Sunkissed Serendipity

Chapter 48

Julian

As I walk into my house the following Monday, it's not a shocker to find Isla there. She is sitting on the couch with Jack beside her, and I could see and hear from my spot that they were playing video games.

Dropping my bag by the door, I walk over, shouting, "Hey, who is playing video games without me?"

"Me!" Jack shouts, completely unauthorized to my mock offense. I laugh as I come up behind the couch and Isla turns around, a laugh painting her face an amazing picture. I think I like her this way best, smiling and looking at me. It sounds weird, but to have her looking at me and smiling at something stupid I said has to be the best thing around for me.

Her eyes catch mine as she laughs, and I send her a wink before going toward Jack. I place a hand on his shoulder and say, "Did you go outside today?"

"Yeah, how did you know?" Jack says, answering me even as he was engrossed in his game. I glance at Isla, a teasing grin on my face as I say, "Isla's red; she must've gotten home just now."

"I'd like to think that my redness will turn into a tan!" she exclaims firm beside me, grabbing my arm. With her touch, I'm easily distracted because it's the only thing I want to focus on. "Yeah, you'd like to think," I say, emphasizing the last word, which has her sputtering. I laugh as I walk over to Jack and take a seat next to him.

Isla and I had been texting all weekend. Whenever I would check my phone, there would be a new text from her, so I kept my phone with me the entire time. After work, I texted her for a long time and throughout the entire evening, earning complaints from my brother and my parents. My parents were complaining that I wouldn't focus on the dinner conversation, and my brother was mad that I wouldn't focus on the game. Every single time my phone buzzed by my thigh, I couldn't help but peek at the text.

We have been talking a lot. Of things casual and fun. I'm learning things about her friends and her social life. I'm learning that all of her friends are out of town, and she is alone. And when I made the joke that she was only hanging out with me for the company, she answered back by saying I'm the best company.

This is new.

I've never talked in bed late at night, finding ways to say something smart just so she can laugh. I've ever had the thrill of finding flirty things to say to her just so she would blush on the screen. There has been a lot of talk between us, and I've loved every single word she shares with me.

Isla stands up from her spot on the couch and walks over to me. Standing above me, she places a hand on my shoulder to get my attention. I look up at her, and she leans down, her eyes going directly to my lips. I watch as she leans down for a kiss, but at the last moment, I move away, having her only graze my shoulder instead.

I feel awful as I look to my side and find that she swallows, looking away from me. She stands up straight, placing her bag over her shoulder and saying, "Well, I guess I'll go then." I've never messed up so badly in my life as I watched her chew her cheeks, squeeze her shoulders, and walk away. She heads to the front door, and I sigh, knowing that I messed up and needed to go after her.

I make it to the front door before she does, and so I stand in front of it. She gives me a look of annoyance before she says, "I want to go home, Julian."

"And I'll let you do that if you look at me," I say to her, trying to get her attention, but she was doing everything to not look at me.

She huffs out a breath, a line appearing in between her eyebrows as she says, "Yeah, sure. Just make me look at you, and you'll see the pathetic look on my face."