Sunkissed Serendipity

Chapter 58

Julian

"Happy birthday, buddy," I say as soon as I walk into the kitchen next week. Jack looks up at me from his waffles—something he always requests for his birthday breakfast—and gives me a smile. "Thanks."

I walk over to him, excitement creeping over me as I say, "11 today, huh?"

Jack nods, running a hand through his rather long hair, and says, "Yup."

"Very exciting," I say, but then study his hair. "And if you want, I can take you to get your hair cut today."

He looks over at me once more and then shrugs. "I don't know."

"I mean, you look nice regardless," I say with a roll of my eyes, just so it doesn't seem too nice for a brotherly relationship. "But I think your hair needs some sort of cut, don't you think?"

Mg brother nods then and says, "Yeah, sure."

"Nice," I say, taking my phone out of my pocket to see if I can book it right now. But as I open my phone, I realize that I forgot to call my girlfriend to wish her a happy birthday as well. Looking up at my brother, I slide my finger onto her contact and say, "I'll book it. But I have to call Isla now."

"I can't see why you can't do that here," Jack says, but then shrugs, not questioning it further. "But okay. Wish her a happy birthday from me as well."

"Will do," I say, pressing my phone to my ear. The phone call is already ringing. When I walk into the living room, she already answers.

"Happy birthday," I say as soon as the phone call gets picked up. Isla laughs at my excitement and says, "Hi. Thank you."

I'm smiling widely as I say, "Today feels so special."


"Because, it's your brother's birthday?" Isla asks, a smart comment that I'd love to see the look on her face for as well. I laugh, shaking my head as I say, "Yeah, and the fact that it's your birthday."

She sighs softly, "17 today."

"Welcome to the club," I say, even though I didn't turn 17 until three months ago.

"Feel older," she says, and then I can tell she has a smile on her face when she adds, "Actually, I just feel old."

"Oh wow," I say with a laugh. "You calling me old, sweetheart?"

"Yeah, I am," she retorts instantly, and I laugh at that. "I'm only like a few months older than you," I say, shaking my head. She only hums, baiting me further, and I cannot help but laugh again. Simmering down, I say, "Anyways—I can't wait to see you today."

"I'd like to see you as well," she says, and I take a seat on the couch. "Yeah, I have to take Jack to get his haircut, but as soon as we are done, the party should start. So you can show up then."

"So around what time?" she asks, and I think about it. Scratching all that, I say, "Actually, I'll text you when we are done with the haircut, and then I'll come and pick you up, okay? I'd like to come and get you."

"Oh, that's not necessary," she says, but then there is sound from her background. She must pull the phone back from her ear as someone starts to talk. "Isla!" I hear a distant voice shout in glee. "Happy 17th birthday!"

She laughs, "Yeah, thank you."

The voice gets closer, and I can pick it apart from a male's voice. "A year older," he says, and I try to think back to why the voice sounded so familiar. "So, what are we doing?"

"Uh," she says, and then there's a few quiet moments before she speaks into the phone again. "Sorry about that."

"Who was that?" I ask, my curiosity growing but also because the voice was so familiar. Isla blows out a raspberry. "No one."