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Odette looks confused and her eyes shift from me to Isa. “Wait, Isabella was in Peru too?”
Drew walks up behind Sophie and waggles his eyebrows at me.
Madden stalks over and stands next to Odette. “Sounds like you two have some explaining to do.”
With the adults distracted, all of the kids have now abandoned the table and are running around the yard like they just took shots of energy drinks.
Dad, who’s standing on the large patio next to the grill, waves his arm in the air. “Let’s sit down first. The food is ready.” He cups his hands around his mouth and yells, “Kids! Come back to the table!”
The four of them look up and reluctantly walk back to the patio.
My mother points to the two seats at the center of the long outdoor table on the patio. “David and Isabella, you two sit here. We want to hear all the details!”
I sigh and glance over at Isa. She’s looking up at me with her round, chocolate-brown eyes and all my annoyance melts away. My shoulders relax and I walk with Isa to take our designated seats at the table.
My parents make everyone’s plates and distribute the food as Isa tells my family all about how we both ended up on the same trip and sharing a tent. She gives all the details, animatedly talking with her hands. Of course, their favorite part is the llama sneaking into our tent and licking my face. The whole table erupts in laughter, even the kids giggle at her story.
“Wow, David in a tent with not one, but two females,” Brooks says, shaking his head in disbelief.
“Well, I have to make up for you not being able to date,” I deadpan.
His mouth forms a straight line. “Ha. Funny.”
My parents then inform everyone they stumbled upon us on our first date and how embarrassed I was. Which, according to my mother, was adorable.
“You have to turn your location off when you’re on a date,” Madden says with a chuckle. “Rookie mistake.”
Brooks, who’s next to him, bumps Madden’s shoulder with his own. “We have a few tricks to teach you about dating without Mom and Dad bursting in.”
“Don’t ruin this for us,” Mom whisper-yells to Brooks from across the table.
I feel Isa slide her hand into mine under the table, lacing our fingers together. We give each other a secret smile. She acclimated to new people and places so effortlessly. I can picture her coming to our family barbecue every Sunday or hanging out with Odette and Sophie.
Odette interrupts our private moment. “So, Isabella, what do you do?”
She smiles at Odette but continues holding my hand under the table. I rub the back of her soft hand with my thumb, the back and forth motion making me feel at ease and relaxed, despite the onslaught of questions from my family.
“Well, I work at my family’s restaurant right now.” She pauses as if she’s considering whether to continue. “But I’m actually hoping to take my travel website full time soon.”
My shoulders tense and my thumb pauses on the back of her hand. I swallow the lump in my throat that seems to lodge itself there everytime I think of Isa traveling full time. Of course, I want her to do what she loves. And she’s been offered an amazing opportunity… but this thing between us is so unexpected, and so good. I don’t want to think about her leaving.
“That’s so cool, what an adventure!” Odette tells her, then continues asking questions about her website.
Sophie and Drew look at each other and then at me, both with the same look of sympathy on their faces. It’s like even they know a long distance relationship won’t work and I’ll be left here, gutted.
By the time we’re finished eating, the sun is setting, displaying a brilliant reflection of oranges and pinks throughout the sky. The string lights are gleaming and the cicadas are chirping. The kids have quieted down and my little niece Samantha is asleep in Drew’s arms. Frank Sinatra’s Fly Me to the Moon plays through the outdoor speakers and I find myself wishing every evening looked like this. Except in my imagination everyone is gathered at me and Isa’s house, and after they leave, we’ll sway to the music together under the starry night sky.
What has gotten into me? Starry night sky? I’ve never been a romantic, and I can’t start now. Not when the woman I want to romance is likely to leave the country soon.
Clearing my throat, I interrupt the ambiance of the evening. “Well, I should get Isa home.” I stand from my seat. “And I have an early meeting in the morning.”
Isa scoots her chair back and stands next to me. “So I shouldn’t put any flamingos in your yard tonight?” Isa asks, just loud enough that only I can hear her.
“I would appreciate that,” I tell her with a smirk.
We say our goodbyes to my family and drive back to our neighborhood. The drive is quiet, not necessarily uncomfortable, but both of us are obviously lost in our own thoughts.
Parking in my driveway, I exit my Land Cruiser before walking over to the passenger side and opening Isa’s door for her. She holds my hand again as I walk her to her front porch.
