Chapter 9
NINE
Isla
Nine Months Later…
I stand at the finish line, surrounded by Lucas and Camila’s families and friends, all of us filled with jittery anticipation. I’m not sure why I’m nervous—Lucas is the one who’s about to propose. I have no doubt that Camila will say yes.
Maybe I’m nervous because Travis is here. And unlike the times I’ve had to interact with him briefly over the past nine months, this time, he’s not going anywhere.
He’s spent close to the last year getting the business going in Seattle, and now two other guys—Cody and Ryan—will work that area, along with an admin girl, Emerald. As such, Travis is back for good as of this past Friday.
I’ve been telling myself it’s not a big deal, we’re both adults who have been able to act professionally when we did interact—mostly on the phone and rarely in person. But it’s been over a month since I’ve set eyes on him, and when I arrived here today, it felt like a punch in the gut for reasons I can’t explain.
Especially because I’m seeing someone—have been for the past three months—and things are going okay. Blake and I matched on a dating app and have been seeing one another since. He’s different from any man I’ve ever had a relationship with before, but none of those other relationships worked out, so I tell myself that’s a good thing. He’s the opposite of everything Travis is.
I glance at the man in question, who has positioned himself well away from me in the crowd of family and friends. He’s in a pair of dark cotton shorts with a plain gray T-shirt that stretches across his chest, a pair of dark sunglasses, and that damn backward hat that looks so good on him.
Does he know how hot that is? Probably. He’s probably wearing it to torture me.
Shouts and clapping startle me from my thoughts, and I turn to see Camila racing toward us.
We’re stationed at the finish line of the trail run she’s competing in today. She does these regularly, though I keep telling her I don’t know why she’d put herself through the torture.
The two of us have grown closer this year, and I am certain she has no clue that Lucas plans to propose to her today. Something that is apparent when her shocked face takes us all in.
We’re cheering her on as she crosses the finish line and stops to bend at the waist to catch her breath, then she rushes over to Lucas, who is on bended knee.
“Congratulations on finishing the race,” he says.
She glances around at the group of us surrounding them. “What are you doing?” she whispers.
“Camila, I’ve known since you came into my life that you were something special. I know it might seem weird that I chose a finish line as the place to do this, but the end of one thing is always the beginning of another. I want this moment to be the end of your single life. When we leave here, I want you to be my fiancée and then my wife. Eventually, the mother of our children. I love you more than I even knew I could love anyone. Cami, will you make me the luckiest guy alive and be my wife?”
Tears well in her eyes, and she nods frantically as she drops to her knees in front of him, placing her hands on his cheeks. “Yes! Yes, I’ll be your wife!”
We all cheer as they embrace and share a moment. Then Lucas pulls the box from his back pocket and presents her with a stunner of a ring.
She holds her hand out for him to put it on her left ring finger. “It’s gorgeous. I’m never taking it off.” She holds her hand out to admire it sparkling under the sun.
“That’s the idea.” He kisses her again, then stands and holds his hand out to help her.
Everyone swarms them with congratulations, hugging and kissing them. I stand back a bit since I’m not family and wait for most of the people to clear out. There’s a gathering planned after this at Lucas’s parents’ house. I had planned to attend, but now I feel a little uncomfortable because Lucas told me to invite Blake along. That seemed like a good idea then, but now I think I’ll be uncomfortable with Travis there, which I know is stupid. We had a momentary… thing, and it was almost a year ago. But he didn’t approach me to say hi when he arrived, which leaves me feeling awkward.
I approach the happy couple. “Congratulations, you guys. I’m so happy for you.”
“Thanks,” Camila says.
I give them both a hug. “Listen, I don’t think I’m going to be able to go back to your parents’ house for the barbecue, so I wanted to make sure I said congrats before I take off.”
Camila frowns. “Why wouldn’t you come? Do you and Blake have a hot date or something?” She waggles her eyebrows.
I take a quick glance over to where Travis is standing. “I think it’s probably just best if I avoid it, that’s all. No biggie. You guys go be with your family.”
“You have to come,” Lucas pushes. “We won’t take no for an answer, will we, Camila?”
She shakes her head.
I bite my bottom lip and look at Travis again, who’s now staring in our direction. “Are you sure?”
“Definitely,” Lucas says.
“Okay, I’ll see you over there after I pick up Blake.” I give them a hesitant smile and walk back to my car.
I suppose I need to get used to this kind of thing. It’s like ripping off a Band-Aid, right? Exposure therapy.
The more time I spend with Travis, the less awkward things will be.
Thankfully, when I arrive with Blake at the party, there are enough people that I don’t even see Travis, though I assume he’s here somewhere.
Lucas and Camila haven’t arrived yet since she had to go back to their place and shower, but Josh and Brady are two of the first people I see. As usual, Josh does his best to make me feel comfortable. I’ve learned that’s just who he is. He wants everyone to enjoy themselves.
“Hey, Isla. Glad you could make it.” He turns his attention to Blake at my side. “And you must be Blake. Josh. Good to meet you, man.” He sticks his hand out, and the two of them shake.
“Pleasure,” Blake says with a nod, and I can’t help but notice how formal he sounds compared to Josh. As if the two of them are meeting in a boardroom or something.
“Hey, I’m Brady. This shithead’s best friend.” He thumbs toward Josh.
Blake doesn’t say anything to be rude—I don’t think he ever would—but I can tell by the slight widening of his eyes that he’s a little taken aback by Brady’s brashness. The two of them shake hands.
“Can I get you guys something to drink?” Josh asks us. “My parents have a whole setup on that end of the yard. There’s beer and wine, some finger foods, and I think my dad is just getting ready to fire up the grill and put on some burgers and dogs.”
“We can get it ourselves.” I smile at Josh, appreciating his effort to make us comfortable.
“All right then, have at it. I’m going to go see if my mom needs me to bring anything else out, then I’m gonna grab my own beer.”
“Thanks, Josh.”
I take Blake’s hand and weave through the crowd of people, most of whom I don’t know, toward the back of the yard where the tables have been set up. When we break free of the crowd, I spot the tables a few feet ahead of us just as a large body turns around, almost crashing into me.
Our eyes lock for the briefest of moments.
Travis.