Page 44 of Finding Fate

She was about to suggest for them to head out when Izzy pulled at the collar of Tucker’s shirt, tugging him down for a kiss. Tucker’s irritation passed quickly, and he pulled her into his lap, holding her tightly against him as the kiss became anything but chaste.

Annie and Emma stared in shock for a moment before turning awkwardly away.

“So…” Emma began. “Some of us were talking about meeting up at Bob’s Diner after school today. You think y’all might wanna come?”

“Yeah, I’m game,” she replied, thankful when she heard her friends come up for air.

“Whoa…” Tucker breathed heavily, a huge grin on his face. “Not that I’m complaining or anything, but what was that about?”

“I just figured if people are going to stare, we should give them something to stare at,” Isabel smirked mischievously as she leaned back against the tree. “Besides, Lisa considers me her competition, and she’s got to see that there’s no way she’s going to get Tucker,” she added to herself.

Annie followed as her sister’s gaze flicked to the water fountains. Lisa looked stunned, tears suddenly bursting from her eyes, and she turned and ran off down the sidewalk, her friends following right on her heels with attempts to comfort her.

“Good for you, sis,”Annie grinned to herself, glad Izzy was standing her ground.

“Sooo…Bob’s Diner?” Emma tried again. “Annie’s game.”

“Oh, no thanks. Tucker and I were planning on hanging out at his place this afternoon. I’ll just ride home with him, Annie, so you won’t have to drop me off first.”

“Oh, okay,” Annie replied, wondering when she’d get used to Izzy choosing Tucker all the time. She was definitely gaining a new understanding of what her two friends had gone through back in seventh grade.

“Alright,” Emma said, heading for the parking lot. “See you there, Annie.”

* * *

“I’m glad that Benton Hall started that after school program for kids. I love my sisters, but having a few hours away from them at home is nice,” Tucker said when he and Izzy stepped into his house.

“I don’t know,” Isabel replied. “I kinda miss hanging out with the kids all day.”

“Well, I’m sure Chelsea and Victoria would have loved to spend time with you, but they were really excited about hanging out with their friends.”

“Yeah, Tyler, too.”

“Give me a sec to feed Barkley,” Tucker said, heading to the pantry near the back door. “You wanna help? He’d be excited to see you.”

“Sure,” she smiled, following Tucker outside. Barkley was sweet but so energetic. Jenna had demanded that he always stayed outside ever since he broke her favorite vase. ‘It was a gift from my grandmother!’ she remembered her shouting.

She gave the loveable chocolate lab a good scratch behind the ears as Tucker dropped the food in his bowl and refilled the water. Her stomach turned a little at the dog's smell. “You need a bath,” she told the oversized puppy.

Tucker shook his head when she looked at him. “Nope, it’s on Chelsea and Victoria’s chore list this week, not mine.”

She shook her head, picking up a few toys to play fetch when her stomach twisted again. “Do you have any crackers?” she asked, suddenly feeling sick.

“Yeah,” Tucker replied, catching on. “Come on. We probably have some ginger ale, too.”

She followed him back inside to the kitchen when the room started to spin again. “Are you okay?”

She grimaced, holding onto the counter for the spinning sensation to pass. “You mind if I go lie down?”

“Go,” he insisted. “I’ll bring the crackers up.”

She nodded and headed up the stairs, still gripping the railing and a little unsteady on her feet. She was used to getting lightheaded when she was sick, but it was strange for it to keep hitting her so suddenly and intensely.

She lay back on Tucker’s bed, his SPURS basketball blankets cool to touch. It felt good to lay her head against the pillow, and in the quiet, dimly lit room, she felt like she could easily fall asleep…

Thunk!

Isabel’s eyes flew open, and she sat up, her heart pounding in her chest. Tucker was standing near his desk with their backpacks by his feet, the crackers and ginger ale already on the nightstand beside her.

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