Sunkissed Serendipity

Chapter 64

Isla

Surfing lessons have gone—less than mediocre. I mean, I did fall off the board every second and threaten Julian whenever I'd get scared. But it did go well. Julian and Jack had fun, for the most part. They were free to surf, and I loved watching them all the same. They loved this sport, and I couldn't help but notice just how much. On Julian's part, really. I watched as a smile stayed on his face the entire time. I loved that we took a day out to just let the boys do what made them happy.

Lorraine swam with us for a little bit as well, but she didn't surf. She loved watching her boys surf the web, judging by the content smile on her face. Daniel loved watching his sons surf as well, and I noticed how he was studying his older one. I think it had something to do with the fact that Julian gave up on his team this summer. He told me the real reason why he did so, but something told me he withheld the information from his parents. Which made sense, but I also knew that his parents really wanted their son happy no matter what. I guess I understood how that could play a factor in why this conversation was awkward.

"Okay," I say when all of us step off the beach. I turn to them and say, "Even though I brought my dress for dinner, I didn't realize I got this dirty. Why don't we head back to the hotel and shower before we come back? Our reservation isn't until an hour later."

"Reservation?" Lorraine asks, and I nod. She cracks a smile. "I didn't know you planned out everything that well, Isla."

"I had to get a reservation if we wanted to eat at this restaurant," I say, checking my phone. Then I look back up at everyone and say, "Okay, Our hotel isn't that far away. Let's go."

As the family follows behind me, Julian catches up to me. Giving me a grin, he says, "We should thank you for making this trip sail so smoothly."

"Let's see if I can shower and get ready before we have to make it to the restaurant," I say, chewing my bottom lip at the doubts I was having. It wasn't that far of a drive, but I'd have to check to be sure of that. Julian chuckles, "We'll make it. Don't worry."

"I'm not—" he cuts me off, pressing a kiss on my head. "Yeah, you are," he says, placing a hand on my shoulder. Rubbing my shoulder softly with this thumb, he says, "But you don't need to be. It'll be okay."

•

It turns out it is okay. By the time everyone has showered, gotten ready, and been out of the hotel, we make it to the cars with twenty minutes to spare. I checked the location, and it said that the drive would be less than fifteen minutes. That made me finally smile as I sat back in the car. Once Julian pulls into the restaurant, parking next to his parents, we have made it with five minutes to spare.

When we step out, Julian walks next to me. "I told you we would make it on time," he says with a grin. I give him a smile back, grabbing his hand as I put it close to my side. "Yeah, now dinner should go smoothly."

Once we get inside, his parents start to head to a table, but I stop them. "I actually reserved us seats up front. To see them cooking our food."

Lorraine looks at me confusedly while Daniel cracks a smile. Giving me a nod, he says, "We should book Isla for all our trips, huh?"

"She's awesome," Jack says, heading to the spots reserved for us. Lorraine only gives me a smile as she follows after him. Dinner goes pretty well. We watch them make our food for a while before heading to a real table. Dinner is mostly quiet, but it wasn't awkward. Julian had sat next to me, and his presence definitely made it go more comfortably.