money.”

“He’s not a good guy,” Ramsey said. “There is something really wrong with that guy. I can’t quite figure out what it is I don’t like about him, but I don’t. I don’t like the fucker. I don’t trust him. I think he’s very wrong for her. I don’t know how to make her see it. If I push too hard, she’s going to get pissed at me and want nothing to do with me.”

I nodded in agreement. I had my own opinions, but I was going to let him vent. I was going to let him get it all out. I would do my best to support him without inserting my own opinions about the guy. If I made it a big thing about how much I disliked Patrick, it might raise suspicion. Ramsey knew I cared about Izzy, but I couldn’t really let him know how much I cared about her.

“Has she argued with you?” I asked. “Is she trying to defend him?”

“She says I just don’t know him like she does,” Ramsey said. “She says he’s good to her and she loves him.”

As much as I hated to admit it, I had to say it. “Izzy is a smart woman,” I said. “If she loves him, there must be a reason for it. She must see some redeeming qualities in him. I don’t think she would just hook up with some asshole who didn’t treat her right.”

“He might treat her right, but I can’t help but feel like there is something off about the guy,” he said. “He says the right things and he seems decent enough, but there is just something about him. I can’t say what it is, which doesn’t help me explain it to her. She thinks I’m just being my usual self. She thinks I’m just being overprotective. I don’t like him because I don’t like any of her boyfriends. This is different.”

“Do you think she sees what you see?”

He shook his head. “No. Definitely not. You saw her tonight. She looked at him like he hung the moon. I don’t know how I compete with that. This dude has her completely fooled. You see it, right? It’s not just me. You know that guy isn’t legit.”

“He’s definitely got some qualities about him that I don’t necessarily appreciate,” I agreed. “But I know Izzy. She’s smart. She’s made a lot of really good choices in her life. She’s made a life for herself in California. She’s got a good job. She’s never really been reckless in her life. She’s always been an overthinker. I think we have to trust she knows Patrick better than we do. We’ve seen him a few times. She lives with him.”

I didn’t know why I was defending the prick. He was an asshole. I knew it. Ramsey knew it. Even Lily seemed to keep her distance from him. Lily was a social butterfly, but she was picking up on some bad vibes. That said a lot.

“I bet a dog would hate him,” Ramsey said.

“What?”

“I’m going to get a dog,” he said. “If a dog hates him, then I know I’m not crazy.”

I laughed. “You’re going to get a dog, that you don’t want, just to test your theory?”

“Lily wants a dog,” he said. “Now, I’ve got this big-ass backyard, why not?”

“Because you don’t want one,” I said. “You work long hours. Lily has dance and all her social clubs. You’re never home.”

“But we might be,” he said.

“Look, I agree with everything you’ve said,” I told him. “I don’t like the guy, but we can agree Izzy has a good head on her shoulders. You’ve done a good job looking out for her for a long time. You’ve taught her well. She’s left the nest. You have to trust her.”

“Izzy usually has a good head on her shoulders,” he said. “But when it comes to love, she doesn’t. She is a good person, if not a little naïve. She gives everyone the benefit of the doubt. It’s an endearing quality, but it’s not great for the real world. If she was here and she brought that dude home, I would have run him off on the first date. Now, she’s out there all by herself and he’s taking advantage of her.”

I didn’t disagree. Izzy was a good soul. She didn’t dislike people in general. She didn’t look for the bad in anyone. She just assumed people were good until they did her wrong. Even then, she was the type who forgave easily.

“They’re engaged,” I said. “Not married. There is still time for her to realize he’s not the man for her. Is she going to be in town tomorrow? Maybe try and get her by herself. I noticed Patrick doesn’t like to let her out of his sight for long.”

“No shit,” Ramsey muttered. “I don’t know. I don’t know what to do. I don’t want her to marry him. If there’s a way I could get through to her, I would do it. I just don’t want to lose her. I don’t want her to hate me.”

“Give her some time,” I said. “I think she’ll figure it out.”

“From your lips to God’s ears.”

ChapterThirteen

Izzy

Isaw an empty bench and took advantage of it. My legs felt weak. I didn’t have a corner I could hide in, which was what I really wanted. I needed to get it together. I didn’t know what was wrong with me. I felt like I was teetering on the edge of a huge cliff. Everything felt raw, like I forgot to put my skin on. I hated feeling the way I did but I didn’t know how to stop it. If I could shut it off, I would have done it in a second.

Cam made his way over and sat down on the bench beside me. He said nothing. Just sat while I struggled to catch my breath and control my emotions. I owed him an explanation. He wasn’t asking, but he deserved to know why I turned into a total basket case. Technically, I wasn’t sure why I was freaking out every time I saw two people in love. It wasn’t like I expected the world to stop.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “I honestly don’t know what’s wrong with me. I’m not usually so dramatic.”

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