Page 39 of Finding Fate

“Yeah but what about Annie? And Jet. Annie and I have never gone longer than dance camp without seeing each other, and I don’t know if I could not live near my sister.”

“The twin thing,” he nodded, his lips pursing in consideration.

“The academy would be amazing, though,” she admitted.

“Then do it.”

Isabel rolled her eyes, getting up. She held out her hands to pull her dance partner to his feet. “I’ll think about it,” she repeated. “But for now, we need to perfect this dance.”

They were in the middle of what had to be their eighth run through when the room started to tilt again. Ignoring it, pushing through, Isabel came out of her backflip and leaped into her arc, spots dotting her vision as Leo caught her waist. She tried to blink them away, her head spinning as she held her position in the air. The last thing she remembered were the spots spreading into blackness just as Leo twisted her around to his back for the lift she’d never make.

“Izzy, Izzy!” The voice broke through the cacophony of fleeting images she couldn’t quite see. “Izzy!” Her eyes opened to find Leo kneeling beside her, his features stressed with concern as he tapped at her cheeks. “Oh, thank God,” he said when her focus returned. “Are you okay?”

“Dizzy,” she managed. “Give me a minute.” She crossed her arms over her face, taking long, slow breaths until the room felt still again. “What happened?” she asked her friend.

“You fainted when I was spinning you around for the lift. Thank God for the mirror, or I wouldn’t have noticed in time. I barely managed to catch you.”

“Thanks then. That fall would have sucked,” she tried to joke.

Leo sat back, looking shocked. “Shit, Izzy, that seriously scared the crap out of me. Are you going to be okay? Have you eaten? What happened?”

“I ate,” she replied, “but it’s been a while. I could probably use more water, too.”

“Here,” he said, reaching for her bottle. He helped her sit up, and she took several long sips.

“Thanks,” she smiled, already feeling better.

Trying to look stern, he said, “Just don’t do that again, okay? I’m not built for that shit.” She laughed. “Come on,” he couldn’t help but grin as he pulled her to her feet. “I think that’s our cue to call it for today. Let’s see what’s at the snack bar.”

“Izzy.” She felt a nudge to her shoulder and startled awake. “Sorry,” Annie apologized. “We’re almost home.”

Isabel nodded groggily and looked out the window, the outskirts of Bentonville coming into view. Her stomach fluttered with excitement. Tucker was getting home today as well, and she was anxious to see him. Phones weren’t allowed out at camp, so she hadn’t talked to him since she left. Would things be the same? Had the time apart changed how he felt?

“What do you wanna do when we get home?” Annie asked, excited. “We could go hang out at the beach or go for pedicures?” She may not be a girly girl, but she did not like gross feet, and the promise of some nail pampering was typically a shoe in for Izzy.

“I’m actually hoping to catch Tucker if he’s back. Have you heard from him?”

“Not yet,” Annie replied, her smile fading.

Isabel’s Fitbit buzzed with a message. “Got back after lunch. You almost home?”

She sent him a quick text, nearly giddy in her seat as they turned onto Sandy Drive. “Be over in a minute.”

* * *

Tucker ran anxious fingers through his hair in his bathroom mirror after Izzy’s text. It had been a long couple of weeks without her. He’d thrown himself into camp this year, honing drills and perfecting moves like never before, anything to make the wait less frustrating. But now that he was home, those doubts had returned. He’d never had to do this before. Would things be off?

The doorbell rang, and he bolted downstairs to fling the door open. Izzy stood there, beaming that crooked grin of hers, eyes bright with excitement.

“Hey,” he breathed.

“Hey.”

There was a charged moment of pause, and she leaped into his arms, her legs wrapping around his waist as he lifted her up. Pulling the door shut, he pressed her against the wall, her honeysuckle scent invading his senses as he devoured her with a kiss. It was hot, frantic, and he loved the way she fit against him.

“Tuck?” she gasped, breaking for air. His lips moved to her neck, and she swallowed. “Your family?” she glanced around, nervous.

“Gone,” he answered. His dad had left for a work emergency at the ranch and his sisters had talked his mom into a shopping day, thank God.

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