Page 11

ISLA

“So…” Birdie says slowly as we’re busy finishing up the lunch service and preparing the restaurant for dinner.

It’s been a week and two days since our flower picking adventure with Mom, Birdie, and Case and even though I’ve seen my best friend a few times since then, she’s been surprisingly quiet about me and Case. Until now apparently…

“So?” I repeat, eyeing her cautiously.

“Has he called you yet?”

I snort. “You’ve been dyin ’ to ask me about that for days, haven’t you?”

“You have no idea. I promised Will I’d stay out of it but it’s been a week , Iz. I want to know whether he’s called you. Has he asked you out? Are you plannin’ to see him again? Do you like him, like him? Or is it too early to know? Give me somethin ’, at least.”

I stare at her wide eyed, waiting for my brain to finish processing all of her rapid-fire words. “You live with the man, B. Don’t you think you could have—I don’t know—asked him ?”

She pouts. “Firstly, he’s not my best friend. You are. Secondly, I did ask him and he told me to go bug Will and leave his love life to him.”

My head snaps up at her words. “He said that?”

“What part?”

“His love life.”

“Ha! No,” she says, in a gotcha voice. “But your reaction tells me everythin’ I need to know.”

A resigned sigh escapes me. “I walked myself into that one, didn’t I?”

“Yep.” She pops the p like she would bubble gum.

“But I’ll be nice and wait till we’re done here so you can tell me all about whatever there is not to talk about.

” I frown as I try to wrap my head around her confusing, yet somehow coherent sentence.

A look she reads well. “Yeah, yeah. At least I understand what I’m sayin’. ”

I can’t help but snicker. “Mmm hmm.” When she shoulder bumps me with a giggle of her own, I join her.

Thirty minutes later, we clock out and walk out of the restaurant together.

“Want to come with me for some coffee and cake?” Birdie asks, nodding down the street to the Icebox Diner. “You’ve got time before pickin’ up Jessica, don’t you?”

I arch a brow. “I do,” I reply, not hiding my suspicion. “Are you butterin’ me up with promises of cake just so you can grill me about Case?”

“Well, duh . Anyone would think you know me or somethin’,” she replies. “But no. I’m meetin’ Will and as always, you’re welcome to join.”

“OK. Sounds good. Maybe I can grab some of Mack’s meatloaf to have for dinner.”

My best friend beams. “There you go. Two birds, one stone.”

“Does this mean I don’t have to talk about how Case and I haven’t spoken to each other more than sharing a few cursory text messages?”

She sighs. “Dammit. I thought the man had more game than that.”

“It’s OK, B. It’s been nice just havin’ him checkin’ in with me and seein’ how my day was. He knows I’m busy, and he’s been busy with the tree farm too, right?”

“I suppose. The first round of plantin’ is finished now, so he better do somethin’ soon, or else I’m goin’ to kick his a?—”

“Oh look, we’re here already,” I say, smirking at her.

We walk through the door of the diner to find Will waving at us from a booth in the far corner. What makes my smile widen even more is the fact that Case is sitting with him.

I eye Birdie curiously. “My spidey senses are tinglin’, B. Did you arrange a surprise attack?” Not that I mind.

“Me? Noooo…”

“I am capable of arrangin’ my own dates, you know?” I inform her.

“Oh, this isn’t a date. Let’s call this,” she taps her chin, “a weddin’ plannin’ meetin’.”

My eyes widen. “Already? You only just got engaged like a week ago.”

“Oh, you know me,” she shrugs. “Early bird gets the worm and all that.”

That’s when I remember that I’ve known this woman my entire life. “You’ve already got it planned, haven’t you?”

She blushes. “Not really. Will and I have just been talkin’ hypotheticals.”

“And now it’s just about puttin’ them into action?”

“Exactly!” she replies and there’s no way to miss the excitement in her voice. “Besides, I can’t plan my weddin’ to my One without my Maid of Honor now, can I?”

“Really?” I say, my excitement bubbling over into my voice.

“Well, duh . There’s absolutely nobody else in this world that I want standin’ by my side when I pledge my life to my soulmate.”

Tears spring to my eyes as I pull her into my arms in the middle of the diner, not realizing we’re blocking the entrance until we’re bumped from behind. Pulling apart, we both turn to come face to face with Derrick Wilson.

“Hey, Derrick,” Birdie says, cheerfully.

“Hey,” he replies, looking my way and giving me a chin lift. “Isla.”

“Hi.”

“Everythin’ OK?” he asks, taking in our glassy eyes.

“We’re great . Birdie just asked me to be her Maid of Honor,” I tell him.

“You’re gettin’ married ? Wow. Congratulations,” he replies. “Who’s the lucky man?”

“I am,” Will announces, appearing at Birdie’s back and wrapping an arm around her waist in a tell-tale claiming move. He holds his hand out in front of us. “Will Cooper. Nice to meet you.”

Derrick falters before somewhat reluctantly shaking Will’s hand. “Derrick Wilson,” he says cooly.

To his credit, Will doesn’t miss a beat. Everyone in town knows that there’s history between the Wilsons and the Coopers. Birdie and I have been trying to find out more about it along with Will and his brothers. I didn't know until the other night, that included Case aka Curious.

“Nice to meet you,” Will says, his voice steady and strong. Something about their handshake shifts something in Derrick, and I don’t miss the way his eyes flash with something akin to surprise before they let each other go.

“Well, now. Don’t let me keep you. I’m just pickin’ up somethin’ for Ma then headin’ back up the mountain. Congratulations again, Birdie. Will…”

Then he steps around us to make a beeline straight for the register as Will takes Birdie’s hand and leads us to the booth where a confused Case is waiting for us.

“I take it that was one of the Wilsons?” Will asks, slipping back into his seat opposite his brother.

“Sure was. One of five siblings, would you believe? Four boys and a girl. He went to school with us,” I reply, looking over at Case.

“Hey,” he says, sliding toward the window to make space for me. “Fancy seein’ you here.”

“Hmm. These surprise meetin’s are becomin’ a habit.”

His laugh gives me butterflies. There’s just something about it that affects me every time I hear it.

That night we met, I soon realized that he was the type who kept their reactions measured. As more time passed, he slowly opened up and let his guard down which just endeared me even more.

“This time I can honestly say—hand on heart—I didn’t know I’d be gettin’ the pleasure of your company. Not that I’m complainin’. It’s nice to see you again. There’s only so much to say over a text message.”

“You’re right about that,” I say, glancing over to find my best friend shooting me a conspiratorial wink.

“I’m starvin’. Should we go to the register and order, City Boy,” Birdie asks Will.

His eyes crinkle at the sides as he looks over at her, his expression all-knowing. “Sure thing, honey.”

“I’ll come with you,” I say, starting to get up.

Birdie shakes her head, already jumping to her feet. “No, no. You stay. Will and I will order for everyone. Won’t we.”

Will snorts. “Yes, dear.”

A snicker from Case confirms that he’s seeing through their ruse as well.

Once they’ve left, I turn toward him, my lips twitching as I bite back a smile. “She’s not very subtle, is she?”

“Nope. Again, not complainin’. I was goin’ to call you tonight. I know we’ve been messagin’ and believe me, I liked that a lot. I didn’t want you to think I wasn’t interested, but at the same time, didn’t want to seem too eager. Not enough to scare you off, anyway.”

I pin him with a questioning stare. “You sayin’ you’re not eager?”

He pales. “What? No. I mean, yes?” he stammers. When I crack a smile his way, he huffs out a relieved breath. “Damn, you almost got me there.”

“Sorry. Not, sorry,” I laugh.

“Just to clarify, so there’s no misunderstanding. Yes, I am eager. I’m very keen on seein’ you and takin’ you out. Let’s just cover off all of the words that mean I’m interested in spendin’ time with you.”

My heart swells. He’s just so refreshingly honest. It’s adorable. “Well, thanks to my best friend and your brother—who I have no doubt is an unwillin’ accomplice in today’s endeavors—you don’t have to call me tonight anymore.”

He shoots me a lopsided grin. “That’s a shame. I was lookin’ forward to it…”

I sigh happily. There’s just something about a good, honest, well-intentioned man just putting himself out there. No games. No hidden motives. Just stating facts.

I’m tempted to pinch myself to make sure this isn’t just a good dream that I’m going to wake up from.

“You're still welcome to call. I’ve been hopin’ you would since we left the meadow,” I reply. “I’ve enjoyed us textin’ though.”

“I know you’ve got a busy schedule at the moment. I didn’t want to interrupt or intrude.”

“Case,” I say, looking deep into his eyes.

“That’s very kind of you, and I appreciate it more than you know.

But I want you to call. If I can reply to a message, then I can take the time to talk to you over the phone.

I like talkin’ to you, always have. We seem to be quite good at doin’ it too, if I remember rightly. ”

The smile he gifts me after that is kind of breathtaking. “I’ll take that under consideration then.”

“Good,” I reply before we fall silent for a bit too long.

“Is it just me or is this a little…”

“Awkward?” I offer.

The corner of his mouth tugs up and he shakes his head. “Not you, not us . Just… the situation.” He looks over to the register and when I follow his lead, I see Birdie watching us like a hawk. “I feel like we’re on one of those reality datin’ shows.”

A giggle escapes me. “She’s just doin’ it because she cares.”

“She does. She’s also a little invested. She’s been singin’ your praises ever since the engagement party.”