Chapter 216 Book 5: Chase Your Dreams

Chapter 216 Book 5: Chase Your Dreams
After that overwhelming first date, Weston and Isabella kissed and cuddled in each other’s arms at night.
“What did you do the whole day?” Isabella smiled, her mind lost in the thoughts of her second story, the happy sequel to her tragic love novel.
“I started writing a sequel to Faded Dreams. It would be the story of our dreams coming true, of finding one another again, of our reunion,” she whispered, and Weston looked at her with appreciation.
“Really? That’s wonderful,” he said, pride shining in his eyes for her.
“And what did you do?” Weston smiled at her, but Isabella noted a tinge of sadness in the look he gave her. Was he not happy with his job?
“Missed you, worked, and then missed you more. I’m bored with this job. I want to do something more challenging,” he confessed with a sigh, something he had never admitted to anyone before.
“Then chase your dreams, Weston. Life’s too short to just think. Do what you want to do,” she inspired him and Weston nodded.
“I want to start my software development company, but lacked the inspiration. Now that you are in my life again, I have found the zeal to chase my dreams.”
“I’m glad that you will. You should start off planning, then.” Weston looked at her with a gleam of hope in his eyes. This was the type of push he needed in his life.
“It would involve a lot of hard work and I might not be able to give you much time,” he started hesitantly. “I don’t want to deprive you of what you deserve. This time, want to make all your dreams without fail.”
“It’s okay, Weston. You have already made my dreams come true by accepting me into your life. I’m right here with you. You work hard and I’ll always support you in any way I can,” she assured him.
“Thank you so much, love. You couldn’t have made me happier,” he told her. They talked a little more and then cuddled up to sleep.
The next few days, Isabella noticed newfound energy, a zeal in Weston. He resumed his physiotherapy, making his family extremely happy. He wanted to renovate his room and Isabella gave in her ideas too, as it would be her room soon. Weston resigned from his job and announced his wish to start his new company. They all supported him in every way. Isabella too wanted to invest in his company and they started it together as their own.
It was a Friday and after looking for good office spaces, Weston returned home, tired and haggard.
“Did you like any office?” she asked him, but he shook his head. Everyone had gone to bed, so she served themselves dinner and sat down to eat with him.
“Don’t worry, I’ll have a word with Cody and his dad. They have contacts,” said Weston. “But first I think I’ll take a break to refresh my mind. Will you go away for a few days with me, Isabella? Somewhere far, just you and me?” he asked hopefully. Isabella looked excited and was always ready to go.
“Oh, can we go, please? I’m dying to go on a holiday with you,” she exclaimed, and Weston chuckled at seeing her eagerness. So it was decided that they would leave the next day and drive over to Laguna Beach in California. It was a four-hour drive away and they could start right after breakfast the next day.
After dinner, they packed up for a four-day trip. Isabella was too excited to go on a vacation with Weston. Although she had lived in UCLA for so many years, she had visited none of the beaches in California except for Tiffany’s house on Hermosa Beach. This vacation would be her first with Weston, and her heart raced with anticipation.
The next morning, they were up early, excited to start their trip. Hudson gave them a suspicious look. “What’s cooking between you two, pumpkin?” he asked, sipping his coffee while their mom chuckled.
“Isabella and I are planning to take a four-day break to Laguna Beach. We’ll be leaving after breakfast,” said Weston. Anna Sophia glanced at Hudson longingly while serving the twins their breakfast.
“Sure, son. Drive carefully,” said their dad.
“Can we go too?” Sophia asked Hudson hopefully.
“No, not with us,” said Weston in a state of panic, making Hudson chuckle. “You can go after we return.”
So it was decided that after Weston and Isabella returned, Hudson would take his little family out on a vacation. Their dad wasn’t allowed to travel much, so they had no option but to stay back.
After breakfast, Weston and Isabella loaded their luggage into his car and sped off towards Laguna Beach for their first vacation together. After an exciting drive through the familiar barren scenery of Nevada to the completely opposite scenes of California, through Wrightwood and Los Angeles Crest Highway to Beach Blvd, they reached Laguna Beach. Watching the beauty of Orange County and the nearby Crystal Cove State Park as they drove up to their beach cottage felt exciting, with Weston by her side. It was lunchtime by the time they checked into a charming, fenced, fully furnished, two-bedroomed cottage located right on the beach in the heart of Laguna Village. Weston parked his car at the garage and they stepped out to check the property.
“Wow, it’s amazing!” gasped Isabella, checking out the front garden patio area. Weston smiled at her indulgently. Cody’s dad arranged the property for him in the last minute and he hadn’t expected it to be this good.
A caretaker approached them with the keys to the property. Thanking him, they unlocked it and went inside. Weston went to unload their luggage and wheeled them inside while Isabella stared wide-eyed at the “Bohemian-style” decor. The place was so romantic, it took her breath away. There was a cozy fireplace in the living room and hardwood floors throughout the cottage. Tucked in a corner was a large, bright kitchen opening to a dining area with high ceilings. She gasped at seeing the step-in shower in the master bedroom en-suite.
“Beautiful, isn’t it? It’s huge, so we can easily save water,” he added with a smirk, making Isabella blush. She knew exactly what he had in mind. So would they finally make love here? She couldn’t think more and stepped away.
“C’mon, let’s grab some lunch,” said Weston, grabbing her hand just like he used to before.
“Have you come here before?” she asked him curiously, seeing him navigate the streets with ease.
“Yeah, before meeting you with Cody and Dave. Cody’s parents brought the three of us here for a vacation. We stayed in the same cottage. It belongs to Cody’s dad’s friend. I loved this place so much that I always wanted to bring you here when you grew up.” Isabella’s eyes widened at his admission, realizing how wrong she was about him.
They strolled to Avila’s El Ranchero restaurant on the corner for lunch. Afterward, they went snorkeling at Diver’s Cove. It was an amazing first-time experience for Isabella. Just offshore, they saw an army of garibaldi, sea stars, purple urchins, lobster, and kelp bass and spotted an occasional stingray and a leopard shark gliding across the seafloor. At first, she was scared, but Weston’s reassuring presence and his hand in hers made her bolder, braver.
After a trip to Heisler Park and later a game of beach volleyball with the locals, they returned to Cress Street Beach to sit and watch as day turned into night. It was the most beautiful sunset ever. The colors and patterns that filled the sky were simply stunning-pink, orange, purple, and more. They found a romantic spot with a bench located halfway down the stairs. It was a perfect place to watch the waves come in.
“Do you like the place?” Isabella gazed at his handsome face glowing under the reflection of the vibrant sunset hues, watching her hopefully, and she nodded.
“I love it only because you’re with me. We have so much to catch up on. I’m sorry that I went away for so long. Had I waited, we would have been married by now, like Hud and Anna,” said Isabella with a long sigh.
“At least we’re together now. The separation has made our feelings for each other much stronger, don’t you think so?” Isabella nodded, leaning against his broad, muscular shoulders. It was true. It has made them mature too.
“Tell me if that night, I hadn’t turned up at home on your sixteenth birthday, what would you have done about Gordon?” he asked, staring at the waves crashing onto the beach, reflecting the differences of the setting sun. This was a question he had wanted to ask for a long time, but didn’t want to sound like he didn’t trust her. Of course, he trusted her, but his heart needed that answer.
“I would have spoken to our parents and canceled their wedding plans once and for all. That night, he forcefully kissed me, taking me by surprise when you arrived. Believe me, I didn’t get any time to react,” she explained to him.
“Then it would have been better if I hadn’t seen that, right?” said Weston, watching her closely and Isabella nodded. They both smiled at one another as if to say that the past was gone and now it didn’t matter at all. The present and the future were theirs.
Afterwards, they headed up to The Rooftop Lounge atop the Hotel La Casa Del Camino for dinner. After a delicious meal, they strolled hand-in-hand towards their cottage, eager to spend the night with one another, alone at last. There was a strange restlessness in Weston ever since they reached Laguna Beach, more so after their snorkeling trip. He couldn’t seem to keep his hands to himself, all the time holding hers or snaking them around her waist. It seemed like he couldn’t stay away from her.
The restlessness seemed to increase with every passing minute. Isabella noted the look of deep hunger that crept into his eyes every time he looked at her. She walked straight to the en-suite for a shower, but it seemed Weston had other plans. He walked in too after her before she could even close the door, watching her like a hawk.
“Weston, I need a shower, please,” she whispered, her cheeks flushed with color.
Weston nodded. “I can help you shower,” he said, staring at her, his breathing erratic.