Page 22 of Crystal Iris #1

Eighteen

“You come to nature with all her theories, and she knocks them all flat.” – Pierre-Auguste Renoir

I lay awake, listening to Hoyt sleep. My body aches every time he moves around. We are so close, yet so far away.

When I open my eyes again, it’s daylight. And he’s gone.

I check my phone—no messages. I don’t have time to wonder where he went. I have to get ready for work. I’m getting out of the shower when I hear the front door. I didn’t think he was coming back. He walks to the bedroom, not realizing that all I’m wearing is a towel.

“I got coffee,” he says, putting the cup down on my dresser before looking my way.

“Thank you,” I say, standing there, waiting for him to turn around. When he finally does, his eyes lock on mine. My prism glows.

“Sorry,” he says, walking away to the living room.

I get dressed and find him reading a book of mine while sipping his coffee.

“I have to go to work, but stay as long as you want. You can leave my keys with the doorman,” I tell him while packing my bag.

“I’m going to Aaron’s office today,” he says.

“What?” I almost spit out my coffee.

“I have to.”

“No, you don’t. Hoyt, you’re only going to piss him off even more.”

“It’s a lot of money, Iris. I need to make sure he’s being... professional.”

“Would you, if you were him?”

He runs his hand through his hair. A habit, I learn, it’s something he does when stressed.

“Fuck, probably not.”

“I can talk to Lara. She works with him.”

“I don’t know... do you think she can... do something about it?”

“If anyone can, it would be her.”

“Okay. My flight is at two.”

“I won’t be back before then.”

“Will you pick up when I call?”

“Yes, just please stay out of Aaron’s way, for now?”

“Fine. If I’m broke, I’m moving in with you,” he says with a smirk while making himself comfortable on the couch.

“Very funny.”

“See you later, firecracker.”

I close the door of my own place, leaving Hoyt inside. Things are far from getting easier.

Any news from Aaron? I text Lara on my way to work.

Ted took him out yesterday. He said he looked depressed.

I don’t have time to think about that now. I have ten minutes before class.

Thank you for checking on him. I’m sorry to put you in this position, but can you… make sure he doesn’t… do anything wrong with Hoyt’s money? For both of their sakes.

On it .

Thanks, Lara. I can stop by your place tonight to explain things.

Sure, no explanations needed. I’m here as a friend.

Six-thirty okay?

I’ll order sushi.

Hoyt texts me when he leaves my place. I can still feel his eyes on me this morning when my prism glowed, leaving my feelings exposed.

My lectures suffer from my lack of focus, and I leave at six in a haze, only to hit traffic all the way to Lara’s place.

“You didn’t have to... this is a lot of food,” I eye the beautiful spread in front of me and take a couple of rolls from the boat.

“Ted can eat sushi for days. How are you doing?”

“Okay, considering it’s all my fault.”

“Well, give it time... You guys were together for so long. It’s supposed to be hard.”

“Right.”

“What is she doing here?” Ted asks as he enters the room.

“Ted!” Lara snaps at her husband’s snarky attitude.

He walks straight upstairs after a quick glance my way.

“I’m sorry,” she says after he shuts the door.

“It’s okay. I get it. They are friends.”

“We are your friends too.”

I nod at her. “I know.”

“I checked on Locklear’s account. Nothing has been touched lately.”

“Oh, thank God!” A weight lifts off my shoulders.

“I don’t have direct access to it, but I’ll keep an eye on it. Aaron can’t do anything without ruining the firm and his reputation.”

“I hope he can see things straight.”

“Ted said he looked awful. The apartment is completely trashed.”

“I saw it. I still need to get my things from there.”

“We have a client dinner tomorrow night, at eight. I’ll make sure Aaron is there. You can pick up your things then.”

“Really? I appreciate it.”

“Of course.”

I put more food on my plate.

I’m tired and a little cranky when I get home, but the Dutch iris bouquet on my table brings a smile to my face. I pick up the card. Thanks for letting me crash here.

Even though I know Aaron isn’t home, I still feel uncomfortable opening the door. I could probably live without my things, except my mother’s letter is still on the bedside table. I would do anything to have it back.

I slowly turn the key and remember I need to give it back.

I’m looking around when I hear a noise coming from inside the place.

I move toward it, unsure if I should or not. The place still looks the same as when I last saw it—piles of dishes, trash everywhere, and empty bottles of liquor. My stomach turns as I get closer and hear voices coming from the bedroom. Lara texted me minutes ago saying she was with Aaron.

I open the bedroom door, to find them, in bed. What the actual fuck?

I stand in the doorway, watching them, until his eyes meet mine. He pushes Lara away.

“Iris!” he yells.

I turn and head toward the living room. He follows me, stopping only to put on a pair of shorts .

I’m thinking about every encounter I had with Lara. She played me, and she played well. She wanted me to find them in bed.

“Your best friend’s wife, Aaron? Really?”

“You have no right to judge me,” he says defensively.

Lara stays in the room. She’s smart. I didn’t know hate until this very moment.

“I came for my things. I thought you were away.”

“Iris, look at me,” he says, walking in my direction.

“Don’t you come an inch closer!” I yell, then take a deep, slow breath.

“My mother’s letter,” I say to him. I need to stay calm until I have it in my hand again.

“What about it?”

“It’s in the drawer, on the bedside table. It’s all I want.”

“Iris, please,” he says, walking closer again.

“Will you go in there and get it or will you make me face Lara, naked, in your bed?”

He returns with my envelope minutes later.

I take it from his hands, but he grabs my arm with the other.

“Can we please talk?” he asks.

“I have nothing to say to you.” I pull my hand back and walk toward the door, stopping halfway to place my key and engagement ring on the table.

“Iris,” he calls after me.

“Goodbye, Aaron,” I say, not looking back as I walk away.

“The fucking bitch,” says Akira on the phone when I tell her everything.

“I didn’t see it, at all. I ate dinner at her place last night.”

“I hope I bump into her.”

“Akira!”

“What? ”

I shrug. “It doesn’t even matter. It’s not like I’m still with Aaron. Let them have each other.”

“Seriously?”

“I don’t get to choose who he sleeps with,” I say, shaking my head.

“What about Hoyt’s money?”

“Shit. I forgot. We’re definitely screwed now. I’ve gotta call him.”

“That’s crazy. I’m sorry, Iris,” Hoyt says.

I’m surprised. “You’re sorry? It’s your money.”

“She was your friend.”

“Well, I guess she wasn’t,” I reply.

“I’m sure it hurts… to be… betrayed like that.”

“Yeah… What are you going to do?” I ask, changing the subject.“Regarding the money?”

He thinks for a moment. “I think I need to get lawyers involved. I’ll probably be seeing you again soon.”

“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 entire outfit.

“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.

He looks… different. He’s wearing an all-black outfit. His shirt buttons are… unbuttoned. Not all of them—just enough to reveal his muscled chest. The prism is nowhere to be seen.

He walks toward the back of the line, but I tell him, “We don’t need to get in line.”

He lifts an eyebrow.

“We’re… frequent customers,” I say, walking straight to the door, passing my fans as they yell nice things. For the first time, I don’t care about their words.

The instant I hear the music, my prism pulses. It’s hidden in my bra again. I’m wearing a tight, short black dress.

I have to be extra careful walking with Hoyt; there’s barely any space between us in the packed club.

“Drink?” I ask him, leading him toward the bar.

“Please,” he says, looking me over from head to toe. He lingers for a few extra seconds on my chest.

I welcome the stare. It feels good… to be… bad.

“To us,” Akira says, clinking her glass against mine. I repeat the gesture.

She clinks her glass to Hoyt’s without saying anything. I avoid getting that close to him.

We move to the dance floor.

I’m dancing, but I feel self-conscious with him around. I need something stronger.

Akira stays, but Hoyt follows me to the bar once again.

“I shouldn’t. My meeting is early in the morning,” he tells me when I offer him another drink.

I flip my shot glass upside down on the counter. The alcohol instantly does its job .

“Dance with me,” I invite him.

Then I let loose with the music. I close my eyes and let myself feel it, exactly like I’m used to.

I move my body and hands with each beat, fully aware that Hoyt is watching.

When I open my eyes, I see the hunger in his.

I know he would take me right here if he could.

The desire in his eyes… he can’t hide it.

And I don’t want him to. I don’t care if others are watching, I only want him to see me—free.

Our distance invites others to approach me. He watches as I dismiss each one.

Akira says goodbye, mentioning she has to wake up early. She’s obsessed with her latest theory.

Hoyt dancing is almost irresistible. I have to keep looking away to remind myself why I can’t touch him.

“This is killing me,” he says, stepping a little closer so I can hear him.

“What is?”

“You, in that dress.”

“If only you could take it off.” I’m feeling perhaps a little too loose.

“Don’t give me ideas…”

“Consider yourself… challenged.”

“Fuck. Let’s get out of here.”