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"Jake has to grade a bunch of papers," she explained. "He needs to get back."
Jill motioned for Isaac to take the place next to me. They traded places although he didn’t sit down just yet. I sensed that Isaac wished Claire was staying longer and maybe a little annoyed that she was leaving, but he rolled with it. He traded places with Jill and came to sit next to me on the swing. It was warm for January, but it was still brisk out, and I sat close to Isaac on the swing.
During the next little while, we told all of them goodbye. Within ten or fifteen minutes, everyone but his parents and us had left. "We'll see them again tomorrow," Emily said in a worried tone as Ryan and his friend pulled off in the sports car. "We'll get together for dinner tomorrow night, and I'll see him then."
Emily was thinking about the following night's plans, but Isaac shook his head. "I don't like that dude," he said.
I was the only one who heard him. "Who?" I asked.
"Jake."
"Why not?"
"I don't know. He's fine. It's just that he's a musician—a singer—I mean, that's not Claire's type."
"I think he's nice," Emily said.
"He's okay," Samuel said. "He's better than that other guy she dated."
"We're going inside," Emily said.
"Okay, thanks," Isaac said. "We'll be back later. I'm taking Ari somewhere."
"Oh, right now? Where?"
"Maybe to a store or for dessert, or even a movie. I don't know. I haven't asked her. I was just on the phone with Micah for about twenty minutes."
"Oh, what did Micah have to say?"
"He's having a hard time. I think one of his band members is going through some personal stuff and bringing it to the band. He's got some other stuff, too. Physical. You know how touring wears him out."
"Well, I'll have to text him and tell him I'm praying for him."
"You can, but he'll be fine. I don't want you to worry. Thanks, Mom."
We told his parents goodbye, and they headed into the house. I knew their family was friends with Micah Lacey, a famous folk singer. I hadn't been exposed to his music, but I knew he had a following because I heard some girls at the studio talking about him. He had been friends with the Alexanders for years, and it wasn't a surprise when Isaac told me it was Micah on the phone earlier and said he needed to go take the call.
"We're finally alone," he said when his parents went inside.
"I know, and now I'm freezing."
"Come here," he said. We both stood up and Isaac pulled me further onto the patio. I thought he was going to take me inside, but he collapsed onto the outdoor couch and pulled me into his arms.
"The heater is going back here, so we can warm up for a minute while we talk about what we're doing next." He sprawled out next to me, talking as he adjusted.
I laid on my back, and Isaac got on his side, stretching out next to me. We were fully clothed, but our bodies touched in several places and my blood was hot and thick because of it. I was so comfortable next to him that I nestled my head into the side of his chest, closing my eyes.
My body was never so comfortable as it was when I was lying next to Isaac. He wrapped his hard, muscular arm around me and I might as well have been in heaven. He touched me gently, rubbing the side of my face with his finger.
The back porch had been full earlier, and now it was just the two of us. I loved the rare chance to be alone with Isaac, resting in his arms.
"It was amazing meeting Jill," I said. "I kept thinking of her as Margaret Winterbottom. I think I almost called her that one time."
"My brother still thinks you work at an ad agency," Isaac said.
I grinned and shook my head at him. Ryan knew better, and Isaac was just being silly, but there had been funny mix-ups with his family and their perception of me from the book. Though there was never anything awkward, and it was all just stuff we laughed about.
He glanced down, looking at my feet. "Are those the boots you got at Claire's store today?"
