40. Iris
My first thought when I wake up Saturday morning to the sound of muffled voices is that I’m being burgled. Nick had an early shift at the diner, so I should be alone in the house.
But just as my pulse starts pounding in my ear, Sloane’s distinctive cackle rings out, followed by Molly shushing her like only a mother can.
Relief and confusion flood my veins as I stumble from the bed, the hardwood cool against my bare feet. As I round the corner, laughter greets me, my book club friends buzzing around my kitchen like human honeybees. My gaze is drawn to the shiny balloons tied to the backs of the dining chairs. They spell out the message you’re a star .
“What is all this?” I slowly move forward, still a bit dazed and definitely confused.
Sloane turns from the stove, spatula in hand. “Surprise! We’re here to hype you up for your dancing debut.”
“Lucky for you,” Avah adds, looking me up and down, “Sadie stopped by The Roasted Sky and had Sally make a double-shot latte. You look like shit.”
Molly elbows our blunt friend. “She means you look like you didn’t get a good night’s sleep.”
“I’m sure I look like shit,” I agree, running a hand through my tangled hair. “I feel like shit.”
I take the coffee Avah hands me along with a tight hug. “Helium and caffeine hyping works,” I tell her, blinking back tears.
“We’ve got you.” Taylor joins the hug.
I let out a watery laugh. “I don’t think porcupines cry.”
“You aren’t really a porcupine.” Sloane plants a soft kiss on my cheek. “And you can handle Fun Fest.”
“We’ll make damn sure of it,” Avah promises.
“What would I do without you all?”
“If you stay in Skylark,” Taylor says gently, “you won’t need to find out.”
“We’re not convinced Seattle’s right for you.” Avah wrinkles her nose. “I don’t think hair like yours does well in humidity.”
Sloane slides two perfectly fried eggs onto a plate and places it on the table. “More importantly, we want you to stay.”
Sadie wraps an arm around my shoulder. “I might have mentioned your potential plan to Sally. She wanted me to tell you that you’ve got a job at The Roasted Sky whenever you want it.”
“From mayor to barista?”
Sloane pushes me into a chair in front of the eggs and hands me a fork. “You could do worse. They have a killer tip jar.”
I glance up at her. “I’ll think about it.”
“Think hard. Seattle is too far away.” Her voice softens. “You belong with the people who love you.”
“That’s us,” Taylor adds.
I press a hand to my chest. It feels like my heart is splintering again, but for a totally different reason. “You guys are the best.”
“And we’re better together.” Avah flips a lock of chestnut hair over her shoulder. “Now eat your eggs, and then I’m going to do your hair and makeup.”
Molly claps her hands together like an excited kid. “Yeah, we’re going to get some sexy pictures of you and Char’s instructor friend and make Jake Byrne rue the day he walked away from you.”
“ Rue it,” Sloane confirms with a smirk.
I smile, but my throat feels tight. “Not necessary,” I say. “But I’ll take the hair and makeup anyway.”
As much as I appreciate having these women in my corner, I miss Jake. He’s been gone less than twenty-four hours, but I miss him every minute. His absence feels like losing something precious, and I don’t know how to make the ache in my heart go away.
After my Fun Fest makeover, complete with kohl-rimmed eyes and hair that would do a Vegas showgirl proud, I head to the dance studio, the weight of the day starting to press down on me again.
The dress Char helped me order for the performance hits just below my knees, with a flared skirt that swirls with every spin. The sequins on the sleeves are a little flashy for me, but I appreciate the built-in bodysuit that keeps everything in place. My new partner is just as talented as Char claimed, with a laid-back smile that puts me at ease despite my nerves and toe-trodding. Fortunately, I’m not quite as bad as I was when Jake and I first started.
Apparently, falling for my partner made me a better dancer. A better person.
Even though I’m nervous, sad, and unsure of the future, spinning around the dance floor is still fun. My mind keeps wandering to Jake—the way he steadied me and made my heart skip a beat when he spun me. The way we just clicked.
“You’ve got this in the bag,” Derek tells me with a high five after we run through our solo routine a second time. He’s being kind, but I’m okay with that.
Imperfection is okay, even when it’s me who’s not as good as I want to be. I’m more willing to accept my missteps and stumbles because at least I’m trying. There's something freeing in the realization that I don't have to be the flawless version of myself I've been chasing all these years. Maybe the person I actually am deserves some long-overdue grace.
Once Char is convinced I’m not going to embarrass her or ruin her reputation, she releases me, and I head toward the fairgrounds. I find Joey helping a group of volunteers set up chairs in front of the festival stage.
His eyes narrow as I approach.
“Good morning, Madam Mayor.” He crosses his arms over his chest, his hair newly clipped and his wide jaw clean-shaven. In his crisp white Oxford shirt with one button open at the collar and the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, he looks the part. And while that isn’t everything, he’s going to do okay for the town. I have to believe that.
“Are you here to scare me off?” he asks slowly. “I know your popularity is on the rise—at least my cousin tells me I don’t stand a chance against you. The crew over at Tony’s report you can belt out Journey with the best of them.”
“Don’t stop believing, Joey,” I answer with a smile. “I’ve learned a lot about the community during my time in the mayor’s office.”
“I get it. You’ve got the on-the-job experience that I don’t, but my name carries weight. And Cy?—”
“I know you have plenty of money to dump into this campaign,” I interrupt. “Your signs are everywhere.”
“Did yours get lost?”
I shake my head. “After the showcase, I’m going to announce that I’m withdrawing my candidacy.”
He runs a hand through his thinning brown hair, his expression skeptical. “You don’t think you can beat me?”
“I think I’d have a hell of a chance to win. I’m a good mayor, and I love this town with my whole heart.” I point to the marquee sign for the weekend’s festivities. “I’m also fun. Remember to be fun, but more importantly, have fun. Do the dunk tanks. Let people smash a pie in your face. Take care of the community, but have fun while you’re doing it. It took me a minute to understand that both of those things are important, and why.”
“So why quit?”
“I’m not quitting.” My voice is steady, and so is my heart. “I’m choosing something different. I don’t want to keep trying to live up to expectations I didn’t set for myself.”
He looks away. “No one in my family believes I can succeed as mayor. They think I’m too dumb because I started working at the auto shop right out of high school.” His gaze shifts back to me. “I could have gone to college, but I like cars.”
“There’s nothing wrong with that.”
“That’s not what my aunt says, or what my father thought.”
“Only allowing ourselves to become what our parents wanted would be a pretty sad state of affairs for most of us.”
He laughs softly. “Amen to that.”
“One other thing this town—this office—has taught me is fear might be along for the ride, but I can’t let it drive my life. It might not be the path your family wanted, but it’s yours. You own a successful business in Skylark, which gives you a unique perspective. You’re honest and hardworking. You can figure out the rest. Most of life is figuring it out as we go along. There’s nothing wrong with not having all the answers.”
He rubs a hand along the back of his neck. “After a speech like that, I’d vote for you.”
“Not gonna happen, but I appreciate your confidence.”
“Best of luck to you, Iris.”
“You too, Joey.”
We shake hands, and I walk away feeling lighter, a weight lifted from my shoulders.
By the time I take my place with the rest of the class, Fun Fest is in full swing. And it looks like the entire Skylark population has turned up. The crowd buzzes with energy and the smell of popcorn and funnel cakes is thick in the air. There are craft booths and face painting and a small petting zoo on the far end of the midway. It’s everything fun and perfect, and I should feel great in this moment. I want to feel happy. I’m just not sure how with the way my heart feels like it might never recover.
But the show must go on, and Derek takes my hand as we line up for the first routine. No matter what happens next, I’m a part of this community in a meaningful way—something I didn’t even realize I wanted at the start of my bucket list journey.
This class taught me so much. Not just about dancing, but also how to live life to the fullest. I just wish Jake were here to share it with me. I want to experience this moment—and all the moments going forward—with him. To share the good and the bad, the fun and the challenges.
But the emptiness without him feels like it could swallow me whole if I let it.
I take a deep breath and rein in my emotions. I’m done blaming myself for either of our mistakes and missteps. Like me, Jake has to figure out what he wants from life, and I hope his path makes him happy in the long run.
Do I secretly hope he realizes he can’t live without me? Um, hell yes .
Do I believe that’s going to happen? No . Which is another reason why the job in Seattle might be the right next step for me.
Even if Jake returns to Austin permanently, he’ll come back here to visit his grandfather. I’m not sure I can take the chance of running into him—not quite as literally as our encounter a month earlier—and have my heart break all over again.
The music starts, the speakers crackling, and nerves threaten before muscle memory takes over. The crowd claps and cheers, and the music vibrating under my feet carries me through the first two routines.
While the other students take their positions for the third number, Derek and I exit the stage. We’ll go on for our solo next, and my nerves return in full force.
I’m covered in sweat, my breathing ragged, but Char grins and hugs me tight. “You were perfect.”
There’s only one thing that could make this moment perfect, but I return her hug and force a smile.
As we wait in the wings, ready to make our entrance after the applause dies down from the group dance, Derek flashes a confident smile. “Don’t worry, Iris. I’ve got you.”
“Actually, I’ve got her for this one,” a familiar voice interrupts.
My heart stutters, and awareness tingles along my skin. Before I can fully register what’s happening, Jake’s warm hand presses against the small of my back, making my knees go weak. I can’t imagine his touch ever doing anything else.
“What are you doing here?” My voice shakes as I stare at the man responsible for the thousand butterflies that have taken flight across my middle.
He looks handsome and a little tousled, like he ran the whole way back from Austin.
He offers a crooked smile. “I think it’s called pulling my head out of my ass.” His gray-green eyes soften as he studies me. “Turns out, I was right where I belong all along.”
I’m saved from answering—not that I’m in any shape to put together a coherent response to that—because Char is introducing us. She must have known about the switch as she doesn’t seem surprised to see Jake leading me out onto the stage.
The crowd goes wild.
“Byrne, baby, Byrne!” Sloane’s voice rings out over the applause and cheering.
So many questions tumble through my mind, but the music starts.
“Dance with me,” he whispers, then spins me, my dress twirling out, and suddenly there’s no audience. There’s no confusion or missteps. There’s only this moment with the man I love and the dance that brought us together in the first place.
We fall into step like we never missed a beat. He draws me close as the music fades, but instead of the bow we’re supposed to take as the audience roars, Jake cups my cheeks and kisses me.
It’s like every dream I didn’t know I had is coming true at once.
But there’s no time to process what Jake’s return, our kiss, and the fact that he can’t seem to take his eyes off me mean for my galloping heart and our future. As the audience continues to cheer, the rest of the class joins us on stage. The Fun Fest crowd gives us a standing ovation, and Sadie’s friend Sally, the event’s emcee, talks up the dance studio before the next act, a local magician, takes the stage.
We shuffle off, and there are more hugs and congratulations as family and friends join us backstage, separating Jake from my side before I’m ready to let him go. Again.
“I’m sorry I missed the solo,” Derek says as he lifts me into a celebratory hug, “but you two clearly belong together.”
His words puncture the bubble of happiness enveloping me, but I smile and accept his praise.
“Iris.”
I turn to face Jake, who’s made his way through the crowd to stand in front of me.
“Well done, Byrne.” Avah pats his shoulder.
He nods, but his eyes remain fixed on mine. “Iris, I?—”
“Let’s not do this here,” I tell him, not wanting to prolong the agony if that’s what’s coming. Given how we left things, how can I think it will be anything else? I know now he's too decent to just disappear—Jake would want to explain it away to make sure I understand it's not my fault, even though we both know it is. “It can wait for?—”
He takes my hand in his and links our fingers. “I don’t want to wait another minute to tell you that I love you, Iris.” His eyes swirl with emotions—hope, joy, and uncertainty. “I want to be with you. Give me a second chance. I’m not saying I deserve one. I’ve been a fool and a coward and an idiot.”
“A pigheaded idiot,” Gilbert clarifies as he joins the group of people surrounding us.
Jake grins sheepishly. “All those things and much more. Well said, Gramps.”
Murmurs of agreement come from my book club friends.
“No one needs to offer more,” I call out, raising my free hand. Jake also captures that one, lifting it to his mouth to brush a soft kiss across my knuckles.
“You love me?” Something fragile flutters in my chest, a glimmer of hope I'm almost afraid to nurture. That simple question feels too big for this moment and yet not enough.
“Probably since we were seventeen, but I was definitely too much of a fool to do anything about it then. You taught me to be brave and embrace every part of my life. But none of it matters without you, Iris.”
A champagne fountain of emotions erupts inside my heart. I’m fizzy and light, as if I could float away in the crisp autumn air. He fills every hollow place I thought would stay empty. This is what I want, who I want, but?—
“You’re going back to Austin.”
“Not if you say yes.” He shakes his head. “Skylark is my home. You are my home. I never knew my place could be a person—until you.”
I blink. “I have an interview next week in Seattle.”
“You have a job offer right here,” Sally shouts from the back of the crowd.
“More than one,” Jake’s grandpa says as he steps forward. “We have an open position at the foundation for a program manager to work in Skylark and the surrounding communities. You’d be perfect for that role, Iris.”
I feel my mouth drop open, and I’m not sure how to react.
“Will you give us a chance?” Jake asks. “I know it might not be easy, but I don’t want easy, Dixon. I want you and me. The messy, beautiful, imperfect everything. All of it as long as we’re together. Every version of life I can imagine is better when I’m with you.”
“Yes,” I whisper as my heart fills. It might not be easy, and I might not have all the answers, but I know I want to figure them out with Jake.
This is my future, and I’m not going to let it go. Not this time.
I don’t realize I’m crying until he brushes a thumb across my cheek. “You mean that?”
“Yes,” I repeat. “I’ll give you—us—all the chances we need.”
I wrap my arms tight around his shoulders and kiss him.
“Then you’re stuck with me, Dixon. Forever.” For the first time, forever doesn’t feel scary. Because I know I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.
“Forever,” I whisper with a soft laugh. My heart is overflowing with happiness knowing Jake and I will figure out how to make our future everything we want it to be. Not because it will always be easy, but because it will always be us.
Every step forward with him–dancing or otherwise–is the home I want. A home where I can be fully seen and completely myself, a love that shows up in every moment, and the promise that we’ll always choose each other.
* * *
I hope you loved Iris and Jake’s story.