Page 23 of Finding Fate

“Damn. Can we blame it on the flu?”

“Sure,” she said, smirking a bit.

“So, about that party?”

“I don’t think we’ll end up having one. Mom told us no parties, and your mom will probably be keeping an eye out for her.”

“True. Corey’s throwing one tomorrow night anyway. It’ll be packed if it’s anything like the one over spring break.”

“Mmmm,” she murmured, looking down to run her thumb along her teal polish. Parties weren’t really her scene. “Hey, Tuck?”

“Tuck?”

She flashed just a hint of her crooked grin, still staring at her nails. “Yeah, well, you call me Izzy, don’t you?”

“Pretty much everyone does.”

“I know,” she rolled her eyes.

His brow scrunched at her tone. “You okay?”

“Yes,” she sighed, refocusing. “So, what’s up? Did you still want to talk about whatever it was from last week?”

“Yeah, do me a favor, though.”

“What?”

“Promise me you won’t freak out.”

Izzy glanced at him, perplexed. “Why would I freak out?”

He stared back at her, wanting her to know he was serious. “Because it’s big, and I want you to hear me out.”

“Okay… I’ll do my best,” she said as Tucker sat up and repositioned himself, his elbows resting on his knees. He ran his hand through his slightly damp hair, pulling the strands away from his face as he began.

Isabel watched as he shifted, an odd feeling fluttering through her chest with the bulge of his muscles, his tousled blonde hair landing just so. It sucked having a hot best friend that was off limits. She’d set that boundary for herself long ago. He was too much of a ladies’ man, and she refused to date if commitment wasn’t on the table.

Tucker leaned back again, his foot tapping against the floor. “So,” he finally started. “You remember when I was acting funny a few weeks ago?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, I think that’s when it first started, but it was confusing, you know?”

“No.”

He groaned, wanting to get it out right. “That was when I first started to notice there was something weird happening, but I didn’t realize what exactly was going on until last week. You know that day that we were all at the beach, and Jet and I went surfing?” Tucker paused. She nodded for him to continue.

“I could barely even look at you that day; it had gotten so bad, but Jet got me thinking later…” He ran his hands through his hair again, trying to shake his nerves.

“Tucker, I’m sorry, but I’m kind of lost. What’s going on?" Izzy prompted.

“I know. I’m screwing it up,” he sighed, scrubbing his hands across his face. “I guess the best way to tell you is to just outright say it. I realized that I like you, Izzy, and not just like a friend. I mean, I like you as in I have feelings for you, and I want to be with you.”

She didn’t speak at first, shocked as she tried to process the information. She shook her head, her features creeping close to scarlet.

“Izzy? Say something,” Tucker urged, nerves and anticipation clawing at him as he watched the change in her expression. His stomach sank when she looked up.

“Are you sure you want me to talk?” she fumed. “You had better be glad you just got over being sick. To think that you would stoop this low! This is worse than what Annie’s been doing!”

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