Free The Isaac Project by Sarah Monzon

hand on the small of her back.
    “Luke, I’d like you to meet Lisa.”
    “Nice to meet you, Lisa.” We shook hands, and I nodded toward Sam with a wicked grin. “So how did you meet this buffoon here?”
    She smiled up at Sam with adoration shining from her eyes, and my stomach caught for a moment.
    That’s funny. Must be hungrier than I thought.
    “We met on campus. I was studying in the gazebo, and he came up to me and asked me how many times he would have to march around me before I’d fall for him.” She laughed, and Sam shifted his weight, obviously uncomfortable with the direction of the conversation. For good reason too. I couldn’t believe he’d say something that corny.
    “Really?” I hiked an eyebrow. “And that worked for you?”
    She shrugged, but there was no way I was going to let it drop.
    “I’m surprised he didn’t say ‘You know why Solomon had so many wives? Because he never met you,’ or ‘Is your name Faith? Because you are the substance of things I’ve hoped for,’ or, and this is my personal favorite, ‘Last night I was reading in the book of Numbers and I realized I didn’t have yours.’”
    “Ha-ha very funny,” Sam replied. “But joke all you want. I got the girl, and you’re still single.” If we were kids, I’m sure he would have ended that remark by sticking his tongue out at me.
    Ouch. I smiled, but man, that was a sucker punch. I mean, Ms. Stabler threw herself at me, but that wasn’t the type of woman I wanted. There was no depth of character there. I’d just met Lisa, but already she seemed like a nice girl. She had a real soccer-mom vibe going on. Caring. And, judging by the googly eyes passing between the two of them, she was in love with my cousin.
    “Hey, I’m happy for you, man,” I said, play punching his arm.
    Uncle David came in and laid his briefcase down by the door. He strolled into the kitchen and came behind Aunt Margaret, wrapping his arms around her middle and nuzzling her neck. “Dinner ready? I’m starved.”
    Aunt Margaret shooed him away. “Almost ready.” She finished placing the food on the table, and we all took our seats. Bowing our heads, we held hands as Uncle David said a blessing over the food.
    “So where are you from, Lisa?” I asked as I passed her the plate of arepas.
    “A little town called Meadowlark in California.”
    “California, huh? I bet that was a big change when you came out here to Michigan.”
    “Oh, Michigan has its perks.” She grinned across the table at Sam.
    I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.
    “So how’s your search coming?” Aunt Margaret asked as she cut into her arepa, making a pocket, steam rising out.
    “Still looking.”
    “What are you looking for?” I asked as I added the beans and a few avocado slices into my slit arepa.
    “Well…” She flicked another look at Sam and I followed her gaze. Did my cousin have something to do with what she was looking for?
    “This might sound wild, but hear us out.” Sam took the avocado plate and slid a few slices onto his. “You know the story of Isaac and Rebekah?”
    “Yes…” What did a Bible story have to do with whatever Lisa was searching for?
    “Well, let’s just say that Lisa is Eliezer.”
    “Eliezer?” My face scrunched as I tried to follow the conversation. None of it made any sense.
    Lisa nodded but didn’t look up from her plate.
    “As in the man who was sent to find Isaac a wife?” I asked for clarification.
    She nodded again.
    “Only I’m looking for a husband,” she said when she at last looked up.
    I looked at Sam, then back at Lisa, then Sam again. Clearly I didn’t hear right. I could tell things between my cousin and Lisa were serious, but I hadn’t realized he’d proposed.
    No, wait. She’d said she was still looking. Then…why…?
    Sam laughed at my obvious confusion. “Not a husband for her. For her friend, Becky.”
    I leaned forward on my elbows and tried to process what I’d heard. Someone had really