“You’re right. Sorry. I should let you go. Iris is waiting for me in the living room.”
“Are you finally going to tell her?” he asks.
“No. Not until we have approval. I want to surprise her.”
“Don’t you think she might be a little upset that you not only lied to her but that you kept this from her?” he points out.
“I know. I feel guilty enough. I want everything to be perfect,” I sigh.
“Is this your grand gesture?”
I think over his words. Is it? I guess it is.
“Maybe. It’s good for both of us.”
“What about her other job offer?”
My mood sours. She still hasn’t said anything about the other job to me.
It reminds me that she is keeping secrets of her own.
“I gotta go. Give Ari and the wife a hug from me.”
“Will do. Love you, bro. You got this.”
“Love you too.”
Hanging up the phone, I collect myself before going back out into the living room. There, I find Iris lying on the couch, her eyes closed.
I sigh. We really need to talk, but she needs her rest too. So instead of waking her, I cover her with a blanket. Then I curl up next to her, putting her feet in my lap.
At least one of us will get some rest. I don’t think I can relax until all of this is over and I have my girl and my company back home in Boston.
Chapter
Twenty-Five
IRIS
Everything with Maxis up in the air. We meant to talk last Sunday, but I fell asleep on his couch. When I woke up, he was sleeping so peacefully that I didn’t want to disturb him, so I left and headed back to my place. I thought we might get together later in the evening, but when I went back to see him, his place was empty.
Even at work all this past week he has been so busy that he hasn’t had much time to talk other than shooting me a heated look or blowing me a kiss when no one is watching.
It has left me confused. Now it’s been over a week, and I feel like I’m missing something.
“Hey, is it cool if I go on my lunch?” Chad asks as he pops into my office.
Wait. I can ask Chad.
“Yes, but first I have a question,” I tell him.
“Sure, what’s up?” he asks as he steps inside.
“Shut the door first, please.”
Chad frowns but does as I ask. “Is everything okay?”
“Everything’s fine, but I need to know what’s going on.”
