Isabel didn’t give Michael time to explain but continued rambling. “Did you see how happy Laurant was when she shook Xavier’s hand? I can’t believe I’m not tired. I should be exhausted, but I’m not. I’ve got an abundance of energy.”
“An abundance?” Michael said.
“That means ‘a lot,’ Michael,” Nick explained.
He shot his brother an annoyed glance. “I know what it means.”
Isabel paced in front of the chair with the gym bag and stopped. “Why do you have your bag?” she asked.
He answered with a question. “Are you going to stay here tonight?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Then I’m staying with you. I’ll sleep out here on the sofa.”
“Why are you staying?” she asked.
“Because I know what’s going to happen. In the middle of the night you’re going to want to go to the fitness center and get on the treadmill, aren’t you?”
She decided to admit the truth. “I might.”
“Ah, treadmill,” Nick said, finally understanding.
“Has she done this before? Get up in the middle of the night . . . ,” Noah began.
“She tried. I didn’t let her.”
Isabel started speed-talking again. She bounced from one thought to another.
“Nick, when are you going to get my flash drive back from that technician? I promised Xavier I would put my songs together soon, and I should probably gather them all. Thank God I don’t have to sing in front of a huge crowd like that again. Promise me, none of you will ask me to sing at the party tomorrow night. Okay?” She didn’t give them time to agree. “I’m just so happy I didn’t mess up. I didn’t, did I?”
Since she was looking at Michael, he answered. “No, you didn’t mess up.”
Her smile was radiant. She looked like he had just given her the highest praise ever.
“Would you like something to drink, Isabel?” Nick asked when he could get a word in.
She went to Michael and took his beer. “No, thank you,” she said. She took a drink and then handed the bottle back.
“What you’re experiencing is a surge of adrenaline, Isabel,” Noah told her.
Nick nodded agreement. “In a little while you’re going to crash, then you’ll be able to sleep.”
Turning to Michael he said, “I think it’s a good idea for you to stick around.”
“We should get going,” Nick said.
“Yeah, you should,” Michael told them. Just as Noah was about to stand, Michael said, “No, wait.
Stay until I get out of the shower. She might take off while I’m in there.”
He picked up his bag and had his hand on the bedroom doorknob but turned when Isabel began to protest. “I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself. I’m . . .”
She stopped arguing because he disappeared into the bedroom and shut the door. She looked at Nick and said, “That was rude, wasn’t it? Yes, it was rude. Some of the fans tonight were overly enthusiastic, but I don’t think any of them were rude. They were just excited. Right? Weren’t they excited?” Once again she didn’t give them time to answer. “I’ll admit I would have been scared if Michael and you two weren’t there. They could have rolled over me. They’d push like they did when we were hurrying to the car. I don’t believe I could push that many people out of my way.” She shivered, picturing the mob scene, and whispered, “I just never expected anything like that. Thank God you were with me.”
“It’s over now, Isabel,” Noah said. His voice was kind and soothing.
She nodded. She sat on the sofa again, her hands at her sides. “Did you have a nice time tonight?”
Thinking she would keep talking, neither one answered her for several seconds, but when she looked at them expectantly, Noah said, “Yes, it was fun tonight. I like Xavier.”
She smiled. “I like him, too.”
Nick frowned. “How much do you like him?”
“What’s that supposed to mean? You either like someone or you don’t. I do like him. That’s all there is to it. I like a lot of people.”
Noah, blunt as always, asked, “What about Michael? Do you like him?”
“Sometimes.”
Noah and Nick exchanged a look as though they found her answer amusing.
Isabel settled back against the sofa pillows. “I’m not going anywhere,” she told them. “You should take off.”