Page 14 of One Pucking Life

“This shouldn’t be this hard,” I grumble.

Logan chuckles, patting my shoulder. “Don’t worry. We’ve got more interviews. It’ll be fine.”

Only it isn’t fine because the last two interviews don’t even show.

CHAPTER

SIX

DELANEY

Even her knock is cheerful. If she hadn’t told me she was coming over, I would’ve known it was her just by the joyous rhythm. Only Iris can make knuckles hitting wood sound happy.

I open the door and plaster on a smile. “If it isn’t Iris Feldmore in the flesh.”

She tsks. “You know it’s Richards now. I mean, at least Ithinkyou know. You did miss my wedding last year,” she teases.

Opening the door wider, I motion for her to come inside. “Not fair.” I chuckle. “I wanted to be there.”

“I know, I know.” She sighs with mock sadness, laying it on thick. “But when you’re a full-time nanny, you go where the kids are... even if that means Europe during your oldest friend’s wedding.”

I close the door behind her, and we head toward the kitchen. “Those kids wouldn’t have made it through Europe without me. I’m pretty sure their parents would’ve lost them on day one. As much as I wanted to be at your wedding, it was basically a life-and-death situation over there.”

Iris laughs. “I’m sure it was. You always manage to work for the worst parents imaginable.”

“Tell me about it,” I groan. “Unfortunately, they pay the best.”

We make our way into the kitchen. I offer Iris some lemonade, and she accepts. After filling two glasses with ice and the fruity drink, we settle into the living room.

“It was nice to hear from you,” I say.

It’s true. Iris is my oldest friend. We met in second grade and have been inseparable ever since. Well, mostly. We drifted some in adulthood—different colleges in different states, both busy with our careers. But she’s one of those rare friends where, no matter how long it’s been, you can pick right back up like no time has passed at all.

“Guess what Cade brought home the other day?” she says, grinning. “Wax bottle candy!”

I shake my head. “Don’t even say it. I was, like, eight, Iris.”

She’s already laughing. “Remember…”

“You know I remember.” I raise my brows at her.

“Mr. Mitchell’s class,” she begins, settling in with her dramatic storyteller voice. “You sat behind Jessica. Oh, little Jessica, with the lightest blond hair…”

I groan but let her continue.

“You figured out if you bit the top off the wax bottle and punctured the bottom with your nail, the pressure would send the colored liquid flying.” Iris bends over laughing. “Poor Jessica looked like Rainbow Brite before someone finally told on you for squirting that stuff in her hair.”

I hold up a finger. “She stabbed me with her pencil first.On purpose.The little princess could handle a little liquid sugar in her precious hair.”

Iris claps her hands on her thighs before wiping a tear from her cheek. “I laugh every time I think about it. When Cadebrought me that bag of candy, I just had to text you. It made me miss you so much.”

“I’ve missed you too,” I say, shaking my head with a smirk. “We were quite the pair back then.”

“I know. Yin and yang. Complete opposites. You were such a troublemaker.”

“And you were such a goody-goody.” I grin. “Still are.”

Iris shrugs, smiling.

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