Page 72 of Someone Like You

“Just a second!” His voice was muffled through the en-suite bathroom door, and I raked my hand through my hair. Then the door swung open, and Isaac was grinning at me.

“Okay, let’s go!” He said, brushing past me. I grabbed his arm before he could go anywhere.

“What were you doing? You never want to be late to anything?—”

“Nothing! I just—” His eyes shifted away from mine. Little liar. “Uh, I had to—I had some really bad tacos this morning.”

My lips twitched. “Uh huh. Say, where’d you get these tacos from?”

Isaac toyed with the collar of my shirt. “Oh, you know, that little place down the street.”

“Uh huh. And did you get them delivered? Because we’ve been together all morning.”

His eyes were looking everywhere but mine. “Yeah. Yep. Got ‘em delivered while you were in the shower. Didn’t want to share, either, because I only got one. Just one. And it was tiny. And it’s a good thing you didn’t eat any because it didn’t agree with me so we should get going, right? We’re already late, why are we standing around talking about tacos?” He laughed nervously, his fingers clutching the material of my shirt a little too hard now.

I bent down and caught his gaze in mine. “I’ll let this go for now, babe. But I know you’re up to something.” I kissed him before he could say anything, and he groaned into my mouth, instantly melting against me.

“Not fair,” he mumbled. “You play dirty.”

“You like it dirty,” I murmured.

“Ugh. Let’s go. Before I ruin my pants and have to change.” He grabbed my hand and dragged me toward the door, glaring at me as I laughed behind him.

When we got to my uncle’s house, they were already grilling out back. Well, Uncle Boone was grilling. Bri was sitting in a lounge chair with a drink and staring at the clouds. She looked at me, and my stomach fluttered with nerves. I really hoped she hadn’t forgotten to bring what I’d given to her for safekeeping. When she winked at me, the knot in my chest loosened.

“Hey, guys,” Uncle Boone said, a big smile on his face. “Perfect day for a cookout, right?”

“Yeah,” I said, and it was. A perfect day to ask the man I loved to spend the rest of his life with me.

“Mmm,” Isaac said, closing his eyes and inhaling loudly. “Oh that smells amazing, Boone.” His eyes cut to mine, glinting with mischief as he said, “Can’t wait to try it, I had some tacos this morning that didnotagree with me.”

“Oh no, where from?” Uncle Boone asked. “So I know not to go there in the future.”

I rubbed a hand across my mouth to hide the smile that was growing by the second.

Isaac fluttered his hands and said, “Oh, you know, that little place down on South Street—hey, is that a new spatula? Wow, that’snice, what’s the make?”

Like it was a car.

I choked on my laugh as Isaac stared me down. He sidled up to my uncle and pretended to be deeply interested in his cookware.

I made my way over to Bri and sat down by her feet. “You still have it, right?”

Bri scoffed. “Of course I have it. What do you think, I’d drink that shit? It’s straight poison.”

“Just making sure,” I said. She gave me an impish smile, and I narrowed my eyes at her. “What? What are you not telling me?”

She popped her gum and suddenly found her nails of particular interest. “Nothing.”

“Bri,” I said.

“Brody,” she said.

“Bri,” I warned.

“Food’s ready!” Uncle Boone shouted.

Bri smiled, slid off the lounger, and raced to the back deck, claiming a seat at the head of the table. I sighed and made my way back to Isaac.

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