Chapter Twenty-Five
Iris
I sit on the floor, wringing my hands together in my lap, and stare at my two slack-jawed best friends.
They haven’t blinked.
Or spoken a word.
Or moved in the last ten minutes. Pretty sure I’ve turned them to stone. Goddess Medusa must be proud of me. If only I had this power when I was attacked twice. It would’ve come super handy.
As soon as Kian and I had stepped off the elevator at our building, we were ambushed by Rosalie and Bianca, which promptly led to their kidnapping me away. Bianca had found out through Dash, who was informed by Kian, that we were returning today.
My overprotective man was adamant that I sleep off my jet lag and exhaustion from the seven-day-long sex marathon we had, where he fucked me in every position imaginable and on every surface available.
I went from having zero experience to rivaling a porn star. It’s a miracle I’m still walking, but not without a reminder of him in every step.
Since I didn’t want Kian to face Rosalie’s wrath, especially after he stole her thunder by outing our relationship at her charity gala, I convinced him to let me go. He was going straight to the office without resting too, so it wasn’t that hard to win the battle.
Honestly, I was eager to meet my girls and wouldn’t have been able to relax anyway. I wanted to chat with them so badly that my insides could burst.
Seth was back on duty and followed Rosalie’s car as she drove us to Bianca’s old apartment.
The moment I had sat in the back seat, Rosalie teased from the driver’s seat, “Don’t think we haven’t noticed the limp when you’re walking, sexpot.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, please,” snorted Bianca, “you’re not fooling us.”
“It wasn’t long ago when Bee was in the same state after the Paris trip and I from my honeymoon in France.”
“I swear those trips aren’t as innocent as these men make them out to be.”
Rosalie flashed me a smug grin through the rearview mirror, “At least we don’t have to worry about Kian’s sexual prowess.”
“How many inches are we talking?” probed Bianca, waggling her eyebrows.
“Oh Lord!” I muttered.
We thankfully reached the apartment before they asked me for more details. Although I know the hot interrogation will come later. As soon as we had entered the foyer, Bianca popped the question, “So, are we gonna need wine for our impending conversation?”
I nodded. “Abso-fucking-lutely.”
We sat on the rug in a circle in the living room, wineglasses in our hands, and after a deep breath, I began the tale of my past. Minus Nathan’s ultimate betrayal and blackmail. It was cathartic to let it out to the two people who are my ride or die.
Though now I’m worried I might have dumped a lot of information on their brains because they still haven’t said a word or reacted.
I mean, being speechless is a reaction. Nonetheless, I’ll take a tiny sound at this point. Waving a hand in front of them, I snap my fingers. “Um… Hello?”
Bianca blinks first, opening her mouth and then closing it right after.
This is going to be a long day.
“Ro?” I prompt Rosalie. “Anything?”
Nada.
“I am going to throw wine in your faces in the next three seconds if neither of you speaks up.”
My threat cuts through Rosalie’s reverie, and she mumbles, “I am best friends with a stalker.”
It seems to pop Bianca’s stupor too.
“Fake date Dash,” she gasps out loud. “That wasn’t an insane idea you pulled out of thin air. You were living it with Nathan.”
“I knew it!” yells Rosalie, pulling at Bianca’s arm to grab her attention. “I told you it was weird how they never kissed.”
“You did!” Bianca rapidly nods, her hair bouncing. “I can’t believe it.”
Their astonished faces swing my way, putting me in the spotlight.
Rosalie speaks first, raising a finger as if she has a long list of questions. “So, you’ve been in love—”
“And obsessed,” adds Bianca.
“And obsessed with Kian the captor since you were eighteen?”
“Yes,” I reply, fighting a smile.
Another finger rises. “And dated Nathan to get closer to him?”
“Fake dated, yep.”
A third finger. “So, your master plan worked and Kian is yours?”
“He is mine.” I don’t hold back and smile widely.
A long, heavy pause ensues.
They glance at each other before matching grins split across their faces, and they both scream, hooting and cheering.
“You sneaky little girl!” Rosalie yells. “You’re the craziest out of us all! God! I am so proud!”
Bianca leans over, giving me a high five. “Hella impressive, Iris.”
“You could give our husbands a run for their money.” Rosalie smirks, laughing. Shifting closer, she punches my arm.
“Oww—what was that for?”
She scowls. “Why the heck would you keep this a secret from us?”
Another punch lands on my other arm from Bianca. “Who did you think we were going to tattle to?”
“Stop hitting me!” I rub my arms.
Arms crossed, they sit back down in front of me, waiting for an explanation. Man, being in the hot seat isn’t fun. I’m always on the other side.
“I was scared to tell you.” I sigh. “I didn’t want you both to think our friendship wasn’t real. Plus, it wasn’t just my secret to tell.”
“Even so, you should’ve told us,” replied Rosalie.
“If Kian hadn’t kissed you at the party, when were you going to tell us?” Bianca demands, sounding butthurt.
“I was ready to confess at the party right before Kian showed up. I didn’t know he was going to reveal our relationship publicly.”
“Is that why Nathan is being tight-lipped?” Rosalie says. “Nova went to see him but he shut him out, which has Nova upset.”
“Does Nathan know you were in love with Kian?” comes from Bianca, a crease appearing in her brow.
“He does. I told him a while ago.” I give them the half-truth.
Rosalie frowns. “Why is he so angry then?”
“Is he in love with you?” Bianca gasps, eyes going round.
“Oooh, a love triangle.” Rosalie claps her hands. “The plot thickens.”
“No!” I scoff, horror etching on my face. “I called off the engagement, which didn’t go well. It’s why he’s mad at me.”
“That’s unfair,” snaps Rosalie, angry on my behalf. “He can’t fault you for what he already knew. Why would he make you marry him when you’re in love with Kian?”
“It’s very complicated.” I hold the tears at bay, which spring up every time I think about Nathan’s betrayal. “I desperately wanted to talk to you guys so many times, but I forced myself to stay quiet. I was worried you might take his side too.”
“Oh, babe,” whispers Bianca, scooching closer and putting her hands on my knees, “Rosa and I are always on your side.”
“The three of us,” says Rosalie, capturing my hand. “Nothing and nobody can tear us apart.”
“I know, it just took me a while to realize it.”
Mischief sparks in Rosalie’s gaze. “Had you told us about your crush on Kian, we would’ve helped you, sexpot.”
I chuckle. “Silly me.”
Taking my other hand, Bianca consoles, “Nathan will come around.”
Dread constricts my chest as I half-heartedly reply, “Hopefully.”
“At least now we know why you were so distant and threw a fit whenever we talked shit about Kian.”
“He is an amazing man, Ro.” My heart races as butterflies cheer in harmony in my stomach. “The world is completely wrong about him.”
My best friends’ expressions soften.
“You’re protective of him,” Bianca states.
“Very.” I have been ever since I saw him standing alone under the tree in the park. “My love for him… it’s unconditional and intense. It makes me crazy, possessive, and demanding. I think it’s because I waited for so long for him to be mine.”
“That’s what love is, babe.” Rosalie sighs. “Every emotion becomes tenfold around him.”
“Before you know it, they become your entire world,” adds Bianca, an all-knowing smile on her lips.
“Yeah,” I whisper.
With a tilt of her head, Rosalie asks, “We know your feelings. What about Kian? How deep are his?”
“Just so you know, he’s going to have to pass some of our tests,” utters Bianca, all businesslike. “He’s perfect in your eyes. But as your best friends, we’ll decide if he’s worthy of you or not.”
Rosalie nods seriously from beside her. “He's gotta impress us.”
“He bought Sole Symphony, making me the ambassador for the new line.” Their jaws go slack again. I smirk. “Does that impress you?”
“Holy crap!”
“The million-dollar shoe brand?” exclaims Bianca.
“All I had asked for was one pair.”
“Men,” mocks Rosalie, rolling her eyes. “They’d do anything to avoid going shopping.”
“He did it as retaliation.” I tell them about the ugly incident, watching them become furious on my behalf.
“That bitch!” sneers Rosalie.
Bianca suddenly gasps. “Oh my god! Is that why they’re going out of business?”
“What do you mean?” I frown, confused.
“You don’t know?”
Both Rosalie and I shake our heads.
“More than half of their stores have closed down all over the country. Their deal to expand overseas also fell through. Once Sole Symphony’s new line is announced, their shares are for sure going to go down.”
I gape.
“Kian must’ve had a hand in this,” Rosalie says conspiratorially. “I am liking that man more and more.”
Bianca shakes her head at our friend’s antics while I’m still trying to process the implication of Bianca’s info. Is Rosalie right? Did Kian have a hand in their downfall?
“Iris?”
I snap out of my haze. “Yeah, Bee?”
“You never answered. Has Kian said he loves you?” Eagerness reflects on her face.
“He hasn’t said it back yet.”
Rosalie’s eyes bug out. “You mean you told him ‘I love you’ and he never said it back? That’s insane.”
Bianca’s pretty face says she agrees as well. Like they’re thinking I have deeper feelings for him than he does for me, which is untrue.
“It’s not a big deal,” I say. “I don’t need him to say it back.”
They doesn’t look convinced.