Videocall

“Bro, where ya at? You must be with gabe cuz no way you’re out of bed this early on your own.”

I rolled my eyes as violet inspected the background of my video image. Izaak sat next to her, shaking his head in amusement.

“You look good,” I told him, feeling his energy more alive and hopeful than I ever remember him being.

“I’ve been working on myself,” he reminded me, “and it’s helping a lot.”

“Any new insights or big moments?”

“The beach house!” Violet nearly shouted, finally recognizing something. “Why are you there with gabe? Shouldn’t you be snoozing your alarm for another hour until it’s time to drag yourself out of bed for work? You’re not sick-looking. Why aren’t you working today?”

“Are you spending your vacation learning how to be a detective?” I snapped back.

Izaak gave violet a mean look, enough to make her submissively settle down a little. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to rudely interrupt,” she said sincerely, which caught me by surprise. Of course then she added back in her near-shout, “but somethings off and I know you’ll keep this conversation about me and izaak unless we make you tell us.”

“When did YOU get so perceptive??” I joked.

“Izaaks not the only one workin’ on himself. So cmon, spill it.”

I looked at Izaak to see whose side he was on, and I was outnumbered. Rolling my eyes, I said, “I’m not working today. I have the week off, no big deal. I would prefer to hear about your trip.”

“No you wouldn’t, you just want to avoid talking about yourself.”

“Why do you sound so much like Toby??”

“Ohhh I bet Toby would tell me what’s up with you…”

“No!” I said a little too passionately. “I mean, he’s working, no need to bother him.”

Violet opened her mouth to say more but izaak cut her off. “Can you give us a minute please,” he asked politely, and she opened her mouth to argue, but his dominance took over and shut her up. She grumbled something under her breath and said she’d be back later, and left.

Now izaak turned to me, giving the same look he’d been holding for violet, which made my tummy twist up into knots.