34. Isabelle
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
isabelle
W hen we opened the door to my room, a flash of white paper caught my eye in the corner of the entrance. “Wait, look, there’s an envelope on the floor.”
“That’s weird. That definitely wasn’t there earlier.”
“It’s addressed to both of us.” I noticed the handwriting was Ellison’s, too. I opened the envelope, taking out the note inside.
Isa and Reid,
You guys are our best friends, and we love you so much, but sometimes you’re the most clueless people we’ve ever met. Hopefully by now you’ve pulled your heads out of your asses and admitted your feelings for each other (judging by the fact Reid wasn’t in his room last night we feel like you have?). And before you say anything, yes, we know. Literally everyone has seen it since the beginning. Besides you two.
As thanks for everything you’ve done for us in preparation for our wedding, and for standing by us through the best and worst times, we want you both to take a trip to one of our favorite places in the world.
If you haven’t already realized you two are meant for each other, sorry not sorry. Maybe this will help you see it. And if you have, all we have to say is enjoy it. Life is too short to not take chances.
We love you.
Ellison & Colter.
Along with the letter was a receipt for a small cabin up in Glacier National Park for a three-night stay.
“What in The Parent Trap ?” Reid asked after he read the note they’d left for us.
I whipped my head around to him. “You know The Parent Trap?”
“Of course. It was Kacey’s favorite movie growing up.”
“Wow, okay. I learn something new about you every day. But also, that’s literally not the plot of The Parent Trap .” I laughed. “We’re reading the note together, it’s not like they individually invited us and made us show up separately.” Not like how they ambushed us by leaving us alone in a “group chat.”
“It’s close enough. They’re ambushing us with a letter and a reservation,” he countered. “It would have been the same effect if we had shown up separately.”
“I suppose you’re right. But we’re not actually…” my voice trailed off as Reid gave me a confused look.
“We’re not actually what?”
“We’re not actually going, are we?”
“Why not?” He tilted his head slightly and raised an eyebrow.
“I mean, my sister. I told her I was going to go back home. Besides, it’s not like it’s a new place for either of us. And that’s a big step, isn’t it?” I was spewing out any excuse I could think of.
“Damn, and all this time I thought you were a hopeless romantic,” he teased, winking at me after he made the joke. “What’s the harm in going? Amelia said she was fine and wants you to have fun. We’ve never been there together , and like Colt and Ellie said, we’ve got to take chances. Unless you’re scared?”
I rolled my eyes, crossing my arms. “I am not scared. I am completely unafraid. Totally chill.” I didn’t know if I was trying to convince myself or Reid more. I mean, sure we had a moment last night, but what if that was a lapse in judgment? It’s different when you have separate hotel rooms and can leave to sleep in your own bed for the night. Knowing Ellison, the place they rented was probably a one-bedroom house.
We also hadn’t even kissed. What if we do and it’s awkward? Or…bad?
“Well?” He broke me out of my thoughts.
“All right,” I reluctantly agreed. “Let’s go.”
I was still a bit wary of the trip. But after thinking about it, Ellison was right. Life was too short to live in fear of the what ifs.
We were about two hours into the six-hour road trip when a song Isa had added to our joint playlist came on.
“I love this song!” she screeched as she reached for the volume and turned it all the way up.
“You’re going to blow my speakers!” I yelled, but the music—and her singing—drowned me out. She sounded terrible—kind of like what I’d expect a dying cat to sound like—but I wasn’t mad about it. I couldn’t be as I watched her sing in such a carefree manner and dance in the passenger seat like I wasn’t even here. I think it was my new favorite thing about her.
She rolled down her window and stuck her arm out, waving her hand around with the beat. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from her as she screamed along with the song, something about a guy grinning like a devil as he looked up at the girl.
I raised my eyebrows in amusement at the innuendo, and she looked over at me with a massive smile on her face as the song ended.
“All right, Short Stack, you hungry after that performance?” I laughed, shaking my head as she shot me a wink.
Her stomach growled, confirming my suspicions. I don’t think I’d ever heard someone’s stomach make that kind of noise before.
She looked down, a flush spreading across her cheeks. “I guess so.”
“There’s a gas station up ahead. We can stop and get you something. Wouldn’t want you to starve after your pop concert.”
She rolled her eyes, but clear amusement reflected on her face as we pulled off the road.
Before I could even undo my seatbelt, she was already out of the car and walking into the gas station. All I could do was shake my head and follow her inside.
I found her in the snack aisle and walked up behind her as she grabbed a bag of Muddy Buddies and a can of pepperoni pizza–flavored Pringles. She was already holding one of those flavored lemonades in the glass bottles.
“Interesting choices, but I like it. Just need some olives and pineapple,” I teased.
“Ha ha, so funny. What’s your gas station snack then, smartass?” She kept moving to the candy aisle next.
“Usually an energy drink or something. I’m not much of a snacker on the road,” I admitted. I think the last gas station snack I’d ever gotten was a bag of peanuts.
“Well, you need something sweet. Here take these.” She handed me some gummy peach rings as she proceeded to grab three more bags of chewy candy.
“I can think of something sweet that I want.” I smirked as I followed her down the aisle.
Isa’s face turned bright red as she shook her head and pushed me toward the checkout counter. “This is going to be a long drive,” she muttered as we checked out and headed back to the car.
Yes, yes it is.