Page 67 of Fractured Faceoff

“Strange?” I glanced at Isla and back at Kash. “How so?”

He forced a smile as he adjusted his grip on the spatula, watching the burgers sizzle on the grill as if they held all the answers. “I don’t know. This is a big deal—our engagement. But… maybe we’re rushing things, even though we’ve been together for years.”

Isla took her plate from Kash’s hand and nodded slowly, her eyes thoughtful as she processed his words. “Getting married is a big step for her.”

“Yeah,” Kash replied with a hint of hesitation in his voice. He seemed to wrestle with the thought for just a moment longer before adding, “Well, congratulations.” His gaze flicked between Isla and me again, searching for confirmation in our expressions. “And don’t worry about her. She’ll come around.”

With those words hanging in the air, uncertainty lingered like smoke from the grill while I took in the tension swirling around us—Ava's doubts shadowing our moment but not dimming it entirely. But honestly? I couldn’t find it in me to care as much as I thought I would.

“Are you okay?” Isla asked, concern etching her features.

“Yeah.” I chuckled lightly, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders. “Better, even." I leaned in closer to Isla, catching the faint scent of vanilla mixed with something distinctly her—like fresh air after rain. “This feels right,” I murmured.

She smiled softly at me and glanced over at Ava’s retreating figure before looking back into my eyes. There was something unguarded about that moment, something that made me forget about everything else—the impending storm with Ava and the fact that this wasn't actually real.

"Did you mean what you said?" I asked. "About me?"

Her gaze sparkled with understanding as she nodded slowly. For once in my life, it felt like all those years of being second-best didn’t matter anymore. The jealousy and rivalry that had always plagued me evaporated into thin air when Isla was near.

“Let’s just enjoy today,” she suggested lightly, breaking the tension hanging between us.

I couldn’t help but chuckle—her spirit was infectious. The sun shone brightly above us as I wrapped an arm around her waist once more.

“I like that plan, sugar."

Chapter 19

Isla

The sun dipped low in the sky, casting a warm glow over Ava’s backyard. The smell of grilled burgers mingled with laughter and the crackle of the fire pit. I stood beside Jared, who seemed glued to my side. I wasn't sure if I was annoyed or comforted by it. Maybe a bit of both. He draped an arm around my shoulders, fingers brushing against my arm like it was the most natural thing in the world.

“Did you try the potato salad?” he asked, nodding toward a bowl on the picnic table.

“Not yet,” I replied, trying to focus on the food instead of how good it felt to be so close to him.

“You’re missing out.” He nudged me playfully before wandering over to grab a serving for me.

While he filled a plate, I scanned the crowd. Ava chatted with some friends from her yoga class, their laughter brightening the air. Jared returned with a plate piled high and handed it to me, his fingers lingering on mine for justa moment too long.

“Thanks,” I murmured, heart racing at our little exchanges that felt far too intimate for pretend.

We continued to make small talk, continued to touch.

“What do you think about Serpents this season?”one of Ava’s friends asked, her eyebrows raised in curiosity.

I opened my mouth to answer but felt Jared squeeze my hand slightly. “She could tell you all about my headspace right now,” he interjected smoothly. "But that might be too much for y'all to deal with."

I shot him a look but couldn’t help but smile at how seamlessly he made me feel included.

Jared grinned and leaned closer. “Isla knows what she’s talking about. She helped me through some tough times in my short time being here.”

“That right?” they asked, intrigued now.

He chuckled softly, his breath warm against my ear as he whispered, “I didn’t tell them half of it.”

With each passing minute, our conversations flowed easily; his hand found its way back to my lower back while we moved through the crowd. His touch grounded me—something so simple yet so electric.

Ava caught our eye from across the yard. Her eyes were narrowed, mouth pulled into a grimace.

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