Chapter 28

ISABELLA

This day is nothing like I ever imagined. On the road behind Maggie's car, I hesitated several times to turn back, not knowing what I was getting myself into. She had offered to take only her car and drop me off at home tonight, and told me that her boys would probably mind seeing her spend the night, but they wouldn't kick her out.

When we turned onto a forest road, I almost turned back for fear of being hacked to pieces by a horde of woodland hippies. And imagine my growing surprise as we entered a small town. I'd never imagined that, hidden from view through these woods, there was a small picturesque town. We crossed the shopping street until we arrived in front of a huge house. I saw Maggie get out of her car and I did the same.

"Is this your place?" I ask her bemusedly, observing the brown Victorian building standing before me.

"Yes. It's far too big for me, but I hope that soon my boys will settle down and have lots of children who will visit me and fill this abode with laughter and joy." She sighs and I smile. How can we not want to spend time here with her? "Come on, grab your gym bag. The girls will be joining us soon."

I walk around my car to get my bag out of the trunk. The only instruction she's given me is to choose a comfortable outfit and a good sports bra and sneakers.

And that's how I ended up in the middle of nowhere, literally getting my ass kicked by a lady in her sixties.

"Zaza you're not standing still enough and raise your guard." She yells at me. Her bun is still in place, even though it's been at least an hour since we started her kickboxing class.

"Why do you call her Zaza? Her first name is Isabella, so you could call her Isa or Bella." asks Frankie, the woman who's currently kicking my ass.

"I have to say it came pretty naturally." She replies with a shrug. "Anyone else call you that?" I shake my head. "Perfect I like to differentiate myself."

"Are you single?" Frankie asks me. "I have a son who's a little older than you, Leo, you two would get along great."

"Uh well I'm already..."

"Dibs. I met her first and I have three boys. There's got to be at least one she'll like."

"I'm taken." I pause at their pout. "I'm sorry."

Maggie finally shrugs. "People can break up."

She doesn't let up and I laugh, the others following me fairly quickly.

"I don't know about you, but I'm starving." I tell them to change the subject.

"Me too." Frankie tells me.

"Okay girls, let's go freshen up and meet back at Joe's. Drinks on me."

"Yeah!" The girls celebrate the good news.

KNOX

I enter my office after my meeting with the communications department and find Jax waiting for me.

"What the hell are you doing here?" I ask him, closing the door behind me with my foot.

"I wanted to see if you had time for lunch. Ash is too busy to stop for lunch."

I snort. " Ah well, since your favorite brother isn't available, you'll have to settle for the other one."

"Stop talking nonsense." He says to me. "So you want to go grab a bite or we'll order in."

"Come on, let's get some fresh air. Have you heard from Mom?"

"Yes, she arrived safely. Apparently she's met a new friend, Zaza. She took her to meet her friends and do some kickboxing."

"Zaza? Who on earth has a name like that?"

"I haven't a fucking clue." He replies. "Besides, she's human."

"Seriously?! What the fuck is she thinking? I hope she and her girlfriends don't goof off or some dude comes out of a bush naked." I tell him and burst out laughing as I enter the elevator.

"Like the time Frankie came to see Mom and you shifted right in the backyard. I thought she was going to have a heart attack."

"No wonder... have you seen the monster I'm hiding under my pants?" He hits my arm with his fist and I laugh." I'm comfortable in my body so I don't really care if anyone sees me naked." I tell him as we exit the elevator. Two young women, who must have heard what I said, look at me, biting their lips and giggling. I wink at them and Jax quickens his pace.

"Normally it's after lunch that we try to lose calories not before."

"When are you going to get serious?" He asks me sternly. He's fucking with me. "You have a mate...that we share and you're flirting with the first girls that come along."

"I'm not flirting with anyone. I only have eyes for Isa and you of all people should know that." I tell him angrily. "Go and have lunch without me, for some reason I've lost my appetite."

Screw them. They judge me all the time for what I do or say. Because I laugh a lot and I'm laid-back, they think I don't take anything seriously, but that's not the case. I could die for the people I love and it kills me that they don't see that. They're supposed to be the two people who know me best and yet they don't. I end up going back to the office to order something to eat while I work. It's not like I don't have a ton of things to do in preparation for Saturday night. The only thing that motivates me is knowing that Isabella will be there. I want her to see my work and be proud of me, proud to be my mate. I want everything to be perfect for her.