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Her wide grin and messy hair make it impossible to remain stoic, and I find myself smiling in spite of myself.
She prances to my side and shows me one of the photos she took. I have a smirk on my face and three of the llamas even look up for the photo. “I’ll send this one to you. I’m going to need your number.”
I tilt my head to look at her and draw my eyebrows together like I’m really contemplating the idea. “My phone number? Are we ready for that step?”
She juts a hip out and pops her fist onto it in a sassy pose. “Seeing as we’ve already played tonsil hockey, I think we could exchange numbers.” She smirks. “Plus, it would be so much easier to complain about your heavy metal music if I could just text you.”
A deep laugh rumbles through my chest, surprising us both—and the llamas. “I’d almost forgotten about that.”
She laughs. “So, do you actually listen to heavy metal?”
I pin her with an amused expression. “Do you really love yard ornaments?”
“Touché,” She concedes. “You really are a classical music snob, aren’t you?”
“Does having season tickets to the Wichita Orchestra make me a classical music snob?”
She scoffs. “Definitely.”
I shrug my shoulders and we continue walking around the Incan ruins until we spot Anthony and Hannah. They’re seated on the rocks, hand in hand, quietly taking in the scenery.
Isa rushes over and captures a picture of them. The faux camera shutter sound catches their attention.
“Oh, can you text me that one?” Hannah asks, standing up.
“I will!” Isa agrees and then sighs. “You guys are so cute.”
Hannah reaches for Isa’s phone, a smirk tugging at the corners of her mouth. “Okay, now let me get one of you two!”
Isa takes a few steps so she’s right next to me and I slip my hand around her waist. We lean into each other and smile at the camera as if we’ve done this a million times. I’ll definitely give Isa my number now, because I really want to hold onto that photo.
Hannah hands the phone back to Isa and she scrolls through the pictures, smiling at each one. I glance over her shoulder so I can see them too.
“Dang.” Isa zooms in on our faces. “We look pretty good considering we’ve been hiking and camping for four days.”
“You always look good,” I say just loud enough for Isa to hear. She looks up at me with her chocolate brown eyes, and I take a second just to look at her.
“Hannah was telling me this would be a really cool spot for a wedding. Just in case you two needed any ideas.” Anthony says with a smirk.
I huff out an awkward laugh and Isa rubs the back of her neck. Both of us are obviously feeling awkward at his assumption.
Hannah and Anthony laugh and Isa folds her arms over her chest and tries to look cross with them. “Hannah has you in on this now, huh?” she asks Anthony in a playful tone. “I told you two I have no interest in marriage… Too much of the world to see and too little time.”
My jaw clenches at her statement, but I attempt to look unbothered. Does she really never want to get married? I mean, I know we’ve only kissed and talked about exchanging numbers, but what about someday… in the very, very distant future? Would she balk at the idea of marrying someone if she really loved them? Would she peg me as a traditionalist like her parents if I felt that way?
I’ve never entertained the idea of getting married, having never met anyone I liked enough to consider the idea. But I’d like to think if I fell in love, I’d marry that person and want a family with them. I see how happy Madden and Sophie are with their spouses and their adoration for their children, even though they’re crazy, and I can picture myself having that—albeit with much better-behaved children… probably mathematical geniuses as well.
Anxiety makes its way throughout my body, causing a pit to form in my stomach. Me and Isa are so different. I take everything seriously and weigh my options carefully. Each decision I make I’ve put thought and planning into. If she sees no future with me and just kisses men on trips for the fun of it, then maybe this is better as a quick vacation romance. We can chock it up to the romantic scenery and magical Incan constellations, and continue as platonic neighbors once we arrive back home.
Chapter eighteen
Isabella
After spending most of the day exploring Machu Picchu, we had the choice to hike the rest of the way down the mountain, about a three-hour trek, or purchase a ticket to ride down on the mountain train. I’ve enjoyed spending time with David so much, I’d assumed we’d hike down together. But David purchased a ticket for the train. He asked me if I wanted a ticket, but something about his body language made me say no. He seemed stiff and formal, like he did back in Kansas, before we’d kissed and shared a tent and looked at the stars. Before we developed feelings for each other.
Feelings that were real for me, but maybe weren’t for him? Maybe he just needed some time alone. He seems like the kind of guy who’d need some time to decompress after a trip like this spent around people he doesn’t know well.
I don’t understand introverts.
