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I had been trying to broach this subject for a couple of days but kept wavering. I wasn’t entirely sure what was holding me back, but I suspected it had more to do with me than Isaac. “Actually, there’s a thing.”
“A thing?”
“My dad is on tour with Travis and Kristen.” Which he knew but I felt like I needed to be clear. “They’re playing the arena next week, but before that they arranged two days off so the band can get some rest and enjoy the beach. They’re planning a secret concert in the park by your house on Sunday night. It could be a good time to meet everyone in a casual setting.”
He blinked and shook his head like he was clearing it. “Meet the family and a secret concert? Sounds like a perfect night.”
“You’re sure?”
“Absolutely.”
“And then if it goes well, we’ll do a lunch at my place on Monday.”
“Absofreakinglutely.”
My chest loosened.
“And while we’re on the subject of uncomfortable family business, I have some of my own.”
“What’s up?”
“Summer vacation starts in a few weeks and Rosie will be spending a lot more time here.”
“And I’ve been sleeping over every night.”
“Well, that’s not the problem. I need to hire help. I’ve been meaning to and I haven’t gotten around to it.”
That’s right. The Brady Bunch house still needed its Alice. “What does that have to do with me?”
“Well, you are part of my life.” He shifted a little to cup my face and tilt it up towards him. “I’d like you to meet the candidates, too. I don’t want to pick someone you don’t get along with.”
“Are we going too fast?” This felt fast. After only a few weeks of dating we were talking about schedules and overlapping lives.
“You’re thinking again, Kate. Why don’t you try feeling instead?”
I was feeling. Feeling panic. Logically this was all too fast. Especially with a child involved. How could Isaac be so casual about it all? What if we broke up in a month, or six months, or a year? What would that do to Rosie?
“I see I’m fighting a losing battle tonight,” he sighed. “Just promise me you’ll think about all this with an open mind. Talk to Mei. Let me meet your family. Don’t panic until this shakes out.”
He had many logical, good points. It didn’t stop me from worrying, though. Or feeling. Lots of feelings, actually. The overwhelming, breathtaking, knock-me-on-my-ass tsunami of feelings. I wanted to make Isaac happy, but more than that, I never wanted to hurt him.
“I will do my best.”
“Hey.” His thumb stroked my cheek. “Honesty, remember?”
I melted under his worried gaze and the truth—the real truth—came flooding out of me. “I love you.”
I expected him to be surprised or shocked, but instead he smiled. “I know.” His grin expanded. “I love you too. That’s why I’m not interested in taking anything slow. I want it all and I want it now.”
26
Isaac
There wasn’t much that could faze me. Kate saying she loved me though? Blew my damn world apart. I knew I loved her. Deep inside me the feeling was unmistakable. The only reason I hadn’t said it first was because I hadn’t stopped and thought for long enough to fully recognize what was happening. But now that the words were out I could see and feel it all as plain as day.
Love.
Confident, overwhelming, mind-altering love. I wasn’t afraid of it, either. I always thought I would be, but no. Instead I felt peace. It wasn’t the same kind of love I felt for Rosie or Everett, but it came from the same source. That’s how I knew it was real.
