Paradise Bound

Chapter 31

As the door opens slowly I feel like I'm literally going to empty the entire contents of my stomach right here on Isaac's front doorstep.

When the door finally opens fully I see Isaac's face fill with surprise and confusion as to why I'm standing on his doorstep in the middle of the night.

"Tessa?"

He looks around behind me, probably wondering how on earth I managed to get here with no car.

"What are you doing here?"

"I need to talk to you."

"Right.... Could it not have waited until tomorrow? I will see you in the morning you know?"

"Look if you want to have this conversation on your front doorstep could you at least give me a jacket, because I'm freezing my ass off here!"

"Jesus come in."

Isaac shakes his head as he moves aside to let me enter.

He leads me into the living room and we both sit down.

"Tessa..... How did you even get here?"

"I got a taxi."

"Right.... Well my next question is what was so urgent that you couldn't wait until morning to talk to me?"

I fiddle with my fingers nervously, never has another man affected me so much before.

"Tessa?"

"Oh.... Yeah. I..... I was worried about you."

Isaac eyes widen, he's clearly surprised at my little declaration.

"Worried about me? Why?"

"Isaac, don't try and pull the tough guy act with me, I can see right through it. Your mood tonight was really low and despite what you may think..... I really care about you."

Isaac looks away from me and shakes his head dismissively.

"Well you shouldn't waste your time worrying about me."

"I'm not wasting my time Isaac."

"Tessa you shouldn't have came here tonight. Come on, I'll drive you home."

I look to Isaac, who is now avoiding eye contact with me completely.

"No!"

"Excuse me?"

Isaac jumps up from the sofa, looking more than a little bit frustrated. I do the same, challenging him.

"I said no.... I'm not going anywhere until you tell me something. What did you mean when you said that you wished things were different?"

I can see Isaac hesitate at answering my question and he shuffles on the spot, clearly uncomfortable.

"It doesn't matter."

"Yes it does Isaac, I want to know!"

Isaac let's out a long sigh as he rubs the back of his neck with his hand.

"I just meant.... The situation that we're in.....if it was different...."

"If it was different then what?"

Isaac's eyes lock onto mine in a smouldering gaze.

"I just mean....if you weren't my employee or, you weren't leaving in a few months time....."

"What..... What would happen then Isaac?"

"I could picture a life with you."

My eyes widen in surprise and my heart aches with happiness and sadness all in the one go.