“Yes, yes,” Izzy said. “But only you and Glenn know.”
“You told him first?! Before me?” Alix said. “What kind of BFF are you?”
Izzy laughed. “I already miss you. Have you met him yet?”
“Jared is right here. Would you like to talk to him?” Alix held the phone up to Jared’s ear.
“Congratulations, Izzy,” Jared said. “Sorry I was eavesdropping but we’re in a truck together so I couldn’t help hearing.” He waited in silence but there was no response. He looked at Alix and shrugged.
She took the phone back. “Izzy?”
No reply.
“Izzy? Are you there?”
Silence.
Alix looked at the phone. “I think we got cut off.”
“I’m here.”
Alix put the phone back to her ear. “You’re there? Did you hear what Jared said?”
“J …” Izzy managed to whisper the J sound but that’s all.
“Jared,” Alix said. “Jared Kingsley at home. Jared Montgomery to off-islanders, but they don’t count.”
He gave her a smile of approval.
“You’re in a truck with him now? This minute?” Izzy’s voice was so low Alix could hardly hear it.
“Yes. It’s an old one. Thirties?” She looked at Jared in question.
“Nineteen thirty-six Ford,” he said.
“That’s him talking now?” Izzy whispered.
“I can’t hear you.”
“Are you two a couple?” Izzy asked.
“Friends,” Alix said. “Colleagues. A few minutes ago Jared asked me to help him design a house that he has a commission for. He and I are going to try to use a rock that’s on the land as part of the structure.”
“You and … and …?”
“Jared,” Alix said. “Or just Kingsley. But I think he’s sometimes called Seven.” She looked at him in question and he nodded.
“I think I’m going to have to lie down,” Izzy said. “This is too much for me to take in. Alix?”
“Yes?”
“How is the plumbing in that old house?”
She remembered Izzy’s fantasy of the pipes bursting and Alix and Jared being drenched with water. “The plumbing is fine, and there is absolutely no danger of any pipes bursting.” As she said it she couldn’t help glancing at Jared’s body. He was turning a corner, his face away from her. He certainly did keep in shape! Flat stomach, heavy thighs. He straightened the wheel and Alix looked away.
“Alix,” Izzy said, “sometimes old pipes can be made to burst if they have pressure put on them.”
“Yeah, but pressure can also cause them to explode and blow the whole house apart. Izzy?”