by Keelan Storm
“Let’s sit down,” Isabel said, rolling the vacuum into their room so that it would be there when she was ready for it.
Annie walked across their bedroom and straddled their desk chair, biting her lip impatiently, not wanting to sit on her bed since she was covered in sweat and cleaners. Isabel took a seat on the edge of her bed. They were only a few feet apart, but the iciness Annie emitted made it seem like a much further distance.
“Well, talk,” she said when Isabel didn’t speak right away.
She winced. Annie wasn’t usually so intolerant with her patches of silence. “I screwed up.”
Annie snorted. “No kidding.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I hope so.”
“I am.”
“Good. You really hurt me.”
Isabel sighed. “I’d love to say I didn’t mean to, but I did.”
“At least you’re honest.”
“You’d know if I wasn’t.”
“Yeah,” Annie agreed. She was still upset, but her tone was less harsh now.
“I think you should know why I did it.”
“You made it pretty clear when you sent Emma that text earlier.”
She shook her head. “No, that was my excuse, but that wasn’t why.”
Annie frowned, perplexed at the new turn of the conversation. “Then, why?”
“I was angry at you.”
“Izzy, that’s not news.”
“Let me finish, Annie.”
“Sorry,” Annie said and pressed her lips together, fighting to keep from biting her bottom lip and hoping that Izzy would hurry up and explain before her limited supply of patience she had left in stock for her sister was used up entirely.
When Isabel could see that Annie was trying her best to stay quiet, she continued, “I was angry at you, yes, but not for what you think. I was mad because you make me feel so guilty about things that are happening.”
“What things?” “What could I possibly be making Izzy feel guilty about?”
Isabel rolled her eyes at her sister’s second interruption but went ahead. “Ever since Tucker and I decided we weren’t moving away for school, you’ve been upset around me. Whether you mean to show it or not, I feel it. It makes me feel horrible that I’m making you feel so horrible.”
“Izzy,”
“Annie!”
“Sorry.”
“All I feel lately when I’m around you is guilt. Guilt about the fact that it’s because of me that all of our plans have to change and guilt about the fact that I’m the reason why we can’t stay together after this year. Even if I had gotten into the academy, we could have at least still lived together.”
“I tried to give you solutions.”
“I know you did, and I know that you weren’t doing it just to save our plans. I know that you were trying to help, but that’s not how you can help me now, Annie.”
Annie stared down at the floor in frustration, not at her sister anymore, but at herself. “I don’t understand.”
Isabel growled in frustration. “Exactly! That’s exactly it. You don’t understand, but you try to act like you do.”
Annie looked up. “That’s just because I want to be there for you like I always have been.”
“But you can’t! Not in the way you want to. Things aren’t like they used to be, sis. If there’s anything I need you to understand, it’s this! I don’t need you to try to fix things for me. I don’t need you to understand everything because you can’t, not if you’ve never gone through it. What I do need from you is someone who is willing to listen just to listen and someone who is there for me when I need them.”
Isabel stopped then and waited for her sister’s response. She hoped that Annie could accept her words. She was tired of them being at odds.
Annie stared at the floor, processing. All this time, she thought she was helping Izzy, when in fact, she had been struggling to keep something that was forever changed intact.
She understood now. Not what her sister said she couldn’t; she was sure Izzy was right. She wouldn’t be able to understand it unless she had actually gone through it. But she did have a whole new perspective on the situation.
Now, she had two options. She could continue to try to salvage a bond that was irreversibly altered, or she could step back and support a new bond that had formed between her sister and best friend, the bond she was sure Izzy needed more than anything now. It wasn’t a hard decision.
Annie met her sister’s gaze. She could still see the physical replication of her own eyes looking back at her, but there was something else there now: a mixture of pain, confusion, and a certain combination of maturity and determination that came with a situation she wouldn’t reach for a long time. “Alright,” she said, “I can do that.”
The twins leaned forward then and exchanged a long and most needed hug.
“Thanks, Annie.” Izzy apologized again. “I really am sorry I hurt you.”
“I know. You’re forgiven.”
“Thanks.”
“Am I?”
“Of course, but while we’re having this heart-to-heart, I have a question I’ve been hesitant to bring up for a while.”
“Okay?” Annie said, curious.
“Jet mentioned something one time, but he blew it off when he realized we hadn’t talked about it. I didn’t want to push you, but I just want to check. Are things okay with you and Jet?”
“Ugh,” Annie groaned, dropping her head to her arms that rested on the back of the chair. “Funny enough, this is something I didn’t bring up because I didn’t want you to feel guilty.”
“Well, that makes me feel better,” Isabel quipped.
“Sorry, it’s not your fault at all. It’s me doing my ‘too far in my own head’ thing.”
“About what?”
“Being afraid of getting pregnant,” Annie admitted. “I get all weird every time Jet and I have sex now, and it got pretty ugly last week. I’ve talked it out with him some, but it sucks. Things were so good with us before in that department, but now that I’ve been having all these issues with the pill, I’m just paranoid.”
“Oh, Annie. We could have talked about this.”
She shrugged. “Maybe.”
“Definitely, because I would have told you to talk to Mom a long time ago. If the pill’s that bad, see if she can get you put on something else that does work. There are other options.”
If her hands weren’t gross with bathroom scum, Annie would have face-palmed. Why didn’t she think of that? “Thanks, sis, that’s actually awesome advice.”
“Of course it is,” Isabel smiled.
Annie rolled her eyes playfully and stood up. “So what all do you have left?”
“Clean up in here so I can vacuum and then straighten and dust the living room for today.”
“Alright, well, let’s get started. We can work together. You talk. I listen.” She offered, making good on her promise.
Isabel smiled. “You’re the best.”
Annie grinned. “I know. So are you.”
24
Loophole
Isabel dug her toes into the sand, relishing the feel of beach, shells, and waves surrounding her, the air crisp and clear. She rested a hand upon the swell of her stomach, Destiny dancing happily away with her mother’s serenity.
“How’s my little nudger, doing?” Tucker asked, pressing a gentle hand to his girlfriend’s belly.
“Active,” Isabel replied with a smile. “She likes it out here. And the dessert.”
“I can’t believe you convinced me to buy you an ice cream,” Tucker said, enjoying the tapping of his daughter’s feet against his hand. “It’s freezing out here.”
Isabel shrugged, taking another lick of the chocolate swirl cone as she shivered. “Worth it,” she replied. “Ice cream on the beach is a staple for this baby.”
She said it so matter-of-fact like it had to be the m
ost obvious and indisputable thing in the world, that Tucker had to fight back a laugh. He hadn’t seen Izzy this relaxed and happy in a long time. If she wanted ice cream on the beach in fifty degree weather, she could have it.
A gust of ocean breeze blew in from the water, chilled with the December air, and he watched her give a violent shake before taking another generous lick of the cold dessert.
“This is ridiculous,” he thought, getting up to run back to his truck. He grabbed a blanket from the backseat of his cab and paused to consider the package he’d had stashed under the seat since Thanksgiving.
Romantic, surprise date on the same stretch of beach where he’d first told his girl he loved her? Check. Cleared with friend to take girlfriend to said private stretch of beach? Check. Pregnant girlfriend practically oozing with contentment? Check. It would be hard to top today.
Making his decision, Tucker ran back to wrap the fleece plaid blanket around his shivering girlfriend’s shoulders.
“Thanks,” she smiled at him, leaning against his arm as he settled beside her. “You’re going to make a really great husband one day.”
“I hope great boyfriend does for now.” “Or maybe something else…” he thought hopefully.
“Great boyfriend is perfect for now,” Isabel breathed on a sigh, taking her last bite of ice cream. She shivered again, the blanket clutched around her shoulders. “So worth it,” she murmured unapologetically at her boyfriend’s raised eyebrow, making him chuckle. “I still can’t believe your nana was trying to talk you into marrying me already,” she said as she stared out at the choppy water.
Tucker groaned. His nana was definitely crafty, putting ideas in his head. It had not been a pleasant experience to have his her practically shove her engagement ring at him during his visit. “You have a responsibility to that girl and your baby. Take my ring. Do the right thing,” she had said to him.
It hadn’t mattered how many times he’d tried to explain things to her or how many times he’d flat out refused; his stubborn and completely loveable, old Nana had somehow still managed to send him home with that ring, a fact that Izzy was not aware of.
He knew she would love it. There was no way to deny that. It had her personality written all over it. He just wished he knew what she’d say, knowing he was going to have to spin things just right.
“I mean, I already know what life I want to have with Izzy. Why can’t we at least show the rest of the world how committed we are?” He hated the idea of people doubting and looking at him like some kind of baby daddy that could disappear.
“As long as we’re together, and Destiny has both her parents. No one but us knows what the best thing for us is,” Tucker said, reaching for the package he’d placed behind his back. It was now or never; he had to try.
“Isabel?” Tucker started, trying to squash the ball of nerves that had taken over his stomach.
Her heart fluttered as it always did when he used her name, her real name.
“I picked something up for you and the baby,” he started, handing her the pink, rectangular package.
“What?” she looked at him curiously. Pleasantly surprised, she slipped her finger under the taped flap and began to open it. “Oh, Tucker! It’s beautiful!” she cried, admiring the pink and white plaid cloth cover of the prettiest baby book she’d ever seen. Her fingers stroked the embedded lace as he moved in front of her. “You remembered,” she smiled.
“Open it,” he instructed, palms sweating with anticipation.
Tied with ribbon to the middle ring inside, the diamond glinted proudly in the late afternoon sun.
Isabel gasped, looking up to search his eyes. Tucker met her bright green gaze. Stomach in his throat, he worked to steady his heart that raced uncontrollably in his chest and fought to keep from gripping the back of his neck. He wanted to seem as composed as possible for this.
“Tuck?” Isabel asked, her voice breathy and unsure.
“Come on, man, you can do this,” he told himself, taking a steadying breath.
“Isabel, you’ve been my best friend for years. Never as a kid would I have thought we’d end up here. It turned my world upside down when I realized what you meant to me, and I know you’ve worried that I wish things had happened differently, but I want you to know that I wouldn’t change a thing. Because I have you. I love you and Destiny more than anything else in the world. Nothing is as important to me as the two of you. Nothing,” he stressed.
She closed her mouth. He’d answered her question without her having the chance to ask it. Her eyes had begun to fill with tears at his sweet words. Didn’t he realize he was going to make her cry?
“I know how you feel about marriage right now, and I don’t want to push you, but I do want you and everyone else to know exactly what I see for us, and for our little family.”
She swallowed, unable to look away, her throat tight with emotion for the man she loved. He pulled at the ribbon to free the ring, and moved to one knee in front of her.
“Isabel Faye Dearly, I love you with all of my heart, with all that I am. I want to spend the rest of my life with you and our baby. Will you marry me? When the time is right?”
Isabel stared at him in awe. Could this really be happening? Was Tucker really proposing? Shouldn’t she be upset that he was doing this? They had talked about it before. That marriage just simply wasn’t the best or even the right thing for them to do any time soon, not with the situation they were in. But he wasn’t really proposing that, was he?
“Leave it to him to find a loophole.” A loophole she hadn’t even realized she wanted until right now.
She saw the falter in Tucker’s eyes and realized that he would think she was hesitating. She set the precious baby book aside, and her hands moved to either side of his face, her eyes never losing his. She loved him so much it was ridiculous.
“Yes, Tucker. I will marry you…when the time is right.”
His face lit up, surprised, and thrilled by her agreement, and they both laughed as he fumbled to get the ring onto her hand.
“It’s gorgeous,” she whispered, holding out her hand to admire the swirl of tiny diamonds trailing along the band in their delicate pattern to wrap around the larger diamond at the center. She couldn’t imagine loving another ring more.
“You’re gorgeous,” Tucker corrected, reaching out to tuck some strands that had escaped her braid behind her ear.
Beaming at his words, she couldn’t take her eyes off of the ring, and he couldn’t take his eyes off of her. Her smile radiated throughout her, and Tucker couldn’t help thinking about how this beautiful girl would be his forever.
Feeling like he might burst, he leaned in to steal her lips in a kiss as Izzy wrapped her arms around his neck, his passion only growing as he embraced her. He knew he should try to hold himself back some, but he couldn’t help it. There was no one around on the private beach to see them anyway.
Isabel reveled in the power of their kiss. Her head spun, and her body longed for Tucker so deeply she could barely stand it. Anxious and excited at the prospect of where they were, she forced her lips away from his before she could change her mind.
His attentions moved straight to her neck, and she gasped at the sensations it sent through her with that place behind her ear he loved to find. She fought to maintain control enough to tell him what they both so wanted to hear and with her lips pressed against his ear, and she whispered with purpose, “Take me.”
Not even a whole second had passed before he was spreading the blanket out across the beach. Her hands grasped his shoulders when he laid her back, the fleece protecting them from the coldness of the sand as their legs intertwined.
Tucker wrapped his length around Isabel’s back, craving the closeness several other positions could no longer allow with the bump that held their daughter. He adjusted what he needed to between them, not daring to remove her dress with the cold, and their moans mixed as he slid in from behind. He lea
ned over her, kissing her, unable to get enough as they sealed their promise together.
Isabel relished in his touch, every caress, as his body moved in harmony with hers, her hand boldly grabbing his to place it where she needed. It was perfect, and she’d swear her heart had never felt so full as she broke with the cresting waves of the ocean in his arms.
* * *
Annie lay in Jet’s arms beneath the reversible gray and black comforter of his bed while he stroked the soft, bare skin of her back. They had been done for a while, but they enjoyed lying in each other’s arms. It was good, better than it had been, but it still wasn’t great. Not like last summer.
“I’m sorry, babe,” Annie said as she twirled a finger through his chest hair. “Maybe I’ve just been in my head for too long.”
“Maybe,” Jet agreed. “Are you sure it’s working right? That’s what made you so nervous about the pill.”
“No, I’m not really worried about that with the IUD. The doctor assured me that it was even good enough to be used as a morning after protection.”
Jet nodded. That news made even him feel a lot better. “We’ll figure it out,” he told her in reassurance. “We’ll find chances over Christmas break, and tonight’s Homecoming. I have something special planned.”
Annie scowled and sat up. “I swear, if you tell me I have to keep a dress on at the dance tonight. Wearing one for the game is bad enough.” Why in the hell their classmates decided she should be a part of the Homecoming court, she had no clue. It was bad enough to be a nominee, but now she was going to have to subject herself to Izzy for a few hours of dress up. She shuddered.
“No,” Jet chuckled, placing his hand at her back. “No dressing up. Dressing down, maybe.”
“What?”
He flashed her a cheeky grin. “I had Tucker book us a hotel room. We don’t have to set foot at the dance tonight if you don’t want to.”
“You’re kidding?!” she exclaimed, her mood immediately lifted. “Jet, that’s amazing,” she leaned over him for a kiss, talking again as soon as she came up for air. “Curfew or cover?”
“Up to you.”
