“I promise you, Claire,” she said, “I’m very serious about Iris. And anything you can tell me to help me convince her how serious I am would be greatly appreciated.”
Claire’s brows lifted, a smile fighting to get through her pursed mouth. “Okay, then.”
“Okay, then.”
Claire’s glanced around the store, then back to Stevie. “Iris responds to sincerity. Actions. She’s a writer, yeah, but like I said, words are cheap when it comes to her own love life. But I think, with the right person, she’d believe they really cared about her if theyshowedher. Proved it, I guess. It’s just that no one has done that in a long time, and she’s been hurt by that.”
Stevie nodded. All of that made perfect sense. She was sure Jillian uttered a lot of pretty words to get Iris in bed, then betrayed her at the first turn. Even Grant, who Stevie thought really loved Iris, left her in the end. He probably even said those exact words—I love you, but...
So it made sense that Iris needed proof, actions that spoke way louder than any words Stevie could rattle off. It was true, in the past few weeks, she and Stevie had been putting on quite a show for the world, for Stevie’s friends, for themselves.
But what if that show were real?
What if, for all of Iris’s scoffing at romance, that’s what she really needed?
Really wanted.
Stevie smiled at Claire, an idea forming in her mind. “So I need to woo her.”
Claire grinned. “Deep down inside, I think Iris really just wants to be swept off her feet, you know?”
Stevie grinned back, hope pushing out all her earlier despair. Iris wanted romance lessons? She wanted situations for her characters to fall in love?
That was exactly what she was going to get.
“Hey, babe.”
Stevie glanced up to see Delilah coming into the café, wearing a black T-shirt and black jeans cuffed at the ankle.
“Hey,” Claire said, tilting her head up for a kiss. “Is it lunchtime already?”
“Close enough,” Delilah said, thumb sweeping over Claire’s jaw. “I missed you.”
All of Stevie’s insides melted right then. Just a little.
“Hey, Stevie,” Delilah said, nodding at her. “What’s up? Iris here?”
“Um... no,” Stevie said.
Delilah’s gaze darted between Stevie and Claire. Then she closed her eyes. “Oh god.”
“What?” Claire asked.
“I want no part of this,” Delilah said.
“Part of what?” Claire asked innocently.
Delilah waved her finger between Stevie and Claire. “This little matchmaking thing you have going on.”
Claire pressed a hand to her chest. “I would never.”
“You would and you are and Iris will flay you alive when she finds out.”
“Not if Stevie here gets the girl,” Claire said, winking at Stevie over her own mug. Stevie smiled back, a confidence she would never have expected of herself filling her up.
Delilah pressed her thumb and forefinger into her eyes. “May the goddess have mercy on your souls.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
