“Kissing that beautiful man doesn’t justkindahappen, Iris Adelaide,” Callie states. “Did you kiss him? Or did he kiss you?”
“Well, I guess I kissed him.” I look away shyly.
“That’s my best friend!” She cheers, giggling. “I knew you had it in you. Did he kiss you back? Was he like totally into it?”
“Um, yeah, I guess so?”
“Hell yeah, he was.” She beams while taking a turn. “You don’t understand how invested I am in your relationship. I’ve been rooting for you.”
“Well, thank you, Callie.” I stifle a laugh. “But I don’t know… I can’t figure out where to go from here. I have no clue how deep his feelings are or anything. I can’t read him at all.”
“Why don’t you just ask?” she asks like it’s the most obvious choice in the world.
“Easier said than done,” I mumble. “I mean, he did take me on a date on Friday night…”
“IRIS!” She gasps. “A real date?”
“Yes. Not a fake one.” She shakes her head while taking another turn.
“SMH, I can’t believe you have been withholding so much valuable information from me, girl. I’m hurt.”
I burst out into laughter. “I didn’t want to text you all of this! That’s why I’m telling you now.”
“He really likes you, Iris,” she says matter-of-factly.
“What makes you so sure?”
“Hm, aside from helping you rescue Truman, taking you out on a date, and making out with you…” She pauses. “He held onto you for a long time on Tuesday night.”
I scoff, then begin to blush, remembering how indescribably good it feels to be held in his arms.
“I’m serious, Iris. You should’ve seen the way he was looking at you all night, too.”
“How was he looking at me?”
“Like he would doanythingfor you.” She sighs. “Trust me. This is real.”
I let her words sink in.This is real.I can’t imagine an outcome in which this situation ends well, which terrifies me. While fixating on what she just said, I suddenly feel my phone vibrate.
Mom
Iris, your father and I will be dropping by your apartment on Thursday. We will bring a turkey and a couple of sides. Please provide dessert. See you then.
Oh, hell no.
Iris
Sorry, I have to work.
Mom
I highly doubt as an event planner that you’ll be working on Thanksgiving.
Events director.Again, oh, hell no. As pitiful as it may sound, I forgot this Thursday is Thanksgiving. Why on earth are my parents coming to town to visitme? I’ve lived here for four years and they have only visited the Cove one other time, which was to attend one of Kai’s games.
“Well, my mother just announced she and my father are visiting me this Thanksgiving, so that’s just great,” I announce, radiating sarcasm. Callie pulls into the mall’s parking lot while dropping her jaw dramatically.
“The infamous Greenes are visiting you this week? If my life were half as eventful as yours, I’d be a happy girl,” she jokes. “You’ll be fine; I’m sure they won’t stay long, seeing as they never do, right?”
