5. Isaac
Chapter 5
Isaac
My nerves are uncharacteristically on edge.
My afternoon of volunteering at Cove College’s art sale ran long, and I didn’t have a chance to go home and clean up as I’d hoped before our reservation time. Thankfully, I could borrow a clean shirt from a professor friend, Ramón. Brinn said she’d meet me here rather than ride with me. Normally, I am a pretty laid-back guy, but with Brinn Michaels, I am an over-eager dog.
All week, I tried to keep my cool every time I saw Brinn. On Monday, I tried to wave casually when I saw her in the yard, but it definitely came off over-zealous. She teased me about it by sending a series of Forrest Gump waving GIFs.
On Wednesday, she had gone on a walk with us again to Meadow Park on the other side of town. I showed her the joys of watching PB playing fetch. PB would run down the dock and jump into the small, clear lake until she tired out. I held Brinn’s hand up the hill again, even though it didn’t seem like she needed it.
Yesterday, I stopped PB from using the dog-shaped portal in the lilac bushes again. I inadvertently came across Brinn doing yoga in her backyard and stared for a little too long. I still feel guilty about it, but sometimes you see the woman of your dreams doing Warrior Pose, and you can’t help it.
Our reservation is at The Stake House, a new restaurant on the boardwalk. It has a lovely open-air patio on top, and the night is perfect for it. The summer sun is dipping below the horizon, and the waves are sparkling in the twilight. I order a beer as I wait for Brinn, who is now ten minutes late.
We haven’t planned much; it has all been spur of the moment. Perhaps she is a person who runs late. Despite my laid-back nature, I am chronically on time. I give her ten more minutes before shooting her a text asking if everything is okay.
Her reply comes another ten minutes later as I finish my beer.
Brinn: I’m sorry, Isaac. I don’t think this is a good idea.
I stare at the text for a minute, trying to understand what I’d missed between this morning’s excited confirmation that we were still going on this date and this .
The confusion and hurt turn to stone and settle in my stomach as I wait for the check.
When I get home, Brinn’s house is as dark as the night has become.