“You really are trying to win the favorite uncle award, aren’t you?” she teases.
When we found out about Ari, Brantley, Eli, and I all joked that we were going to compete for the position of favorite uncle. To say Ari uses it to her advantage would be an understatement.
The girl is tiny, but she’s already a mastermind and knows exactly what to do to get what she wants. She plays all of us like a fiddle, and we fucking love it.
“I’m not trying to win anything. I’m already winning it,” I snort.
The conversation flows, and we talk about our friends and family. It’s so easy between us. When I’m with her, I enjoy our conversations. I’m not constantly looking for a way to escape.
The server brings over our food and sets it down in front of us. Wordlessly, we begin placing food on the other’s plate from our own. When we’re done, we share a smile, and I can’t help but wish it was always like this.
“Hey Max, thank you for this,” she says as she takes a bite.
“Anytime.”
I mean the words. I would do this anytime for the rest of our lives.
I only wish she could see the truth. Yet the words refuse to fall from my lips.
I know it’s my fault she doesn’t know how I feel, but I can’t push myself past that barrier. If I don’t figure out how to do it soon, I’m afraid I will lose her for good.
Chapter
Eleven
IRIS
I have pre-interview jitters,and I have no idea why. I don’t even know if I want this job, yet at the same time, Astor Conglomerate is an amazing company. I did a little more research into them. I always knew them as our competitor, but I never actually looked into how they were as an employer.
I know we offer an amazing package at The Williamson Group, but I think Astor Conglomerate has us beat. I couldn’t find one negative review on LinkedIn about them as an employer. Even people who have been let go have said they wish they still worked there.
I feel like the universe is trying to tell me something. Like maybe this is the place I belong.
My stomach sours at the thought of leaving The Williamson Group, though. It has been my home for ten years. The people there have become my family. I don’t know if I want to leave that all behind and start again.
No matter the perks Astor Conglomerate can offer, I know Max would gladly match, if not beat, any package they could offer.
So why am I here?
Before I can think anymore on it, a well-dressed man who I know from photos walks toward me.
“Julius, it is a pleasure to meet you in person. Thank you for taking the time to meet me today,” I tell him, keeping my professional facade up.
“Of course, Miss Howard.” He holds out his hand to shake mine. “We are happy that you decided to give us a chance. I know it must be hard considering leaving a company you helped build up to where it is today.”
“Please call me Iris. It is scary, I won’t lie. The Williamson Group is important to me, but I can’t lie and say that the idea of being based out of London wasn’t an appeal for me.”
He starts walking, motioning for me to follow.
“You like our city here?” he asks.
I laugh. “That is an understatement. There is something about London I love. It could be the history. Maybe even the people. The shows, the food, the vibe. I don’t know. I love it all.”
“Not everyone feels the same. I know some days I hate this place.” He chuckles as he steps into a conference room, gesturing for me to enter as he closes the door behind me. “Maybe I need to see it with new eyes.”
“It could be because I only get here every couple months or so. Sometimes once a month if I’m lucky. It feels as much like home to me as Boston does. If it weren’t so expensive, I would already have a second home here.”
He pulls a seat out for me before going and taking the one next to it.
