Page 95 of Crystal Iris
“You wouldn’t change me if you could.”
“Oh… you’re good at this.”
He laughs. “Good night, firecracker.”
I hand each of my students their final paper, along with their grades. I’m officially done for the summer. I didn’t realize how badly I needed a break. A real vacation—when was the last time I took one? I haven’t figured out where I’m going yet, just that I’m going.
“It’s only been a couple of weeks,” Akira says from the bar stool next to me.
“I’m telling you, I’m already going crazy. My apartment has never been this clean. The only place I have to be is the yoga studio. I think I should ask if they still need anyone to teach.”
“You could go to… Montana.”
“I can’t. I told you, I’m working on myself. I can’t do that with Hoyt down the hall.”
“You need to get out of the city. You’ve lived here your whole life—go see something different. What happened to your trip to Paris?”
“I didn’t realize how expensive it was.”
“You’re a Harvard professor. You have money.”
“I know, it’s just… it’s kind of sad to go to Paris alone.”
“Then go somewhere else.” She finishes her glass.
“I don’t know. Do you want another one?”
“I’m leaving early tomorrow. I can’t wait to squeeze Chiyo.”
“He must be so big now.”
“Look at this photo my sister sent me last week.” She turns her phone toward me.
“Oh my god! He’s so cute… look at those legs!”
“I know. I can’t wait.”
"You go ahead, I’m going to stay a bit longer.”
“Are you sure?” she asks.
“Yeah, I’ve got my book.”
“Okay. Plan a trip, Iris. Seriously. You deserve to go on an adventure. Forget the responsibilities. It will do you good.”
“I promise I’ll think about it.”
I’m sipping my wine, reading my book, when I pull out my phone to search for tickets again. I know it’s not the money holding me back from clicking “purchase.” It’s Hoyt’s invitation. I can’t help it—I do want to spend my summer with him, under that beautiful sky. I just need to make sure that, if I do go, I carve out time for myself too.
You could make me anything I want? Anything?I text Hoyt.
Anything. If I don’t know how, I’ll learn.
Consider your place booked for the summer then, I reply.
Are you serious?
If you’ll still have me.
