I swallowed hard, my molars gnashing together. I didn’t like Adelaide being referred to that way, even if it was innocent. “Not a piece. It’s not like that. We’re friends, only friends, all it’ll ever be. She likes to run, her legs are longer than yours, so she doesn’t slow me down.”
“A tall girl who runs? Nope. Doesn’t sound like your type.” She wove her fingers together. “Who is she? Why haven’t we met?”
“You’ve met her. Adelaide Goodman.”
When exactly who Adelaide was clicked in Iris’s head, she picked up her butter knife. “Adam Wainwright, if I find out you’re lying and having sex with our boss’s daughter, I will slit your throat. I swear to god, honey bunny, I will murder you, and I won’t mourn you for even a second.”
“You and I have never had sex.”
Iris shuddered. “Are you kidding me? Don’t even mention my name with yours in a sentence with theSword. I will upchuck all my eggs.”
I barked a laugh, falling back against the unforgiving booth cushion. “I’m just saying, you know firsthand I am capable of being strictly friends with a woman. That’s all we are.” I picked up my bagel, preparing to take another bite. “Anyway, like you said, she’s not my type.”
She blew out a puff of air. “Yeah, that was before you said who your neighbor was. Adelaide Goodman is a legit model, Adam. She’s stunning.”
I cocked my head, sighing. “I’m not denying that. And if I wanted something purely physical, I’d go there in a heartbeat. But I’m not doing that because she’s Saul’s daughter—and he’s Satan in an ill-fitting suit. Also, she’s…young.”
“How old?”
“Twenty-three.”
She arched a brow. “You’re all of twenty-six. Get out the walker. Old dude coming through.”
I tossed a piece of lox at her. She ate it and chased it with bacon.
“She feels young. Her dad financially supports her and she coddles his whims. I know I’m not the pinnacle of maturity, but Adelaide gives off this whimsical vibe that just doesn’t mesh with the real world. It’s part of why I like her, but it’s also an electric fence. Even if I ever got stupid and forgot her dad holds us by the balls, all she’d have to do is spin around in a poofy dress and my dick would wilt.”
Iris flinched at my assessment. “Wow. I’d hate to hear what you think of me when I’m not around.”
Crumpling my napkin in my fist, I took on the asshole crown. I obviously wasn’t getting my point across, and I could admit that had sounded bad.
“I’m not trying to trash her, Iris. Ilikeher whimsy. Hell, I’ve spent more time with Adelaide over the past couple months than any of you. She’s a cool girl. But I’m not gonna use her for sex, and I don’t want more with her because we wouldn’t mesh that way. I’ve been on my own for years, hustling, and yeah, maybe fucking around, but I’vealwaysbeen hungry for more. I don’t let what anyone says or thinks about me matter more than what I want. Do you get me?”
Iris’s stare was cool and assessing. She chomped on a piece of bacon aggressively, ripping it apart with unnecessary force.
“I’m feeling oddly defensive of this girl,” she said flatly.
A rumble reverberated in my chest. “You don’t get me. I’m saying I find her fuckable, but not relationship material. And since I will not fuck her due to who she is and who her father is, we’re friends. Strictly friends. Which is good, because I like her, and we both know my track record. Anyone Ireallylike, I always screw up with. No exceptions.”
Iris crossed her arms over her chest and blew out a long breath. “Not helping your case, Adam.”
“I can’t win here. You should be happy I made a new friend I’m not going to cross lines with.”
Her nose twitched. “I’d be happy if you hadn’t just said a lot of stupid words about her. You don’t even realize how offensive it is to say a woman isn’t relationship material. All she’s good for is the warm spot between her legs.”
Napkin tossed on the table, I threw my arms up. “Jesus. Ireallycan’t win. I didn’t say that, Iris—and you know it. I might be a douche sometimes, but I’m not that kind of douche.”
Her shoulders lowered and arms unfolded, resting on either side of her plate. “Okay, the last part of what I said was out of line. I know that’s not you. But I stand by the rest. I don’t even know Adelaide well and I want to punch you in the nose.” She cringed, face scrunching in disgust. “Don’t say a woman isn’t relationship material ever again. If we’re being honest here, I think most people would sayyou’renot relationship material. But I know you, and I’d defend you to the grave. You are fully capable of being a loving, loyal partner, but you sabotage yourself every time.”
A hot exhale blasted from my nose. “I hear you.”
There really was no winning with Iris, so I didn’t try. She had her opinions. Sometimes I agreed, sometimes not, but she stuck with them no matter what.
“I hope you do.” She slid a piece of bacon onto my plate and blinked at me a few times. “Friends?”
“Always.”
She nodded decisively. “Friends tell each other the truth, even when it hurts.”