When I arrived at their house in my dad’s car, I pulled into the driveway, got out, and headed for the house.

Iris opened up when I pressed the doorbell once. Once she saw me, she was about to slam the door in my face, but I quickly stopped her. “Iris we need to talk.”

She paused, opened the door again, then arched a brow. “Are you here for me or for my dad?” she asked.

I hesitated in replying, and she rolled her eyes again. “Oh my god, I can’t believe you.”

I rushed to stop her from shutting the door in my face, and when I forced her to open up again, she put her right hand on her waist and said. “You’re not here for me, so why bother me?”

“We’re going to talk Iris sooner or later; you’re going to have to talk to me. I’m your maid of honor, you can’t just ignore me like that.”

“I’ll just get another maid of honor.”

“Iris…” I exclaimed

“What do you want from me, Bree,” she answered in the same loud tone. “Do you want me to tell you I’m okay with you screwing my dad? Because I’m not.”

“I’m not looking for validation.”

“Good, because you’re never going to get it from me.”

We both fell silent, and she crossed her arms over her chest as she glared at me. “At least we’re talking to each other.” This is a good sign right? It meant she could get around to forgiving me soon.

“I wanted to tell you myself, Iris. I didn’t mean for you to find out that way. The last thing I want is to hurt you, Iris.”

She was still sulking, but she was listening to me, and that encouraged me to continue. “But Josh and I happened, and I didn’t know what to do. I hated keeping that secret from you, but I was scared too, scared that you’d hate me for it.”

When she still didn’t say anything, I dropped my hands to my sides and whispered. “Iris please say something.”

She looked at me for a long time, then she stepped out of the house, shut the door behind her, and pointed at the rocking chair on their front porch. I sat beside her like we used to whenever I visited, and I put a hand on hers when I noticed her resistance had dwindled a bit.

“It’s you I’m worried about Bree.” Iris finally said.

“Why?”

She looked at me, then tilted her head to one side. “I know you, Bree. Chances are, you’re swooning head over heels for my dad right now. It’s the only reason why you let this happen in the first place. You love too easily, and you get hurt.”

“Iris…” I whispered.

“Let me finish. I don’t think you want to go there, Bree. I don’t think you want to risk loving my dad.”

“Why, because you think he won’t love me back?” I questioned in a faint voice.

The growing ache in my chest made it difficult for me to say anything else to her, and we simply stared at each other for a long time before she broke eye contact and looked away.

The weight pressing in on me made it difficult for me to breathe and I blinked back the tears forming in my eyes.

“I don’t think the same though,” I told her. “You’re right…I’m in love with your dad, but I don’t think he’ll hurt me.”

“Bree—”

“I’m a grown woman, Iris, and I’m really sorry that this happened, and you had to find out like this, but I don’t think you can make that decision for your dad.”

“I’m not deciding anything for him, Bree. I’m just telling you that even if he cares about you, he’s not going to let himself love you because he’s too scared, and he has every right to be. You’re young, Bree, you’ve made so many spontaneous decisions in your life, and all of this might just be a thing for you…. A phase that will pass, and…”

“You don’t know that it’ll pass,” I interrupted. “You don’t know anything about how I feel,” I argued, not willing to let her diminish my feelings.

“All I’m saying is that I don’t want you to get hurt in all of this.”