He’s torn. I can see that as plainly as the nose on his arresting face.
“Only if you want to,” I add to give him an out.
“I want to, it’s just…”
“Let me get them down, and then we’ll talk.” I have no fewer than thirty messages from our Wild Widows to return, all of them checking on me after yesterday’s drama. But he’s the only one I want to talk to tonight.
“Okay.”
“Make yourself at home.”
13
RONI
“I’m worried about Iris. She hasn’t replied to my texts all day.”
Derek is already in bed with a stack of work on his lap that he puts aside when I crawl in next to him, exhausted from another full day as the communications director to the first lady, mom to a four-month-old and stepmother-to-be to a three-year old. Life is busy and full and rewarding, but I’m worried about my sweet friend.
“Did you text Gage?” Derek asks. “He might know how she is.”
“True.” I fire off a text to Gage. Just checking on Iris. Have you seen/talked to her? I haven’t heard from her, and I’m worried.
He responds right away.I’ve been with her today, and she’s doing okay, all things considered. I’m sure you’ll hear back from her soon.
Tell her not to worry about responding. If she’s okay, that’s all I care about.
I’ll tell her you were checking on her.
Thanks!
“Sounds like he’s with her now,” I tell Derek.
“Good for them.” He slips an arm around me and draws me in closer to him. “I’d love to see them get together.”
“I would, too. I want everyone to be as happy as we are.” Since we got engaged at the beach over the weekend, I’ve felt a sense of calm come over me—for the most part. For some reason, though, today was a rough day.
“Why the deep sigh when you talk about how happy we are?”
“Can I tell you the truth?”
“I wish you would.”
“I had a rough Patrick day today.”
“Aw, baby, why didn’t you tell me?”
“Didn’t get the chance until now.”
“All you have to do is text or call me. I want to know if you’re having a rough day.”
“You’re so busy. I’d never want to bother you.”
“Please bother me. There’s nothing I’d rather do than pop over to the East Wing to see my beautiful fiancée during the workday.”
“I should’ve told you.”
“Yes, you should have. What brought this on?”