Page 24 of Secrets (The Sins Trilogy 2)
Chapter Ten
Iris
After lunch, Tony helps clean up and goes to his office, leaving me and Julie alone to chat. We sit on a couch, plumping the soft pillows behind us.
“You look really happy and…content,” Julie says, searching my face. “I’ve never seen you like this.”
“I am happy. I feel like I finally found a man I can see myself having a future with.” I stop and hesitate, a bit scared to voice what I’ve been wondering about at times. “Is that, like, weird? And too soon?”
“No. I don’t believe in love at first sight, but I also don’t think being together for a long time makes you fall in love with someone. Sometimes you just know.”
I nod, relieved. Not that I’d leave Tony if she disagreed, but it’s still good to have someone who isn’t broken like me confirm there’s nothing strange about the way I feel about Tony.
“And he seems to care about you a lot.”
“You sound surprised.” In fact, she sounds like she never expected Tony to like anybody.
“No, no, you’re totally adorable and lovely. It’s just that his reputation is bad, you know? Really bad.” Julie scrunches her face. “He didn’t even deny it when I brought it up.”
I purse my lips, annoyed she’s basing her opinion of Tony on gossip and whatever junk that’s out there, like Audrey Duff’s “attempted suicide” over him. “Don’t believe everything you read. He isn’t the type to defend himself, especially against groundless rumors.”
“I usually don’t, but you’re my best friend. It’s my job to worry.”
“I know. But don’t,” I say, slightly mollified. “I love Tony. He loves me too.”
“He does?” Julie leans closer. “Did he say it?”
I nod, biting my lip as a smile breaks out on my face. Every time I think about it, it’s like the heavens opening up, rainbows shooting out of clouds and angels singing on the tips of dancing unicorn horns.
“Holy shit! When? Details!”
I tell her how I said it first, almost impulsively, unable to contain the words, and he followed me into the foundation’s building to say them back. My heart swells, beating faster, just like it did then, and I feel my cheeks warm, my lips tingling, as though he’s just cradled my face in his large hands, told me he loves me, then kissed me like he couldn’t bear to let go…
Julie squeals. “Oh my God. That’s, like, holy shit romantic! He is totally into you.”
Warm shivers are still going through me. “I know.”
“Okay. I officially like your man.” Julie taps her chin. “By the way, do you think I can call him Tony now?”
“Um… Did he say one way or the other to you?”
“No. Never. Didn’t you notice I never refer to him by name?”
Now that she mentions it… I shrug, a bit chagrined. He is particular about his name, always drawing a clear line between those he considers close friends and those he doesn’t. I have no idea how he decides. He asked me to call him Tony pretty quickly, but others? I don’t think even Wei calls him Tony. “Only one way to find out.”
She narrows her eyes dramatically. “Next time I’m doing a ‘Yo, Tony!’”
I laugh. “Go for it.”
“But you have to be there just in case he gets pissy, so I can hide behind you.”
“Chicken,” I tease. “Fine. I’ll be your shield.”
“By the way, did you get your first paycheck yet?”
I blink. “Yeah, why?”
“Because we need to celebrate! In the time-honored tradition!”
