“Yeah, I was wondering if maybe you could find a couple of hours in your schedule for us to be alone?”
“Not tonight,” Henry said, coming down from the hallway. “We have that meeting with investors. But you have time tomorrow night.” Hope swelled but was quickly dashed. “You have the charity gala.”
“That’s not alone,” Iris griped.
“You’ll be together.”
“In a ballroom full of other people.”
“It’s the best we can do. Finn’s schedule is booked until election night.”
“Finn …” Iris implored, silently begging him to listen, to hear the plea for more for the two of them, for a real future.
“I can—” Finn started.
“That’s a callback from the Gargoyle Rights Council,” Henry said, holding up his phone.
Finn glanced between them. He was clearly torn. But she could sense which way he was leaning.
“Never mind,” she said, grabbing her purse and storming toward the door.
“Iris, wait.”
“He’s right here,” Henry announced.
Iris glanced back.
Finn was looking at her, his gaze conflicted.
But he reached for the phone.
And she was pretty sure that was his answer.
She took a moment in the elevator, fighting back useless tears, then picked up the phone to call Arden.
“Hey, gorgeous. What’s going on?”
“Any chance we can do the taste test today?” she asked.
“Um, sure. If you’re willing to send your mother that bill. And it will be a big one.”
“Set it up. But wait. Make it for three.”
“Bringing that cynical witch too, hm?”
“Yes.” She needed Selene’s trademark brand of skepticism and empowerment right about then.
“Name your choice and I’ll meet you there in an hour.”
Distraction plan in place, she named one of the places at random, then made her way toward Selene’s store.
“For goddess’s sake, Gerty!” Selene growled as Iris pulled open the door. The witch barely managed to duck in time to avoid a massive tome being hurled at her head. “I put the damn register back, you nasty old crone!”
Another book whizzed through the air, slamming intoSelene’s altar behind the counter, sending a small cauldron and little bottles of various herbs clattering.
“Keep it up and I’ll have someone come in here to do an exorcism.”
“Want to get out of here?” Iris asked.
