“I didn’t know you were on the market, Iris,” Emmett says.
I shrug. “I like to keep my options open. Now tell me, what did I miss?”
“Just Annabelle telling us she’s thinking about moving out of the city,” Emmett says.
Annabell nods. “Yeah, I think Charlotte has me convinced. The daycare she uses has an opening around the time I’m due.”
“That would be nice. You’ll have to let me know when you decide,” I tell her as I try not to squirm under Max’s stare.
I can feel the anger radiating off of Max, but I don’t understand why. I give him a confused look as the host starts up the trivia again.
This man is a conundrum. I told him I wanted to be a wife and have children. I told him I was going to date again. I gave him every opening to tell me that he wanted to be that man for me. He didn’t, so why is he so mad right now?
Is it just because I left him alone for longer than I said with employees that he has known for years? Or is this one of those territorial things where he has had sole access to me for so long that he doesn’t want to share me with others even if he doesn’t want me the same way I want him?
Either way, it doesn’t matter to me anymore. I am determined to be happy and have the life I have always wanted.
He can either get on board, or I’ll build my life without him.
Why does that feel so scary?
MAX
“Bye guys, see you tomorrow!” Iris calls out before slipping into the car.
“Bye!” everyone yells back.
I shut the door when I know Iris is tucked safely inside and then round to the driver’s side and get in.
I can’t help but sigh when I shut the driver’s door.
Silence. Sweet, sweet silence.
Then Iris giggles.
I crack an eye open and glare at her. “Why are you laughing?”
“I’m sorry, but your reactions at the end of nights like tonight will never get old.”
Her little laugh makes me fight a smile. I love hearing Iris happy.
“I fucking hate peopling,” I mutter as I turn on the car, trying to pretend to be mad.
Truth is, I would submerge myself in a crowd of thousands for her if that is what it took to make her happy. So even though my social anxiety rides me hard every time we come out on these nights, I do it because the smile on her face is worth it.
She is more than worth it.
“I know, but you’re so good at it,” she teases.
Huffing, I start to drive. I’ll give Iris credit, her happiness has brought my jealousy from before down a few pegs, but I still feelit under my skin every time I think about the guy she spoke with tonight.
That fucking asshole had the audacity to hit on her when she was with me. I mean, with us, but in my head, she was with me. She sat next to me. She leaned into my touch when I threw my arm over the back of her chair. For all he knew, we were dating, and yet he still approached her.
To make matters worse, she flirted with him. I saw the way she smiled at him. The way she leaned closer as if to hear what he was saying better. I even saw her touch his forearm. Not only that, but she gave him her phone number. It killed me to sit there and watch her type it into his phone.
I wanted to snatch the phone from her and throw it at the wall. Instead, I feigned interest in the conversation at the table even though I wanted to die in that moment.
My hands squeeze the steering wheel.
