But I hold the questions back, because I can see the tension in Christian’s shoulders, see the stern set of his jaw. I’m not getting anything out of him today – nothing real, at least. Instead, I just reach across the car and put a hand on his knee, putting my own anger and fear aside and wanting
The next few hours move quickly mostly because…well, because I don’t let myself think about much. Instead, I get busy. “Iris,” Frankie moans as I push past him into his room, starting to scoop clothing off of the floor and throwing it into a hamper. “Please, Iris – you can’t just channel all of yo
Frankie, to my surprise, narrows his eyes at me a little bit, the corner of his mouth turning up into a smirk. “What?” I ask, frowning at him, confused. “It’s just…” he hesitates, and then runs a hand through his hair. “Can I say something that’s going to make you a little mad, Iris?” I step b
“Oh my god,” Christian says, half frustration and half panic as he crosses the room in an instant, wrapping me up in his arms. “Frank, what the hell is going on here!?” “I didn’t do anything!” Frankie protests, looking at me wide-eyed from the living room. “She was fine five seconds ago!” Nico d
But…well, it’s still nice, isn’t it? To have my oldest friend resurrect our oldest tradition, just to cheer me up a bit. I sit quietly, flicking through the movie options on the big-screen TV on Christian’s far wall, trying to decide. When Christian comes back a few minutes later with a big tray f
My little Cozy Up extends far past the time that I thought it would. Honestly, I thought it was going to be a glass of wine, a couple of cookies, one a nostalgic old movie and then Christian would kick me out, shooing me along to my room like he always does. But when the first movie ends, he puts
I cannot help biting my lip – just the edge of it! – as Christian lifts up his shirt and reveals his very…very defined stomach muscles. But my intrigue on that point is immediately dashed when I see the huge scar that stretches across his left side, moving from his ribs almost to his navel. “Chr
But then he stops, and nudges his nose with mine, and sighs – a deep, defeated sound. “It’s a beautiful dream, Iris,” he murmurs. “Maybe…in another life.” “It could be this one,” I say, my eyes opening with a plea. Because, I mean…we could do it. Slowly, he shakes his head, and my hand loosens i
A small smile creeps on Leo’s lips. “Yeah, okay,” he says, relaxing back against our chair. “Our secret.” I grin at my baby, leaning in to give him a kiss on the cheek, because my boy can’t resist a secret.“What’s all this?”I turn to see Christian standing at the open door, peering into the dining
The danger. It’s…it’s far too poignant.My heart breaking, I open a private browsing tab on the web browser and quickly search for Craigslist in both this city and Athens, Greece. As I do my memory goes back to a conversation I had with Frankie, when he told me that this is the best way he knows for
I stand frozen, staring down at the letter as it sits on the little hall desk, my breath coming in fluttery little gasps.The words are very simple.There are vineyards in Greece as well. I’ll take you there.I read it again and again as my heart pounds in my chest, each beat echoing with a mix of h
“You don’t know anything about my life,” I whisper, my voice barely audible, turning my eyes back down to the dishes. “I had no choice.”“You think you’re the only one who suffered?” Lucy whispers. “You think I wanted to be in this position? We were friends once, Iris. We were good to each other. Bu
“Mommyyyy,” Leo says, looking anxiously towards the kitchen door, shifting from foot to floor. “Hurry up! Aunt Bianca says we have to go!”I laugh, glancing down at my little boy, who looks so adorable in the private school uniform he wears to Kindergarten – crisp white shirt, navy blazer, his dark
But…was it? Was it me, missing Chris? Wanting to have yet another piece of him, even if I long denied wanting any ties to my past life?I look down, my heart heavy, not truly understanding what I think or what I feel.“I mean it, Iris,” Chris says, his voice steady and cool. “I’ll be a father to her
My heart sinks as I look Christian in the eyes – because beyond all hope, I had been praying that he hadn’t noticed that Leo is his son. But how could I have been so naïve? Leo looks just like him - dark hair, striking grey-blue eyes. The resemblance is unmistakable. I feel a wave of guilt crashing
“Yes,” he answers, a growl in his voice. “That should suit just fine.”I laugh at the irony in this and shake my head, looking away. “So now you want me to come back, to pretend as if nothing ever happened? You expect me to just accept this, the way things are now?”Christian opens his mouth to resp
Disappointment floods my chest, a sense of disbelief washing over me. “You think I would trust you again after everything? After how you treated me? You expect me to just come back and forget?”His eyes narrow, disappointment etched into his features. “You were faithless. I thought you’d be loyal. I