Free Following Isaac by Casey McMillin Page A

looking down. His green eyes were breathtaking. I went back to cleaning up.
    "What kind of flower is that?" I heard him ask.
    "Orchids," Johnny answered. I'd never been happier for someone else to answer a question. I continued looking down as I cleaned up my mess.
    The photographer thanked me, and I tried to be as gracious as possible without looking up.
    "Do you need help carrying it to the window?" I heard after a few seconds of silence, during which I assumed they both walked off. By instinct, I looked in the direction of the person speaking, and was stunned to see that Isaac was staring back at me.
    I smiled and tried to look away, but before I could he moved his head in such a way that told me he was trying to hold my gaze.
    "Have we met?" he asked, staring at me intently.
    I managed to look away even though it was nearly impossible with the way he was studying me.
    "Will you look at me for a second, please?" he asked.
    I never imagined he would say something like that and I regarded him with a curious expression.
    "I thought I recognized you for a second," he said.
    "Oh, no, I'm not a model. Everybody tells me I should be one, but I just don't have time."
    It was my fat girl sense of humor coming out, and he cocked his head slightly as if he didn't know how to take me. I laughed. "I'm just kidding around. We don't know each other, though. I mean, aside from me seeing you in some ads, which I don't think counts."
    "You saw me in some ads?" he asked, grinning. "Which ones?"
    "Some jeans I think."
    He looked me over one time before meeting my eyes again. I stared at him, cursing myself for being caught unprepared for the second time .
    What could I do besides be myself? I did my best to enjoy the moment for what it was worth—one last chance to be up close and personal with his flawless face. He looked like he should have been chiseled from marble. I smiled at the thought of trying to enjoy these seconds while they lasted.
    "I'll be done in about three hours," he said bringing me to the present. "Do you want to grab a cup of coffee?"
    "I'm, I have, I was," I put my hand to my chest and paused, trying to compose myself. "Are you talking to me?" I asked, like an idiot.
    He smiled and looked around at the fact that no one else was around. "Yes I am." He reached out and pinched my shirt, tugging it for a second before letting it go. "So whattya say? Do you want to get coffee?"
    I looked around as if someone might be playing a prank on me, but only for a second. "I guess so," I said, shrugging and trying to act natural. Just then, they called his name, and I jumped at the sound.
    He smiled and touched his fingertips to my forearm. "I have to go. Meet me here at six." He started to turn, but looked back at me. "What's your name?"
    "Becca."
    He smiled. "Do you know mine?"
    I nodded and his smile broadened before he took off.
    I was instantly nauseated.
    My heart was racing and I was relatively sure I was on autopilot and wouldn’t remember most of that encounter. In fact, the first thing I did was start doubting that the encounter even happened in the first place. Within a minute after he walked off, I started to question everything.
    I finished with the orchids and cleaned up my area before having someone help me drag the planter in front of the window where we centered it and I made last minute tweaks on the flowers. The photographer gave me a thumbs up as I left, and I returned it like the big dork I was. I didn't even look at anyone else as I walked out; I just smiled as I stuck my thumb in the air and tried not to trip.
    I ran by The Crestwell when I left the photo shoot, and by the time I got home, I only had about an hour to get ready before I had to leave again. I thought about calling Naomi for moral support, but I was honestly scared that I dreamed the whole thing and he wouldn't be there to meet me, in which case, I'd be really embarrassed for having my hopes up.
    I decided not to tell a soul what was going on just