Page 49 of Origins of Eternity

“I’m here to get you back a little early, obviously. I came here for you. I rented a place. Gigi and Miranda are there, as well as a couple of others, but I’ll happily tell them all to go elsewhere if you come home with me right now and we end this silly time apart.”

Cassia took Iro’s jacket in her hands and pulled on it.

Iro breathed in the scent she’d always know and probably respond to a little bit.

“Yes, my love. I can tell you want me. Let’s go back to Florence. Let’s go home and make love for hours and hours. And if you still insist on this whole non-human diet thing, I’ll even think about joining you, if you want. We can sit by the fire and read poetry, and we can walk around the city and talk about how it’s changed and how some things have always remained, like we used to do.”

Iro took a step back and said, “No, Cassia. I don’t want that. I’m here for work.”

“Just work?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I saw you the other night, Iro; with that woman at that horrible-looking restaurant. Tell me you’re not trying to bed a vegan. I can’t imagine she’d feel good about the fact that you used to eat people if she doesn’t even eat cows or pigs.”

“Stay away from her, Cassia,” Iro warned.

“So, you’re herenotjust for work?” Cassia asked as she crossed her arms over her chest, mirroring Iro’s posture.

“Iamhere for work. I just had a work meeting. It was horrible, and I’m tired and want to go home.”

“I’ve watched you from afar, circling this block twice. But you’re tired and heading home? Why are you lying to me, Iro? We don’t lie to each other. It’s always worked between us because we’re perfectly honest all the time. I know you like these breaks in our relationship. You explore things. I do the same, just differently. God, the women I’ve been with since you left me this time…” Cassia looked skyward. “The sex has been exquisite.”

“Sounds like you should be perfectly content for a while longer, then.”

“I’ll have no problem managing my own contentment, but, darling, I love you, and you love me. We always find our way back to each other. All I’m asking is that we shorten this little break of yours, and maybe you take another one in another ten years or something. Maybe twenty. If you want, I’ll even go back to traveling with you. We don’t have to remain in Florence. I’ll book us on a trip around the world. Whatever makes you happy, my love.”

“Not yet, Cassia.”

“Not yet? Why not? I’m conceding here, Iro. I’m giving in to all your demands. Are there more? I’ve already offered not to feed on humans, even the willing ones, and to try your horrible pig-and-cow diet. Just please don’t make me eat squirrels and rabbits.” She cringed.

“Cassia, I’m dating someone right now.”

“Yes, I’m aware. Dump her. It’s early. What has it been, one whole date? She’ll be fine. She’ll move on. She’ll probably meet someone who wants her even more than you, apparently, do right now, to be denying me what you know webothwant.”

“Idon’twant it,” Iro insisted.

“Now, because of this silly human. But give it a month, Iro. You’ll be back in my arms, and we’ll sip champagne off our bodies before we deliver them more pleasure.”

“Cassia, I don’t want that.”

“Don’t want what?”

“I don’t want to get back together again. Don’t you see? I haven’t wanted that for the longest time. Haven’t you noticed that I’ve wanted more breaks, and longer ones, for the past several decades?”

“You like different things than I do, and we’re going to live forever, my love. I’ve been very understanding and very patient with you and your little adventures, Iro, but I’m losing patience right now.”

“I don’t need your patience, Cassia. I need you to go.”

“Why? Because of this woman?”

“Yes, because of her. I want to be with her.”

“It’s brand-new, Iro.”

“I know. And I want to see where it goes. I don’t want to have you waiting. I want to be with her without having a backup plan if it doesn’t work.”

“Backup plan? Centuries together, and I’m thebackupplan now because you met a pretty girl and she’s smitten?”