Page 81 of Pucked Together

When her phone vibrates again, she answers it in a snap. "I'm fine, Warden. I just needed some space. Now, could you please, for the love of all that is holy, give me a break."

She hits the disconnect button, and Rowan and I exchange glances.

"You, ok?" I ask her.

She breathes in deeply. "I don't remember anything from the past few months," she admits. "In my mind, I have a boyfriend in California who hasn't reached out to me yet, so I'm not sure where we stand. My roommate who hasn't either. And I have this whole new life here that nobody can fill me in on because the doctor suggests that I come to everything on my own. It's so frustrating. Like having to piece a puzzle together, and everybody but me knows the image I'm trying to put together."

She breathes in again. "At least tell me if I was good at my job." She looks at me with those pleading eyes.

I hesitate to say much, but the obvious, "Well, you work for Rina Lopez. I'd say that speaks for itself."

She chokes on a gulp of water and coughs uncontrollably, "Excuse me? Rina Lopez hired me?"

I hold back my amusement and nod.

"Well, o-kay. That's pretty good, I'd say." She's shaking her head like she can't believe this is her life.

Rowan looks over to me, "Wait, is that Rina, Rina?"

I give him a quick terse nod so he gets the hint to drop it.

Over the years that Row's been locked up, he's been kept up to date on all my life events, including those of my close friends.

Now my phone goes off.

Keelan: Miss you, bro. Izzy's off. I want to tell her so bad. Tell her everything. It's killing me.

I take a deep breath and look at the woman seated beside me.

"Do you want to maybe....check out the arena?" I ask.

"Space City arena?" She cocks her head. "I'd love that! Now?” I nod, and she frowns and pulls out her phone. “I better text my warden—I mean, brother.”

I stand up and stretch out my hand. "I'll drive. Row, you coming?"

His lips quirk up, "Sorry, bro. Got some major plans featuring a big screen TV and a show called Schitt's Creek."

I know what he's doing, and I kind of love him for it.

Izzy follows me to the garage, Wednesday close behind her.

"Please tell me that's not what we're taking?"

I smirk, "Yeah, you didn't like it the first time we met, either."

"Let me guess, you revved your engine and honked your horn at me when you saw me for the first time because I was so irresistible," she flutters her lashes, and I know she's teasing, but she's surprisingly accurate.

"Half true. Get in," I say, opening the passenger-side door.

"What part of it?" She bends to pick up Wednesday without even asking if we can bring her and slides into the car.

I open the door, slide in, and shut it, "Wouldn't you like to know, sweetheart?"

"Ew," the look of disgust that flashes across her face sends me into a fit of laughter.

This is Izzy. The Izzy I've come to know.

She's confused and can't remember, but she's still....her. And I'm so grateful. Because if she's still her, then maybe there's still a chance for us.