The Heart of Us (Love in Isolation 4)

“Like what? I'm still sore from my surfing lesson.” I grin, following him to the door where he punches in the code. Once we're securely inside, he locks it and sets the alarm.

“Don't worry. There's almost little to no physical activity.”

He leads me through the house to the game room. “You know how to play pool?”

“I know the general concept, yes, but I haven't played in years,” I admit.

“You wanna do it? I'll even go easy on ya,” he mocks with a wink.

I laugh, some of my anxiousness releasing. “Sure. You set up the balls. I gotta call Oakley really quick so she doesn't worry.”

“You got it, boss.”

“Har har.”

Easton flashes me his devilish boyish grin. With everything going on in his life and with the shop, he still makes an effort to keep my mind occupied.

I walk up to my room and dial my sister's number. She answers on the second ring.

“How'd it go?”

“Actually, it went fine. Easton acted like my personal bodyguard. The nerves were still present, but I didn't worry about anyone coming for me. If they tried, he would've tackled them in two seconds.”

“Would it be weird to wish Justin would just so I could see him get his ass beat?”

“Oakley!”

“You should let me meet Easton on FaceTime so I can see for myself.”

“See what?”

“What's making you drool every day. I think it's my right to be introduced to my future brother-in-law.”

“You're ridiculous. I'm hanging up.” I glare.

“Wait! Before you go and do God only knows with him, I just wanted to say that given the circumstances, you've been happier this past week, than I've seen you in months, hell, years. I hope this version of you is here to stay.”

“Thanks, sis. I feel a ton of mixed emotions, but I can definitely say, happiness is somewhere on that list. He showed me how to surf a couple of days ago. That was a ton of fun.”

“You? Surfing? I can't picture it.” She chuckles.

“Sure did. He even said I was pretty good too.”

“I bet he did,” she sing-songs in her sarcastic tone. “He got a front row seat staring at your bootylicious ass.”

I roll my eyes, even though she can't see me, and sigh. The majority of what comes out of my sister's mouth is sass and sarcasm.

“He wasn't looking,” I reassure her. “He remained professional the whole time.”

“Were you wearing a nun suit?”

“Uh, no. A bikini bottom and swimming shirt.”

“Oh then sis, he was absolutely checking out your ass. Probably your tits too.”

“The last time I had a guy even look my way like that was over a decade ago.”

“Based on what you've told me these past two months and how protective of you he's been, I can't imagine him not noticing how gorgeous you are. If Easton's a twentysomething red-blooded man who likes women, he's definitely noticing.”

“Well, even so, that doesn't mean anything will happen,” I remind her. “In fact, any kind of sexual relationship is off the table. I'm not in the market for one.”

“If that's the case, maybe you should introduce him to your very single and sexy sister.”

I snort. “Sure. When you can reassure me you won't jump his bones like a wild bear, I'll get right on that.”

She laughs, not giving me the reassurance I need, but I change the subject and let her know he's waiting on me in the game room.

“Gonna play pool, huh? More ways to gawk at your ass.”

“Goodbye, you pain in my butt.”

“Love you!” she calls out before I end the call.

Her generation seriously has no filter.

“Everything okay?” Easton asks when I return twenty minutes later. “I thought maybe you fell asleep.”

“No, Oakley's a chatterbox. You'll find out someday I'm sure.”

“Is she coming to visit?”

“I don't know, but she's been persistent about meeting you. Even if it's through FaceTime.”

“So you've been talking me up, huh? What’re you telling her?” The corner of his lips tilt up into a shit-eating grin.

“That you can't cook or change out smoke detector batteries, and you have a co-dependent hamster named George. Oddly, that only made her want to meet you even more.”

My serious tone causes his jaw to drop, and after a few seconds, I burst out laughing.

“Low blow about George, by the way.” He points at me. “But otherwise, accurate.”

“It's okay,” I coo and smile at his cage. Easton must've brought him in while I was gone. “Most people get attached to their pets, so you aren't much different.”

“Well for that little smart-ass remark, you get to break.”

I take the pool stick from his grip, rub some chalk on the tip, then line up the shot. As I focus on my aim, my thoughts go back to Oakley's comments about him staring at my ass. As I glance over at him, I notice his gaze wandering to my backside.

“Is there something wrong with my posture?” I ask, bringing his attention to my face.