Iris shrugs. “I don’t know. I’m sure some people might think what I do is boring. Ad campaigns are fun and all when they’re done, but the process can be exhausting. Concept boards, pitches, casting calls … Every job’s got its bonuses and its drudgery. I think an IT conference would be interesting, even if I wouldn’t understand most of what’s going on.”
Pleasecan I keep her?
“So what time is your cab picking you up?”
I pick my watch up off the bathroom counter to check it. “Too damn soon. I gotta finish getting ready.”
Poor Iris looks disappointed. “Oh. Well, I’ll go check on Hailey while you do that.”
“Stay. I’ll just brush my teeth real quick, and we can sit on the front step together while I wait for the cab.”
“You’re not going to shave before you go?”
“Nah. I’ll take care of that when I get to my motel. I’d rather have a few more minutes with you.”
Her smile is all the validation I need for skimping on the hygiene. Hell, I’d skip brushing my teeth, too, but I don’t want her to think I’m a total slob.
The two minutes of brushing feels like forever. Everything that takes time away from Iris seems like too long. I’m glad she’s willing to stay up in the middle of the night to wait with me, to see me off.
Together we head downstairs, where I’ve staged my luggage by the front door. I open a pocket in my laptop bag and pull out an envelope, turning it over in my hands before handing it to Iris. “Here. Credit card for emergencies, temporary power of attorney—anything you might need while I’m gone.” While she inspects the envelope, I grab my keys from the hook by the door and hand them to her as well. “And, as promised, the car. The car seat is already installed, so you don’t have to fuss with it. Hailey’s smart. She knows how the buckles go, so if you get confused, just ask her if it’s right.”
Iris smiles and pockets the keys. “We probably won’t need it. It’s going to be three boring days here at home.”
“Just in case.”
“Of course.”
Outside the weather is beautiful, if a little muggy. There’s probably going to be rain later today. Good thing I planned for that. Iris has instructions on indoor activities if Hailey’s outside time gets rained out.
I set my bags on the sidewalk and sit down on the step. Iris sits next to me, hip to hip, and rests her head on my shoulder. Briefly I wonder if I should tell her about my revelation during the night, but I decide that might be a bit too much to lay on her before dawn. Maybe after I get back, I’ll tell her how I feel.
If I don’t chicken out.
“This is nice,” she says. “Even if it is nothing in the morning.”
I take her hand in mine, threading our fingers together. Her simple, soft pink manicure glistens in the porch light. I look at our joined hands for a long time before speaking.
“I don’t want to go.”
Iris squeezes my hand. “It’s just a few days. We’ll be fine.”
“I know, but … I don’t want to leave.”
Just then, the cab pulls to the curb. I let out a shuddering sigh and stand up, hefting my bags with one hand while keeping hold of Iris with the other. We walk to the end of the sidewalk, and I put my suitcase and carryon in the trunk.
“You’ll call if you guys need anything?”
She stretches up on her toes to kiss me. “Of course. I’ll probably call anyway, just to talk to you.”
“Anytime. Day or night.”
Iris kisses me again before stepping back so I can get in the cab. “Anytime.”
The slam of the cab door feels so final. A deep pit of dread forms in my stomach, though I don’t know why. It’s just a few days, right? I can handle a few days on my own, away from Iris and Hailey.
As the cab pulls away, I twist in my seat to watch Iris wave goodbye. I wave back through the window until the cab turns a corner, and just like that, she’s gone.
Chapter 17
