Page 23 of Secrets (The Sins Trilogy 2)
She pulls back, blinking. “You aren’t going to…uh…explain or anything?”
Where did this overinflated sense of importance come from? The only person who has the right to an explanation is Iris. “What’s there to explain? It either is or isn’t. I told you it’s awful.”
“But you can see how it makes me worried. I mean, as her best friend.”
“Of course. I’d consider it negligent if you didn’t.”
She considers. “Do you want me not to like you?”
I think about that for a moment, how much Byron would hate it if his sister did like me. But…the effort simply isn’t worth it. “I don’t care what you think about me, Julie. I only care what Iris thinks. Since she likes you, I want to get along with you.”
“So if Iris and I have a falling out…”
I shrug. “You’d basically be dead to me.”
“Wow.”
Just then Iris comes down the stairs. Her glowing, rosy cheeks and small smile of confidence are enough to make every color in the world more vivid.
“Julie!” She rushes toward her friend, then stops. “Wait. Sam didn’t try to do anything to you, did he?”
Julie shakes her head. “Nope.” She hugs Iris. “Just wanted to have lunch with you. We haven’t spent any time together since that evening when Sam, uh, came over.”
I should’ve beaten the crap out of him. Perhaps then he wouldn’t have dared to try to hurt Iris yesterday.
“Yeah, me too.” Iris shoots me a quick glance.
I smile, not wanting her to feel bad about wanting to spend time with her friend. “Julie even brought lunch.”
“Chinese,” Julie says. “All your favorites. Beef and broccoli, shrimp in orange honey sauce. Bok choy and mushrooms and peppers, oh my!”
“Hahaha! Thanks, I’m starving,” Iris says, patting her stomach.
“You? Starving?”
“Yeah. Come on, let’s eat.” Iris takes paper plates out from the bags. The food is lukewarm now, so I nuke it in the microwave, and then we divvy it up.
Meanwhile, Julie gives me a look reserved for aliens from a newly discovered planet. I pour a tall glass of pink lemonade for Iris. I know what Julie’s thinking. She can’t believe Iris has changed—from eating out of necessity to actually enjoying her food.
I let the two talk while we eat, not really paying attention. It’s enough that Iris is happy to spend time with her friend. Byron’s a dick, but that doesn’t make Julie a problem. Look at Milton, her other brother, who’s reasonable and amicable. And I’m so proud of Iris for overcoming the trauma of yesterday and learning to float.
And I’ll do anything to ensure that happiness never fades.
