[BOOK2]
Friendship built their world. Love will break it open. ❤️
*******
Isla Brookes and Theo Dwyers have been inseparable since childhood-always there for each other, always just friends. Though, things start to change and everything starts feel...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Finn exchanged one last glance with Uncle Kai, then nodded toward the ballroom entrance. "We're going to track down Charlie before he gets lost in his own fan club," he said, eyes softening as he looked back at me. "See you later, Caterpillar."
"Bye, Dad," Isla said, smiling softly.
Uncle Kai grinned as he started toward the doors. "Better hurry up and say hi before their egos get too big to fit through the doorway."
I watched them walk off, their suits sharp and tailored, backs straight like they still belonged in the locker room instead of at a black-tie fundraiser. As soon as they were out of earshot, I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding.
Isla tugged on the front of my jacket, pulling me closer by my lapels. "You survived," she said with a grin.
"Barely," I murmured, pressing a kiss to the side of her head. "I think your dad aged me a full year with that look."
She smiled, brushing her thumb along the lapel she'd just straightened. "He likes you."
"He threatened to kill me."
"Yeah," she said sweetly, "that's his version of liking you."
I rolled my eyes, pulling her into me, my hands resting naturally on her waist. God, she looked unreal tonight. Her dress hugged her perfectly, her hair curled just enough to make me want to get lost in it, and her eyes? They were locked on mine like I was the only thing in the room that mattered.
"You look beautiful," I said, quieter now.
She tilted her chin up, smug. "I know."
I laughed, brushing my lips lightly against hers. "Cocky."
"Confident," she corrected, kissing me again—just once, but slow enough to make me consider hauling her out of here entirely.
But then she pulled back, biting her bottom lip like she was trying to behave. "Wanna get some air?"
"Terrace?" I asked, already angling us toward the glass doors, where golden lights glowed like stars strung across the night.
She nodded, linking her fingers with mine. "Let's go."
As we slipped through the crowd, hand in hand, I heard someone mutter something behind us—probably about Isla's dad catching us earlier. But I didn't care. Let them talk.
She was mine. Not in the possessive, controlling way Jake had tried to make her. Mine like... I got to hold her hand at parties. I got to be the one she looked at like that. I got to make her laugh. Make her melt.
The moment we stepped onto the terrace, the noise behind us faded to a soft thrum. Music and laughter dulled through thick glass as the door clicked shut behind us, sealing us off from the party.
