I want this so badly. For this to be an everyday thing.
I run my hand through her hair as she focuses back on the television. I won’t lie, I have never paid much attention to Formula One. So while I knew some of the things she was telling me, I never soaked the information in. It never mattered.
Now everything she says matters to me. It could be as simple as her displeasure for the subway being late and I am soaking it in.
It’s funny how your mind changes. I went from pushing everything about Iris into a neat little filing cabinet in the back of my head to it exploding all over the place in my mind.
These days, there isn’t a thought I have that isn’t somehow touched by Iris. She is burrowed so far under my skin that no matter how hard I try, I could never extract her. Not that I want to. I love having her so close.
“Hey Max?” she mumbles, sounding a little sleepy.
“Yeah?”
“What were all those meetings for today?” she asks.
I knew she noticed. She is too smart not to. Chad also told me she asked him about it. He probably made it seem worse than it was by not saying a word.
I am not ready to reveal the secret yet, though. Not until I know it is firmly in place.
“I’m doing a survey of the employees. I want to know what we could be doing better,” I tell her.
“Oh. That’s actually really nice. I have some ideas on that if you want to hear them.” Her voice is even sleepier this time.
“I would love to hear them, but not tonight. No work on the couch, remember? Besides, you don’t feel good. This all can wait.”
“I don’t want to go to work tomorrow,” she grumbles.
“Then don’t. Take the day. I’ll cover your meetings,” I tell her.
“I can’t make you do that. I’m a woman, but that doesn’t mean I get to use this as an excuse to get out of work.” She nestles closer to my leg.
“No, but we offer sick days for a reason. You are feeling ill. So stay home. The office will be fine without you. I would rather you rest up. Besides, you chewed off a few heads today. I think the office will be grateful you aren’t there for a day or two.”
She groans. “I really try not to let my hormones get to me, but it’s so hard. I can feel myself losing it, but there isn’t much I can do. I need to apologize.”
“Nope. Absolutely not. You weren’t unprofessional. Only a little more stern than normal. They will be fine. Don’t you dare apologize.”
She lets out a huff before sighing.
I don’t know how she does it. She balances herself out so wonderfully. Even when she is PMSing, she somehow manages to keep herself from fully losing it. It is a miracle, really. I’m beyond impressed with her.
I meant what I said too. These employees need a little wake-up call every now and then. I know they all respect Iris. She is a fair person. They will take today as a warning to keep them on their toes. They won’t think any less of her. They will internalize it and work on what made her go off in the first place.
“God, my cramps are killing me,” she murmurs as she tosses and turns on the couch.
“Flip onto your stomach,” I tell her.
“What? Why?” she asks.
“I read that a lower back massage can help cramps. Let me try.”
She is reluctant but eventually turns over. I move to the side next to her waist on the sliver of couch available. Then I push up her hoodie. I swallow hard when I realize she has nothing on under it.
Pushing thoughts of a naked Iris away, I use my hands to softly rub her lower back. Then I apply a bit of pressure. I work my fingers into her back, a little harder each time, until she lets out a little groan.
“Does it hurt?” I ask her.
“No. It feels great,” she tells me, arching her back up into my hands.
