“Why are you laughing?” he asks, his brows drawing together. “What on earth is funny about this?” “It’s just,” I say, dropping my hands and hoping that my face shows him how sorry I am. But still, I continue, not quite buying it. “Chris,” I say, holding out a hand between us, “you can’t say that y
Christian leans closer to me, cupping my face in his palm. “You’re real to me, Iris,” he whispers, holding my gaze steadily in a way that makes me catch my breath. “You’re maybe…the only real person in my life. Okay?” Slowly I nod, hearing him. He leans forward and presses his lips softly, almos
“Oh, well, I like it,” I say with a happy, contented sigh as I turn my head and press my cheek to his chest. “Yeah, but you’re weird,” he whispers. And I grin, and don’t counter, looking around and admiring the way that the sunlight filters into the room of the little beach cottage, falling in lov
I burst out laughing when I observe myself in the full-length mirror, twisting to take in the effect of the makeshift outfit that we’ve crafted for me. “Christian, this is ridiculous!” I say, shaking my head at myself. “No it’s not, you look great!” he says, standing behind me and grinning proud
“Stock up,” he says, oversimplifying it as he reaches for some ground beef and puts it into his basket as well. I nod, accepting the cagey answer for what it is and beginning to fill my basket. We don’t go overboard – it’s not like the town is far – but still, we get enough supplies to feed both of
“Come on, Nic,” Christian sighs, starting towards the house. “Absolutely not,” Nico says, stepping down one step and holding out a hand towards Christian, his palm out flat to him. To my surprise, he glances at me. “Are you fucking serious with this, Chris? Her? You threw your life away for her?”
“You still had this?” Christian asks, looking at me with surprise as he reaches for the phone and taps it, seeing it turn on, flipping through the call log and messages. “Um,” I say, grimacing a little and not bothering to affirm it – I mean, the proof is in his hands. “Why didn’t you answer it?
I go very still, my mouth forming into a concentrated little “o” at Christian’s question. My eyes flick immediately to Nico, my coffee pressed tight between my palms. Because…if Nico’s here, it means that he is on Christian’s side. Right? I’m shocked when Nico’s answer isn’t an immediate yes.