Iris
By the time I got out of the shower,the apartment was still and quiet. I’d heard Ronan and Finn’s raised voices over the rushing water, but not what they were saying to each other. I was curious like any other person would be, but I wouldn’t eavesdrop. That wasn’t my style.
I threw on some makeup and a pair of black, wide leg trousers with a gauzy, black top. A little dressier than my usual, but I was hoping Ronan would like it. I’d gotten a little too comfy in my sweats around him. Not that he’d ever complained. He wasn’t that kind of man.
Chest warm, my stomach swarming with butterflies—still no moths—I grabbed my phone and ventured out into the quiet living room.
Ronan was in his armchair, elbows on his knees, his head bowed. I may not have heard what had gone on between him and Finn, but I was seeing the aftermath. Whatever was said couldn’t have been good.
“Hey.” I ran my hand down the back of his head to his shoulder. “Hey you, what’s wrong?”
He looped his arms around my legs, pulling me down into his lap. Pressing his face into my chest, he exhaled a heavy, hot breath through my thin shirt.
“Tell me you didn’t know,” he said thickly.
“Didn’t know what?” I cupped his cheeks, drawing his face up so I could look him in the eye. “What’s going on?”
His tired eyes met mine. I had never seen Ronan so withdrawn. When I was within reach, he was all over me. Now, I was in his lap, but he was barely touching me. “Did you know Finn was sleeping with Vanessa Goodman?”
I had to think for a moment before I could understand what he was asking. Then it hit me, the day I saw them together after our run, Finn telling me it wasn’t an issue.
“Yes, I saw them together. Finn told me it wasn’t a big deal. I think he said it was over.” I rubbed my temple, trying to recall his wording, even as the bunching of Ronan’s muscles distracted me.
“Iris…” he sighed. Cupping my throat, he searched my face for answers. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
My mouth fell open. “I...it was before you and I were really together. I told him it wasn’t cool, but I swear he said they were done. I never saw her again or got any hint of them being together.”
His lip twitched. “Doesn’t matter if they were together in the past or currently, things are fucked. My business is at stake. Aileen’s business. If you’d told me, I could have done something sooner. Stopped it before Saul found out. Now I have to run damage control on an atomic bomb.”
I nodded. “I should have told you. I’m sorry. I didn’t think it was my business, and I would never want to put myself between you and Finn.”
He covered his eyes, slumping back in the chair, putting distance between our bodies. “You can’t keep things from me. I need to be able to trust you, Iris.”
“You don’t trust me now?”
His jaw ticced. “I don’t know.”
That was a jab straight to my heart. “It was a mistake.”
“I know it was.” He sighed, rubbing his temples. “I need to go back to the office. I can’t leave Aileen to deal with the fallout on her own.”
“And you’re pissed at me.”
“I’m not happy with you, no.”
I touched his face, stroking his sharp cheekbones, wishing I knew how to make this right—how to make him forgive me for screwing up.
“Did you get my text?”
“I didn’t. I haven’t looked at my phone since I walked through the door.” His eyes opened and looked me over. “You’re dressed up. Do you have plans?”
“Yes. Megan and I are going to lunch. I actually need to get going or I’ll be late...but I can postpone if you need me. She’s only in town today but—”
“No. You won’t be going.” His tone had dropped low, almost threatening.
My ears must not have been working. He hadn’t just said what I thought. “You’re joking, right? I get that you’re pissed off and upset but—”
His hand clamped on my wrist. “You’re not seeing Megan Mills. Not today, not ever. She wants to fuck you and is possibly stalking you. It’s out of the question. Especially now, after I found out you’re keeping things from me.”