Mountain Challenge (Mont Blanc Rescue #9)

Chapter 17

17

Isla

I sla dropped off her board and boots in the small alcove outside her building and walked straight upstairs.

As she closed the door of her apartment, all the tears she’d been holding back rushed to her eyes. She’d been so hopeful that the heartache was behind her, but she’d gone right into her old patterns again. The problem wasn’t Roland. Or Ry. Or any man. She was the problem. For trusting too easily, for trusting the wrong person.

Somebody knocked on her door. She pressed herself tighter against the door, not moving a muscle.

“Isla?”

It was Ry. She should have expected it. She’d left him in the middle of an involved conversation, but he must have come right back down after her. Isla’s head pounded. She should have made some excuse, said something?—

But why should you? Why would you apologize for something that’s his fault?

“Isla.” His voice was laced with concern. “Please. I know you’re in there. I saw your board downstairs.”

Go away. I don’t want to talk to you.

“I just need to know you’re okay. Please.” Hurt laced his tone, and she wanted to lash out, because he was the one who’d hurt her, but she didn’t want to cause him pain. She just didn’t have it in her to speak with him or listen to excuses. Not right now. Isla stood very still, wondering how long it would take him to get tired and leave.

“I’m not going away, Isla. Not until I know you’re safe.”

Okay, so maybe he wasn’t going to leave. She didn’t want him breaking her door down.

“I’m safe,” she said, her voice more tremulous than she would have liked.

“Please open the door, Isla,” he said, sounding unconvinced. She tried to look at it from his point of view. He might be a cheating asshole, but he protected people daily. He wouldn’t leave if he thought she was in danger. She dried her tears on her sleeve and opened the door a crack, hoping that would be enough to appease him. Ry pushed through, rushing past her as he looked for a threat.

“There’s nobody here,” she said tiredly, but she was speaking to his back. He came back once he’d checked her small apartment.

“You’re okay.” It was half-question, half-statement.

She was nowhere near okay, but she nodded. “Please leave,” she said, hating the way her lower lip and her voice wobbled.

His eyes squeezed together as if in pain. “What happened, Isla?”

“Nothing you need to concern yourself with,” she said stubbornly. “I have some things to do. So if you’ll let me—“ She pointed at the door, which was still partly open.

“I thought we were having a good time. If I did anything to hurt you, I need to know what it was.” Disbelief filled her. He sounded so earnest. If she hadn’t seen him with that woman with her own eyes, she wouldn’t have believed it possible. “We were having a good time, but that was before?—“

“Before what?”

Isla sighed deeply, opening the door further. In case he needed a hint. “We’re not doing this now. In fact, we’re not doing this at all. Ever.”

Ry looked so hurt, like a puppy that’d been kicked in the ribs. “Isla, I just want to understand. I—“ A message chimed on his phone, interrupting whatever lie he was going to say. He cursed softly as he read it. “I’m sorry. I have to go,” he said. “I promise I’ll call you as soon as I’m back.”

By the time she found her voice, he was gone. Don’t bother .