Page 104 of Iris Kelly Doesn't Date

STEVIE WOKE SLOWLY,her body filled with that exhausted boneless feeling she’d only experienced a few times with Adri. Outside, rain sluiced down the windows, turning Iris’s bedroom cozy and gray and soft.

She turned to look at Iris, ready to fully watch her sleep now without any embarrassment attached, but Iris’s side of the bed was empty. Instead, Iris was curled in the chair by the window, her iPad in her lap, stylus moving across the screen. Stevie watched her for a second, wondering what was on the page. She knew Iris drew, had even checked out her Etsy shop, but she’d never seen a full illustration, just tiny flowers and vines and other such doodles that filled her digital planners and stickers.

“Hey,” Stevie said, and Iris startled.

“You’re awake.”

“Finally,” Stevie said. “Sorry I slept so long.”

“I exhausted you that much, huh?” Iris said, smirking.

Stevie laughed, but she didn’t say anything. It was certainly truethat they’d both worn each other out last night, but she didn’t want sex jokes right now.

She wanted Iris in the bed, in her arms.

She wanted to kiss her good morning, make her come soft and slow, and then go out for brunch while holding her hand down the sidewalk.

The thoughts flipped through her mind like a picture book, one scene after another, quick and sure and surprising.

“What are you drawing?” she asked.

Iris clicked the iPad dark, slipped her stylus into its holder. “Nothing. Just... messing around.”

Stevie patted the empty spot next to her. “Come back to bed, then.”

Iris frowned, didn’t move.

Stevie’s throat went tight. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” Iris said, then tilted her head at Stevie. “So... what happened last night? With Jenna?”

Stevie managed a smile. “I thought I already told you.”

“No. You blasted into my apartment, said something super cheesy and romantic, and then fucked me sideways. Multiple times.”

Stevie blushed, memories from last night rushing through her. “Not sideways. I distinctly remember your amazing body in various positions, but none of them sideways.”

Iris laughed. “You know what I mean.”

Stevie tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. “Jenna was nice. I knew I’d be safe with her, so you were right there. And, I don’t know, maybe, if the timing were different, I’d be really into her.”

Iris’s brows pushed together, just a little. “But?”

“But I was in her apartment and I just... couldn’t stop thinking about you.”

“Really?” There was no sentimentality in the word. Noexcitement or happiness. Just wonder, as though Iris were waiting for Stevie to laugh and say,April Fools.

Stevie propped herself up on her elbow. “Really, Iris. Is that so hard to believe?”

Iris pressed her mouth flat, but then smiled. Laughed. “I mean, I am a pretty amazing screw.”

Stevie frowned. “Don’t. Don’t do that.”

“Do what?”

“Treat yourself like you’re nothing but a piece of ass.”

Iris’s mouth dropped open, but nothing came out. She sat up, her iPad slipping to the floor, and rubbed her face. “Look, this was fun. Last night. And, clearly, it was a long time coming, but I have a few planner orders to fill and then have to do a shit ton of writing, so you should probably go.”