Page 81 of Crystal Iris
“Give me a little heads up this time?”
“But the look on your face when you opened the door, and those bare legs…”
“Hoyt!”
“Alright, heads up. No worries.”
“Okay, I’ve gotta go,” I say.
“Iris?”
“Yeah?”
“You didn’t deserve what happened today.”
My eyes well up at his words. “Thanks. Although, perhaps I did.”
I wake up from a nightmare, soaked in sweat. There was a fire in my apartment, and Darion was there. I was trying to unlock my door when I heard Lara’s voice saying I was going to burn like the witches of Salem. I’ve gotta hand it to my brain—great plot.
There’s no way I’m going to fall asleep again. I turn off my alarm and see that Aaron has called a few times. I wish I could go back in time and change things. Change how I handled everything.
When Hoyt said he would be seeing me soon, I didn’t think he meant a couple days later.
Apparently, they had to move fast. He’s coming with a team of lawyers, and this time he’s booked a hotel. I can’t help but feel my heart sink when he mentions where he’s staying.
“I get it. My place doesn’t even compare to what you’re used to,” I say over the phone in the morning.
“Iris, I didn’t want to impose on you.”
“That’s okay.”
“You don’t believe me.”
“I’d prefer to stay in a hotel, too.”
“I’d sleep on the floor for the rest of my life if it meant being close to you.”
I let myself relax at his words. “Liar,” I call him out.
He chuckles.
“I have a question for you,” I say to him.
“What?”
“Do you like to dance?”
Akira meets me at the entrance of Spiral, wearing a red shirt that leaves her belly button exposed.
“Where do you shop?” I ask, taking in her entireoutfit.
“Online. I can’t believe you invited Hoyt.”
“Why?”
“I can’t picture him in a club.”
I laugh. “We’re about to see if he can dance.” I watch as he gets out of a car.
