Page 46 of Check Mate

With a sigh, I sip my coffee and ponder for the hundredth time how she and I would ever work in the real world. In our everyday lives. Me with my schedule and an obsession with labeling everything… her with her travels and tendency to be… well, a hot mess. Emphasis on the hot.

Drew was right; we have chemistry. Amazing chemistry. But I’m not sure that’s enough. I imagine that chemistry postpones most arguments in the beginning of relationships, when everything is new and exciting. But what about a year later when your significant other still throws their clothing near the hamper instead of inside the hamper? Or leaves their makeup scattered all over the bathroom counter? Or… puts cereal in the container labeled Rice.

I shudder at the thought.

Yeah, all of that chemistry that was so fun at the beginning will spontaneously combust and destroy the entire laboratory. And it won’t be pretty.

Taking my mug of freshly brewed coffee to the table, I open my laptop and Google Isa’s Itinerary. A photo of Isa in front of the Eiffel Tower pops up right away, along with a link to her website.

I click on the link and a pop-up appears, asking me to subscribe. Rolling my lips together, I narrow my eyes at the screen. I absolutely want to subscribe… but I don’t want her to know I subscribed. I quickly type in my junk email address, which doesn’t have my name in it, and click subscribe.

Her website fills my screen and I’m immediately impressed. I don’t know if she designed it herself, but it’s very professional. The tabs to skip ahead to different months are accessible and easy to find. And at the bottom of each article, everything she mentioned is linked on a website called Like To Know It. I’m assuming that’s how she tracks people’s purchases and gets commissions.

She even used an appropriate font. Arial. Solid choice.

I peruse her articles for nearly an hour when my phone pings with a text.

Isa: Found my website already, huh?

My eyes widen. How did she know?

David: Did you install a hidden camera inside my house?

Isa: Only you would have the email address: [email protected].

David: You got me.

Chapter twenty

Isabella

Biting my bottom lip anxiously, I think of what to say next. I want to see him, and possibly get a better idea of his feelings. If he just wants to forget everything that transpired in Peru and be friends, that’s fine.

Okay, it’s not really fine. My feelings go way beyond friendship at this point and hopefully he feels the same way.

Isa: What are you doing tonight?

David: I have some work to catch up on. You?

Isa: Writing an article for my website on Machu Picchu and praying my neighbor doesn’t interrupt my work with his heavy metal music.

David: Your neighbor sounds really cool and edgy.

Isa: He’s alright. Do you think you’ll be done with work by dinner?

David: Yeah, I should be.

Isa: Me too… So why don’t we have dinner together?

I hold my breath and wait for his reply. My heart sinks when a whole minute has passed with no response.

A loud knock comes from my front door and my head snaps up. I walk quickly over to answer it and see David standing there wearing his signature outfit: a polo and dress pants. I look down at what I’m wearing: distressed shorts and the Abuela’s Mexican Grill t-shirt I slept in last night. In my defense, I wasn't expecting him to come over.

“Are you asking me on a date?” he asks, crossing his arms over his chest. A smile tugs at his lips despite trying to remain serious.

“Yes. I am asking you on a date.” I sigh and drag one hand through my hair. Oh gosh, my hair is still in the braided pigtails I did after my shower last night.

“Okay, but can I choose the restaurant?”