31. Sebastian
Chapter thirty-one
Sebastian
I ris sounds so happy. And this time she called me immediately to tell me the good news.
A new artwork has been installed in the High Line. Only the back is visible from my window, but my dad and I briefly walked through the park after lunch, and we checked it out. It’s a pastel-hued floral mural with “Thank You Darling” styled in bright bubble letters, by Dutch artist Lily van der Stokker. Appropriate. I feel grateful and relieved that it's all worked out.
I call my dad. “I’m General Counsel. The CEO approved it.”
“Congratulations! That’s great news. I’m happy for you,” he says.
And he does sound happy for me.
My mom gets on the phone. “I haven’t called you, but I’m so thrilled you and Iris are dating. I like her. Are you guys going to come over for Friday movies? I hope you bring her.”
I can’t get a word in.
“Oh, yes. Your dad just reminded me. Congratulations on becoming the General Counsel. Wow! That’s quite a title,” she says. “Now hopefully you can come and talk to one of my classes about being a lawyer. Will you have more control over your schedule?”
“Maybe Iris and I can each come in. She’s the new CISO,” I say.
“It’s like an alphabet soup,” my mom says. “But you guys are really a power couple. It’s good that you were both promoted. Much easier.”
“I’ll ask Iris if she wants to come over on Friday.”
We talk more, my parents passing the phone back and forth, until I say I have to go because I’m meeting Iris at a party.
J azmine’s studio apartment is packed with people. I make my way through those congregating in the hallway, excusing myself as I slip through, and drop off my Secret Snowflake gift in the box decorated with blue paper and snowflakes in the living room/bedroom corner. Two people are having a conversation, wine glasses in hand, over the box.
I say hello to Jazmine. She tells me Iris went to the kitchen to fill up the ice bucket. Jazmine’s queen-size bed is pushed against the wall with a mountain of coats on one side and some people sitting on the edge like it’s a couch facing the official couch. A small Christmas tree fills one corner. A set of red, green, and black candles sits on the short bookshelf by the north wall in a wooden candleholder, ready for Kwanza at the end of the month. A menorah is in the center of the dining room table, surrounded by a feast.
“There,” Jazmine says. “She’s at the food table by the windows.”
Iris looks up and smiles at me. I’ll never get tired of seeing that light beam.
I pass through more people, saying hello to the ones from work I now know, so it takes me a bit of time.
Finally. I go to kiss Iris hello, but she backs up and whispers, “Too many work people here.”
I kiss her quickly on the cheek instead.
She nods.
“Did you have dinner?” Iris asks. “Jazmine is an amazing cook. I left space for her latkes.”
“I had lunch with my dad, but I love latkes.”
Jazmine’s latkes are deliciously crunchy and flavorful. Our work colleagues are much more cheerful. There’s a feeling that the storm may have passed because Xavier made another speech, telling everyone the company is not going to be shuttered.
Jazmine claps her hands together and thanks us all for celebrating the first night of Hanukkah with her.
“I want to read a passage from one of my favorite children’s books about Hannukah,” Jazmine says. “It’s called The Hanukkah of Great-Uncle Otto by Myron Levoy. I loved this book as a child, and I want to share its message about love.”
Jazmine reads a passage about how, on Hanukkah, one light becomes two lights the next night, and then three lights the third night, and that’s how kindness spreads. One kind act begets another.
Jazmine tears up as she reads the passage. Iris slips her hand into mine and squeezes. I squeeze her hand back.
Jazmine lights the first candle. She then invites everyone to pick out their secret snowflake gift.
Iris unwraps her gift. “The movie Pillow Talk . And it’s from…” She looks at the back of the card. “You?”
“One of my mom’s favorites,” I say. “I was passing by Barnes & Noble, and they had it in their sale DVDs.”
“I like your pillow talk,” she whispers.
“Do you?” I ask. Suddenly, I understand Wim. I want to go home right now with Iris and explore some more pillow talk.
“What did you get?”
I unwrap my gift. It’s body soap.
“We can find a use for that too.” She winks at me.
Yes, I definitely want to be a caveman, pick her up, and go home right now.
“How was Raphael?” I ask.
“He was good. Thank you for suggesting that he be released from the NDA,” she says. “I gave him back his copy of Zero Trust Networks , but he said I could keep it.”
Aaron and Jazmine are cuddling in a corner. Lucky.
I understand it’s a work environment thing and that dating a coworker can impact her professional reputation negatively, but still. Kevin is gone. Hank is an idiot, and I don’t want to live my life catering to his narrowmindedness. I worry it’s something else. I want to shout from the rooftops that we’re together now.
Especially because Ernest keeps putting his hand on Iris’s arm, and I’m stuck here as a neutral observer. At this point, it’s not exactly fair to Ernest either.
He tells us he was out of the office today because he was interviewing for another job—but don’t tell Jazmine.
“Still, if you guys were both promoted, it doesn’t seem like they’re closing us down, right?” Ernest asks. “That would be cruel.”
Iris and I look at each other. It’s not entirely past them.
“Xavier never thought they were going to close us down,” I say.
“Well, it was incredible for Colby to step down to save money for the company—his brother’s dream company—so that maybe they won’t close us down. The New Mexico CFO seems like a good guy,” Ernest says.
“Is that what you heard?”
“Colby implied that at his good-bye party with accounting,” Ernest says.
Iris frowns.
Jazmine joins us at that moment. “I’m so glad you’re replacing Kevin.” She hugs Iris. “And Ernest, there’s someone I want you to meet.” She winks at me.
“Jazmine, everything is delicious, but I’m going home soon,” Iris says. “The last 48 hours have been such an emotional rollercoaster. I’m wiped out.”
“Take some latkes,” Jazmine says. “And some babka. Don’t leave it all for me to eat.”
“I will. Thanks again for inviting me.”
“Well, you understand the meaning of kindness begetting kindness. I’m going to donate a copy of this book to Faith’s library. By the way, Nora has been helping Faith pick out books to buy, and they’re so excited. Faith says it’s like Christmas came early, and Nora says it’s like Eid al-Fitr.”
“I’m so happy to hear that,” Iris says. “I need to call Faith and coordinate for the winter dance on Friday. I forgot.”
They hug goodbye, and Jazmine pulls Ernest over to meet another woman.
“Are you really tired?” I ask. “Are you going to go home?”
Iris smiles at me. “I don’t have any more energy to socialize, but I do want to celebrate at your apartment with you.”
“I ’m just going to slip into something more comfortable,” Iris says as we enter my apartment and hang up our coats. She picks up her backpack.
“Did you bring a change of clothes?” I ask.
“I should,” she says. “Getting up at six a.m. to rush home and change is not ideal.”
“You can borrow my sweatpants now if you want,” I say.
“I picked up something on my way over to Jazmine’s.” She leaves the living room.
I want to suggest again that she move in, but it’s probably not the right timing. Remember, she didn’t fully trust me . But hopefully, now she does. And if she wants her own apartment, I should respect that. But it makes sense for us to share an apartment. I pour us both some wine and swirl the red liquid in my glass.
“Do you want to do some cooking?” Iris asks as she walks back into my living room.
I blink.
Iris is wearing an apron. And nothing else .
She winks at me. “Do you still think aprons fall into the same category as socks?”
“Definitely not,” I practically growl. I grip the counter. It takes all I have not to cross the room to her. All words seem to have deserted me.
She raises one eyebrow, a very satisfied expression on her face. She knows she has me completely enthralled.
I can’t hold back and pick her up, swinging her around. “And yes, I definitely want to heat someone up.”
She wraps her arms and legs around me. “I do like a man who can cook.”
“I think you’re going to be very happy with what we’re serving tonight.”
I walk us both into the bedroom, and she hugs me tighter as she closes the bedroom door with her foot.