“Do you ever miss it?” I blurt out.
Iris looks up with a line between her eyebrows. “Miss what?”
“Being an assistant.”
She rolls her eyes as she relaxes into the chair. “Let’s be real, Max, I was only your assistant for the first year. After that, I was helping you run the hotel.”
“You were, and you know how thankful I am that you stepped up when you didn’t have to.”
It’s no secret that I hate people. I don’t like unnecessary chatter that could have been in an email. I don’t have the time or the energy to listen to people bitch because their feelings are hurt. Iris saw that firsthand and stepped up.
She started doing the tasks she knew I hated, and in return, I paid her for it.
“Anyway…” she says.
For the next twenty minutes, she drones on about our jobs. What hotels need visiting, what the board is pissed about today, and what The Williamson Foundation, our charity, is up to currently. Everything she says goes in one ear and out the other.
I’m too busy fighting myself. All I want to do is ask her about her date. I want to know if she went home alone or if Pete joined her.
Pete. What kind of name is that? The guy looked like a man-child.
Iris sighs, pulling my attention back to her.
“What’s wrong?” I ask without thinking about it.
“You’re distracted. I was trying to discuss work with you, and you were checked out. I asked you if I should dye my hair pink and green, and you nodded,” she says, making me wince.
“Sorry, I was thinking about the game tonight,” I lie.
Her eyes light up. “It should be a good one tonight. The girls and I were already talking about it in our group chat this morning.”
I smile. Brantley owns the Boston Foxes, which means we get tickets any time we want. I never miss a game when I’m in town nor when they come to a town near us. Especially because I know how much Iris loves watching them.
She’s a true Boston girl through and through.
Tonight is extra special, though. For the first time in a while, all of our friends will be there.
That means we get to see Adrianna driving Eli up a wall.
Olivia and Ari giving Mason a heart attack as they talk about all the different players and who Ari likes best at the moment. Girl dad problems, am I right?
Then there is Brantley himself. He will be there with his girlfriend Chloe as she causes chaos to add to his stress. He loves it and her, though.
I only wish I could pair myself and Iris like that. Sure, we go together as best friends, but no one talks about how in love we are.
I want that.
Iris looks at her watch. “I need to get to my office. I have a call with the manager down in Jamaica about some numbers.”
“Have fun. I’ll be here.”
Iris stands and walks to the door, pausing about halfway. “Before I forget, I need to apologize.”
“For what?”
She shifts awkwardly on her heels, something that is completely unlike her.
“Did something happen last night? Was the date okay?” I ask, hating the bile in my throat.
