Page 43 of Her Christmas Wish
That afternoon, as soon as she saw the game of chase ball that Scott was instigating with his niece and both dogs, Sage took a seat in the sand right next to Iris.
She was on a mission to set her friend straight.
“I’m guessing, from the way you were pushing me on Gray last night, that you were thinking about our history.”
With almost twenty-four hours to consider it, she didn’t blame her brother for confiding in Iris—most particularly if he’d been concerned and had wanted perspective.
“Noooooo.” Iris’s eyes were alight as she pulled out the word with a sound of anticipation and interest. “You know him?” she asked, then answered with, “Well, obviously, I know you knew him since you and Scott said he’d known him since high school...but history? As in, youknowhim know him?”
Cringing inside, Sage gave herself demerits for overreacting. And creating an issue for herself where there needn’t have been one.
She should have trusted her brother to hold her privacy sacred. He always had.
“Come on, now, you’ve spilled the beans. Do tell!”
She didn’t want to tell.
Not even Iris. Didn’t want to talk about the past. She’d just gotten closure. Hadn’t even had a full day to savor the freedom.
Hashing up the past so soon just seemed...dense. Ignorant. Like nothing good could come of it.
Which was why she’d intended to let Iris know that no matter what Scott had told her, there was absolutely nothing between her and Gray.
She’d needed the woman to let go, just as she had.
And to that end... “I just...the way you shoved me over there last night, visually at least...if you didn’t...why did you do that?”
Iris hadn’t known? And she’d still...
Thewhysuddenly took precedence over what she’d sat down to do. Letting Iris know that there’d never be anything between her and Gray, other than a possible lighthearted, very casual friendship, and to stop pushing them together.
“Seriously, Sage...the vibes between you two? They were setting the beach on fire!”
“They were not.” They couldn’t possibly have been.
And... “You think everyone thinks that?” Horror rushed through her so strongly, she didn’t even try to keep it out of her voice.
“I wouldn’t say that,” Iris allowed slowly, ostensibly watching the antics on the beach between dogs, man and child, but Sage saw the glances Iris was stealing...all aimed at her. “The rest of them don’t know you like I do.”
True. Iris knew all about Leigh, had sat with Sage late one night, asking questions, shortly after she’d moved in. Had wanted to see all the pictures. And was always up for watching Leigh if Sage had to work late.
The woman had done some pretty phenomenal photo sessions with the two of them, too. Both individually and together. Catching an essence Sage had never seen in herself.
But one that she’d been trying to get to know better ever since.
Partially appeased, Sage nodded. “Get it!” she called out to Leigh when the little girl was racing her uncle for the ball. And followed it with, “Good girl!” as Scott let the preschooler win.
“Back to Gray,” Iris said, and it was like Sage could feel the other woman’s insistence. Her need to know.
“There are no vibes between us.” She had to get that straight, make it perfectly clear, right up front.
“You can say so,” Iris told her. “But my eye doesn’t lie, girl. I know what I see.”
Right. Iris’s photography was so good because of all the things the woman noticed that others didn’t. Slammed by her own previous thoughts of just minutes before. Still... “No one’s perfect, Iris. Even you have to get it wrong once in a while and this is that while.”
Iris didn’t even seem to consider the possibility. The strength with which she shook her head further abased any hint of her being wrong.
“You can deny it all you want. I know what I saw. And, I might add, not just on you.”
