Page 20 of Isolated (Harper Security Ops #21)

Flora stared at me as though attempting to decide if she wanted to accept what I’d just said as the truth. It was Eleni who couldn’t hold back her intrusive thoughts.

“Oh, you can’t honestly sit there and tell me you believe that.”

“What? Of course, I do.”

She arched a brow and shot me a disbelieving glare. “You haven’t even been putting effort into finding some friends outside of work, Iris. Suddenly, you’re convinced that Prince Charming is right around the corner, just waiting to sweep you off your feet?”

If only things between Landen and me had progressed sooner than they did, I might have been willing to bring him up to her. But given how many questions I still had about where we’d wind up, there wasn’t a chance I was going to share his existence with my sister.

In the same breath, I couldn’t continue to allow her to be so miserable so often without trying to understand where it was all coming from.

“Yes, Eleni, I do believe that. It might not be today or tomorrow, but I’m positive it’s eventually going to happen. For me. For Flora. Even you. I don’t understand what is going on with you.”

“Me? There’s nothing wrong with me.”

I eyed her with doubt, shaking my head in frustration. “I didn’t say there was anything wrong with you, but there is something that’s happening. I know there is.”

Flora nervously bit her lip, her eyes shifting between the two of us.

Eleni barely took notice of our youngest sister. “Oh? Then tell me, Iris. What is it that’s a problem for you? ”

My gaze slid to the side and landed on Flora. “I’m not crazy, am I? You’ve noticed it, too. I know you have.”

Hating confrontation, Flora shrugged. “I just want us to have a good time tonight. We shouldn’t be arguing.”

“I agree, but I just can’t let this continue without addressing it.

” I returned my attention to Eleni and spoke softly.

“You’ve always been outspoken, and it’s one of the things I love most about you.

But ever since I left Grouse to move here to Steel Ridge, things have changed between us.

I thought it would get better over time, that maybe you needed some time to adjust to the change, but it hasn’t improved.

Six months ago, it got worse, and for the last two months, I feel like someone else has taken your place.

Whatever is going on, just tell me. Tell us. We can talk about it and fix it.”

Her eyes narrowed on me. “There’s nothing to fix, Iris.

I’m fine. But I’m also allowed an opinion, and I don’t think you’re being honest with Flora.

You moved here, dumped every ounce of energy into your career and work friends, but you’ve got nothing else.

No family close by, no friends outside of work.

And despite having all the hope in the world for it, there is no boyfriend.

I just hope you’re happy with your decisions.

I hope they don’t leave you feeling isolated for the rest of your life, just like your neighbor. ”

My shoulders fell. Eleni had such a strange way of showing us that she cared.

“I’m not going to end up like Walter,” I assured her, my voice having softened. “You don’t need to be so upset about my move here. I love that you care so passionately and would prefer that I was closer to home, but I’m happy here. I like the life I’m building.”

She huffed and sat back. “I don’t see how that’s possible. Don’t you think you’re setting yourself up for failure by not even trying to meet other people?”

Noting the apprehension in Flora’s expression, recognizing how much she hated conflict, I figured it was best to back down the theatrics and drama it seemed Eleni was so interested in causing.

So, I plastered a smile on my face, shifted my attention between my sisters, and countered, “Isn’t that the reason the two of you are here this weekend? We’re supposed to be using this time to find me someone who might be interested in becoming my friend.”

“Boyfriend,” Flora corrected me.

I rolled my eyes and sighed. “Fine. Boyfriend.”

“Are you saying that you’re going to really try tonight?” The hope in her tone was undeniable.

Shrugging, knowing that it was unlikely to happen anyway, I insisted, “Of course, I am. I’ll do my best to be approachable, and if a guy asks to buy me a drink, I promise I won’t turn him down.”

Flora beamed at me. Unsurprisingly, Eleni did not. She preferred to up the ante. “I think you need to take it a step further than that.”

“Pardon?”

She swept her hand out in front of her body, palm up, and explained, “Well, if you meant what you said and you intend to put real effort into meeting someone, I think it’s only fair that after we finish dinner and head out for drinks somewhere, you need to approach a guy you think is cute.”

“What?”

Her brows shot up as she pursed her lips. “Are you saying you won’t?”

I hadn’t been able to bring myself to say anything to Landen about my attraction to him for months and months at the gym. It was just one of those things I’d always envisioned experiencing with the guy taking charge.

“Are you saying that if I don’t pursue someone, I must be lying about believing there’s a guy out there for each of us?”

Eleni leaned forward. “I’m saying that if you expect us to believe in your confidence about this, it’s only fair that you put that determination to the test tonight and prove to us just how serious you are about it.”

I didn’t immediately respond, and Flora noted my discomfort. “It’s okay, Iris. You don’t have to do anything tonight. We can just go out and have a good time.”

It wasn’t that I didn’t have confidence about finding a guy. It was merely that I’d just had my encounter with Landen a few days ago, and he was the guy I’d wanted for so long.

Maybe I should have just told them about him. That’d certainly help the situation.

Of course, Eleni would probably assume I was making him up in order to avoid taking on her challenge tonight.

No.

I could do this.

I could approach a guy, have a drink with him, and prove to my sisters that I truly believed in the happy ending. That I’d be willing to do anything to get it.

Squinting at Eleni, I spoke to Flora. “No, Flora. I’ll do it. We’ll finish here, and when we go out for drinks afterward, I’ll find a cute guy and approach him.”

Eleni tipped her chin up, the corner of her mouth twitching. She thought I was bluffing. “You’re saying all the right things. I can’t wait for you to prove it with your actions.”

“I’m fully prepared to prove you wrong, Eleni.”

“How about dessert?” Flora chimed in. “Does anyone want dessert before we leave?”

At that, Eleni and I sat back in our seats and let go of the mounting tension between us.

It was only a matter of time before it’d return anyway.

We did our best to enjoy the rest of dinner.

Flora insisted on dessert. I was convinced she believed everything could be solved with a sweet treat.

And for someone who was generally the quietest of the bunch, she took charge and kept the conversation lighthearted for the remainder of dinner.

Before I knew it, I’d arrived at The Steel Pub with my sisters. If I was honest with myself, I would have preferred to just go home. Because I knew that I was going to have to do something I never would have done in a million years simply because I wanted to put a stop to the smugness from Eleni.

We’d barely made it inside and ordered a round of drinks when the look on her face indicated she was more than prepared to gloat when I didn’t follow through on my promise.

“So, who’s it going to be?” she asked. "There’re a lot of guys here tonight.”

My eyes scanned the space as I attempted to come up with a way to delay having to do this. But then, my body froze with shock. It took a few seconds, but a slow smile eventually spread across my face.

“Is that… is that guy smiling at you?” Flora asked.

He was.

And I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect situation .

Tearing my attention away from him, I pinned my stare on my sisters. “Looks like I found the guy I want tonight.”

Eleni’s jaw fell open, and I swore I could see the hearts in Flora’s eyes.

Then I stood, returned my attention to him, and steeled my features. A moment later, I was crossing the room toward Landen, my heart hammering with every step I took.