Chapter 21

Two months had passed. Everyone was coming home for the holidays. We were having Thanksgiving dinner at our house this year. Baylen was home for a week and so was Quinn. They have been dating for two years now and were as cute as ever. Jeff wasn’t coming to this dinner since we weren’t boyfriend and girlfriend. We decided family events were off limits if we were to keep our friendship. It had been a great time making out with him and being friends too. It kept my heart protected.

Casey and Cyman were still not a couple yet and he was still with Harper. She didn’t want to hear anything I had to say about it though, so I kept it to myself, but I had a lot to say when she was ready to hear it.

As we chatted over appetizers, the doorbell rang. I went to see who it was. My mom flipped the holiday record she was playing and Keegan and Baylen were engrossed in a conversation about football. To my surprise when I opened the door, it was Isadora! I could not believe Keegan asked her to come to our thanksgiving dinner.

“Oh, hello Brees,” she said in her gorgeous Italian accent.

She reached forward to hug me and kiss my cheek. She had on a cute teal sweater dress and knee high boots. She smelled like a freaking goddess and her beautiful, dark beach waves were perfect.

I gave her a cordial smile as Keegan rushed passed me to greet her. He gave her a quick kiss on the lips and took her by the hand to meet the rest of the guests. I watched them as the pair made their rounds. They were two of the most beautiful people I had ever seen. He really seemed like he liked her and I couldn't really be upset with him for that.

“Everyone, dinner is done!” Ms. Kyren yelled from the dining room. We all filed in and sat at our place cards my mom had made. Isadora even had one, so Keegan had told my mom she was coming. I stared at the cursive script spelling out her name in gold. She even has a beautiful name. My gosh, I may date her if things don’t work out for her and Kee. I giggled to myself.

Dinner was great. My mom made her famous mashed potatoes with the bits of turkey in them and it was amazing. Everyone was cordial and the food was delicious. Alison told us about the trip her and dad were taking in March to Portugal. Quinn discussed how junior year in college was her most difficult year yet. Baylen complained about how much he hates being a redshirted freshman. I just enjoyed hearing all of the stories and soaked it all in.

The doorbell rang, yet again, so I hopped up to greet our next guest. I could still hear laughter and chatting from the other room as I trotted in my black heels to the door. I didn’t expect the person on the other side of that door. I opened the door to see Jagger standing there holding a pumpkin pie.

“Jagger? What in the world?” I said, standing shocked in the doorway.

After my initial shock wore off, I lunged forward and embraced her. I had missed that face so much. We texted here and there but not too frequently. She was busy training for softball and I was busy having an existential crisis in my love life.

“Well I missed you too beautiful?”she said, wrapping one arm around my waist.

“I didn’t mean to attack you with my hug, I just truly didn’t think I would ever see you again,” I said, trying to hide my embarrassment.

I grabbed her pie and set it on the doorway table. I then closed the door so we could talk privately on the swing.

“Well it’s my dad’s turn for the holidays this year, so you will actually see me quite a bit. I’m here for five days but I’m here for 17 days in December!” she shared.

“Well that is amazing news. I haven’t heard from you, so I thought you had forgotten about me,” I said, picking at my nails nervously.

She grabbed my hands and slid closer to me on the porch swing.

“Brees James, I could never forget about you,” she said, touching my knee.

I smiled. I hadn’t thought about Jagger as an option since she had rejected me almost five months ago. But having her here made those feelings come back. She made my heart flutter and made my pulse race with her touch.