by Amanda Boone
“He’s not my brother.” Isadora handed over her cell phone so Fiona could look.
“Did you know he texted you?” Fiona looked through the phone. “Like a few times?”
“I’m very busy and important.”
“Yeah, okay. Maybe I’ll call him from your phone and see what happens.”
“That’s stupid.”
Fiona raised Isadora’s phone and waited. Isadora pretended not to notice or care. One of the managing editors, Georgia Grant, walked up right then with an inquisitive frown.
“Is Fiona making a personal call when she’s on deadline?”
Fiona just waved her hand as a negation, “Hi, Doran. This is Fiona Mattson, Dora’s friend. I’m not the one who hasn’t texted you back, but I’ll let her know you’re annoyed.”
“Is Fiona making a personal call for you when she’s on deadline?”
“She’s going to do a story about my step-brother who just came back from being a Navy SEAL in Europe,” Isadora answered. “She used my phone for some dumb reason so he thought it was me.”
“Everything’s just fine, Doran. I was just wondering if I could write an article about you? I’m on deadline right now.”
“Why don’t you write the article, Dora?”
“I don’t like him very much.”
“No, no, that was someone else who sounds like Dora. She likes you fine.”
“This all doesn’t make sense to me.”
“Me either. I think he’s completely uninteresting.”
Fiona got up and held the phone away from her face, “You guys are jerks.” She walked out toward the upstairs patio outside.
“I think I had relevant questions for my reporter,” Georgia gave a displeased frown.
“I agree,” Isadora nodded.
“The story sounds good though. It’s a great idea. You should have thought of it.”
“I try not to talk to my step-brother if I can help it.”
“If you don’t like your family, why do you still live at home?”
Isadora frowned now. “I’m saving to buy a house.” Also, she was afraid if she lived alone, she might get murdered. But she figured that was an irrational fear and refused to speak it aloud.
“I didn’t move out until I met my wife. I was afraid if I lived alone, I’d be murdered.”
“Really? That’s a strange fear.” Strangely adept, maybe.
Georgia shrugged, “I watch a lot of horror movies and true crime shows. Anyway, get on that story. We want to get a proof of the paper out pronto.”
“Aye, aye, captain.” Isadora watched her go, wondering if she could ever get as cool and wise as Georgia. She wasn’t sure she ever would.
Fiona returned with a curious look in her eye. “I think this story is going to take me a while.”
“Why is that?” Isadora responded, though she didn’t actually care.
“I don’t know, I think there’s something behind whatever he was doing over there.”
“I doubt it.”
“I don’t have time for your negativity right now. I’m on deadline.”
Isadora rolled her eyes and went back to work. She quickly finished editing several articles and started doing “research” for her job, which included search Twitter and reading anything interesting.
“Hey, Izzy,” a male voice said, taking her out of her Twitter-induced daze.
She looked up to see Doran’s smiling face, “What are you doing here?”
“Well, I’ve been texting you, and you haven’t been replying, so I decided I’d just come down. Is Fiona around too? I thought maybe I’d take you ladies to lunch.”
“Fiona went out to do a story, I think.”
“I thought she was doing a story about me.”
“I think she needed to do more research.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know, Doran. Why are you here talking to me right now?”
“I think I just told you.”
“I’m really busy right now, okay? I can’t go to lunch with you.”
“You’re really busy looking at cats on glass tables?”
She quickly closed her browser window. “Also with other things.”
“Come on, Izzy. You’ve been avoiding me since I got back.”
“Fine. Let me finish up what I’m doing, and we can go.”
“Okay.” He stood there awkwardly, waiting for her to finish.
“Can you like… go somewhere else while I do this?” She had to exit out of all the cat windows on her screen.
“I don’t think so.”
She huffed, deciding to just turn lock her computer so no one could see what she’d been looking at. She grabbed her purse and unceremoniously walked out of her cubicle, expecting Doran to follow. On her way out, she poked her head into Georgia’s open office to see Georgia and a tall, dark, and handsome man with glasses leaning over the proof of the next paper.
“Hey, I’m going to lunch,” Isadora said. “I’ll be back soon.”
“Dora, can I talk to you about the cover art for this paper when you get back? I have an idea, but it didn’t really work out for me,” the man said, looking up at her with a smile.
“Sure, Adam. What did you have in mind?”
“Well, we’re doing an article about all that graffiti that’s been going on downtown, but the pictures were awful.”
“So… you want me to take more pictures?”
“No, I want you to paint graffiti on one of our good pictures of downtown.”
“I might be able to do that. Let’s talk when I get back.”
“Maybe we could talk about it over dinner?”
“Maybe.”
“You guys are making me sick,” Georgia gave an irritated frown. “Go to lunch already.”
Isadora grinned and gestured for Doran to follow; instead, he walked into the room and held his hand out to Adam in introduction.
“Hi, I’m Doran. Izzy’s step-brother.”
Adam stared up confusedly, but Georgia shook and said, “Oh, hello Doran. I’ve heard a lot about you. I’m Georgia.”
“I’m Adam. We’re the managing editors,” Adam shook his hand as well.
“Are you taking Dora to lunch, Doran?”
“I am, Georgia. I haven’t seen a lot of her since I got back into the country, so I thought I’d take her out. Have you been here long, Alex?”
“My name is Adam, and yes. Georgia and I have been here since the beginning. Dora came here not long after we started. That’s why she does so much.” Adam winked at her, making her pale skin visibly blush. “And so well.”
“Okay, we are going to go. I’ll talk to you about the cover when I get back, Adam,” Isadora grabbed Doran’s arm and dragged him to the elevator. She pressed the button manically until it finally opened and pulled him inside. “What was that? Why are you being a jerk to my boss?”
“I wasn’t…” he tried to defend himself.
“You were. You’re acting like a jealous boyfriend. It’s not cute.”
“I guess I just haven’t had my coffee full of grounds yet today.”
She held back a chuckle. “The grounds do add a little extra spice.”
“I do enjoy chewing my drink.”
“It gives you more energy per capita.”
“That’s why I like it so much.”
They shared a smile as the elevator door opened. Together, they moved outside into the sunshine. Doran suggested they go to an Italian restaurant downtown, Roselli’s. Isadora shrugged, trying to make her good feelings toward him go away.
“So, are you and Artie close then?” Doran asked on their way to the restaurant.
“Who?” she answered.
“Your boss?”
“Adam and I get along pretty well, yeah. I’ve had a crush on him since college.” He stopped walking, just staring at her. “What?”
“Why would you tell me that?”
“You asked, I answered,” she grabbed his arm to pull him into mot
ion. “I think he likes blondes though. He’s never seemed interested in me.”
“Well, I think you’re beautiful as you are.” He hooked his arm with hers.
“Um thanks.” She unhooked her arm. “Is this the place?”
“This looks like it.” He held the door open for her and gestured inside. “After you, my lady.”
“Um thanks.”
She looked behind her suspiciously, watching to make sure he didn’t make any quick moves. The hostess/bartender mixed drinks for two middle-aged men at the bar before seating the two of them. Besides the men at the bar, no one else sat in the restaurant.
“This place looks super busy,” Isadora commented sarcastically. “Good choice, Doran.”
“I’ve heard the food is really good,” he answered and looked up at her with a smile. “I’m glad you came out with me.”
“Sure,” she read the menu, then set it down. “I’ll get the spaghetti and an Italian coffee.”
“That was quick!” he laughed.
“I have to get back to work so…”
“Right. I forgot about that.” He waved his hand to call over the waitress/hostess/bartender.
The woman walked over slowly, seemingly annoyed that she had to actually work. Doran ordered for them and gave the woman a winning smile. She wrote down their order, took their menus, and slumped away. The restaurant looked like the kind of place a mob boss would hang out in. Isadora itched with unease - something seemed off about the whole thing.
She looked across the table at Doran, who examined the whole room. His stubble appeared thicker since he arrived, making him somehow look more handsome. She’d never noticed how his eyes could look a cool blue and light green at the same time (of course, she’d never spent much time looking into his eyes.) His V-neck white t-shirt showed how the military had done his body good - he looked both leaner and more muscular than before he left.
“Maybe we should get the food to go. I have to get back to work,” Isadora said, feeling uncomfortable from the environment and from checking out the step-brother she hated.
“We haven’t been here that long,” he replied with a slightly hurt look in his eyes.
“I only get a half hour usually. It’s okay if I stay a little longer, but then I have to stay longer after work.” She placed her hand on his. “Sorry, Doran.”
He smiled, “It’s okay. I’m happy we did get some time together. Let me go talk to the waitress about our food.”
He rubbed her hand before getting up to talk to the waitress. His black pants hugged his long legs perfectly, but didn’t cling too tightly. His gait gained a more mature confidence than the arrogant jerk arrogance he had as a teenager - he looked cool, calm, and collected now, as if he never could’ve been that boy who once lit a Christmas tree park on fire for “solidarity.” If she didn’t know him, she would consider flirting with him; unfortunately, she knew him well.
He returned after what Isadora considered a lengthier conversation than necessary with the waitress. “All right, she’s bringing the food to go. I considered getting a drink, but they were too pricey.”
“Is that what you were talking to her for so long about?” his companion queried.
“Oh, who’s the jealous boyfriend now?”
She rolled her eyes. “Probably one of the guys at the bar. I saw one of them check you out.”
He looked toward the bar, “I guess I could get worse.”
She chuckled, not wanting to give him too much enjoyment. The waitress returned with an unfamiliar look in her eye that Isadora could’ve sworn resembled fear. The woman said nothing as she handed the bag of food over. Doran smiled and thanked her.
“Why don’t you wait outside as I pay,” he said softly to Isadora. “I’ll be right out.”
She shrugged and walked outside. For some reason, a deep feeling of foreboding followed her out the door and waited with her outside. RING RING, RING RING. Her phone loudly yelled from her purse, startling her.
“Hello?” she asked, fearful.
“When are you coming back?” Fiona’s voice snapped. “I need you for pictures.”
“We’re heading back soon. Doran insisted we go to this creepy Italian restaurant, Roselli’s.”
“That place is creepy. I’ve heard they’ve been making concrete shoes on the side, if you know what I mean.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Whatever. Get back already. I need you.”
“Anything for you, my sweet.” She hung up and chuckled to herself. When the heck is that man coming out?
Finally, Doran appeared. His shirt had a red stain on the bottom that she didn’t remember seeing.
“Did you get sauce on yourself while you took so long?” she asked.
“What?” She pointed to the stain. He frowned. “I guess I did. She let me taste some sauce since they took so long.”
“Interesting. Well, thanks for lunch and everything. I’ll probably eat at my desk, but it was fun.” She felt she should be nice to the man since he bought her lunch and all.
“No problem,” he grabbed her hand, which she nearly thrust away, but decided to stay civil. “I like spending time with you.”
“Right.”
They walked silently back to the office. She insisted when they arrived she’d just go back in by herself and hurried back to her desk. She sat for a moment, contemplating what had happened. She traced the lines of her palms, memorizing the way it felt to have his hand in hers.
“Let’s get to this, Dora,” Fiona snapped. “I don’t have all day.”
Isadora sighed and tried to forget the man she so loathed made her feel anything at all (even though her hand still tingled from his touch.)
Chapter 3
“And then he held my hand, and it was weird,” Isadora said to Georgia the next morning after thinking over her lunch the day before. She’d stayed late at work, throwing herself into the paper cover, mostly to avoid Doran, her step-mother, and her father. It felt too awkward. “I think I need my own place.”
“I thought you hated that guy,” Georgia gave a thoughtful frown. “Do you like him now?”
“No, I still don’t like him. Why would you think that?”
“Well, I walked up to ask you to get some articles done ASAP, and you talked to me for twenty minutes about him. For the first ten or so, you discussed how ‘damn handsome’ he is.”
“I could’ve sworn you asked about the lunch for some reason.”
“No, I didn’t care about it.”
“Right. I’ll get to those articles right away.” Fiona approached with a serious look on her face. “Good morning, Fiona. Did you get your story done?”
“I was just going to ask that,” Georgia commented. “That was mostly why I came over, but then I got roped into this conversation about Dora’s step-brother. Which I really, really didn’t want to get roped into.”
“Where did you say you and Doran went to lunch at yesterday?” Fiona asked carefully.
“Roselli’s,” Isadora responded. “The food wasn’t as good as I hoped. My mom’s food was way better.”
“Did you realize if we call you Dora, and his name is Doran, it’s like the same name?” Georgia gave an expectant frown. Fiona and Isadora gave her a look in return. “I don’t know if I’ve been listening for this whole time.”
“Roselli’sexploded this morning,” Fiona said.
“What?!” Georgia and Isadora asked, shocked.
“Yeah, it seems they closed right after your lunch there. They didn’t open again for dinner, and this morning, they exploded.”
“Oh my god. I feel bad about criticizing the food then,” Isadora said sadly.
“Do they know what happened?” Georgia asked.
“Not yet. I happened to be jogging by when the first responders came. I stuck around a little bit. I heard there were a few bodies inside they think might have been shot.”
“Jesus. I wonder if it was the rude waitress.”
&
nbsp; “This is a great story. I am so glad you stumbled upon it.”
“Yeah. I just think it’s weird that Isadora and Doran were just there, and the place had possible mob ties.”
“What does that have to do with us?”
“This has been great, but I have to get to work. You two please also get to work, huh?”
“Okay,” they both answered. Georgia nodded and went on her way.
Isadora turned to her friend, “What are you getting at with this?”
“Do you know anything about Doran’s dad?” Fiona responded.
“No. He lives in Ireland, that’s the extent I know about him.”
“Maybe you should ask his mom about it. I’m doing some research, but I haven’t figured it all out yet.” Fiona’s phone rang. “Excuse me, I have to take this.”
Isadora watched her go, wondering what she could be getting at. Doran wasn’t her favorite person, but he couldn’t be a cold-hearted killer. Of course, he was a Navy SEAL, and they aren’t exactly the non-killing type (as far as she knew.) She thought about calling her dad to clear things up, but he would never say anything bad about his pride and joy. She didn’t want to think about it - articles upon articles had to be looked over and designed.
Fiona disappeared for the rest of the day, chasing down her story. Isadora worked hard to get her work done, skipping lunch to get done faster. Georgia seemed pleased, delivering coffee and snacks every so often to her “favorite editor.” Towards the end of the day, Adam approached looking weathered from the long day.
“Hey Dora, how’s it going?” he asked, leaning on her desk. “Your compatriot seems to have deserted you.”
“She was on deadline,” Isadora smiled. “How are you?”
“Fine. We got the paper printed, and it’s going out tomorrow. What do you say we go out to that dinner I mentioned? I noticed you didn’t do lunch today.”
“I would like that. I’m a little grubby though. Could I go home and change, then meet you somewhere?”
“Sure. I have some finishing up to do anyway. How about the hipster bar downtown?”
“Sounds good. I’ll see you there.”
She smiled, checking him out as he walked away. Excitement flowed through her system - she finally had a chance with him. He finally asked her out. She quickly finished up and rushed home. In her mind, she planned out her outfit. She’d have to take a shower, shave her legs, and look fantastic.