Chapter 22
Chapter
Twenty-Two
IRIS
“Wow, they did a wonderful job with this space,” I tell Clint as he escorts me into the banquet hall.
The event is to support children in foster care.
I guess the local agency has had an uptick in children being removed from the home, which is creating an issue with having enough homes to place the children into.
This money will go to offering free training to those who want to become foster parents.
It also will allow them to spend more time looking for kinship connections throughout the country for the children, so hopefully they do not have to go to a foster home.
It’s an amazing organization that partners with the state agencies to make lives better for the foster children.
“Are you making a donation tonight?” I ask Clint as I take in the room.
“Of course. Truth is, my neighbors growing up were foster parents. They couldn’t have children of their own, so they decided to love the children of the community.
I hate that the world seems to only be getting worse.
The number of children being removed is growing.
I’m not saying they should stay with their family if there is a reason they are removed, but we need to figure out a better way to help them adjust to life. ”
I smile over at him. “Does this mean you would foster one day?”
He nods. “It’s always been my plan. Settle down and have my own children if the fates align, but also give love to the children who are lost right now. The ones who are unsafe at home. I want to be the safe haven for them.”
I grab his arm, leaning my head against his shoulder. “You are a good man.”
“I don’t do it for recognition. It’s the right thing to do.”
He’s right, of course. Those who are the true heroes seek no recognition for their acts. Clint is a real catch for the right girl.
Too bad that’s not me.
“Iris, good to see you.”
I turn, finding Max standing there in his tux. He is gorgeous on a good day, but get him all dressed up and he is something else entirely. He would never notice, but there are at least three sets of female eyes on him, all of which are with their own dates.
Max owns a room when he walks in. He doesn’t even try. He just does.
“Hey man, we met before, but you might not remember. I’m Clint. I have heard good things about you,” Clint introduces himself.
“You’re the guy from the airport. I’m Max. Our Iris looks beautiful tonight, don’t you agree?” Max offers.
My cheeks heat as Clint agrees with him.
“Absolutely stunning. I told her that I will be the envy of the event with her on my arm.”
Max chuckles. “That you will. I can say I’m already jealous you have the most beautiful woman in the room on your arm. I hope you don’t mind when I steal a dance later.”
“I will be beside myself watching you dance with her, but the decision is hers. I will never be upset if she’s doing something she enjoys,” Clint offers.
I feel like I am in the twilight zone. Somehow these two are together in the same room and getting along. I never imagined that my friend, Clint, could somehow get Max to come out of his shell enough to carry on a conversation.
“I agree. We only want what is best for our girl.” Max winks at me.
What in the hell is happening right now?
“Anyway, I will let you two mingle. I see a business associate. I’ll see you later for that dance,” Max tells me, reaching out to squeeze my hand.
“Yeah. I’ll be here,” I murmur, watching as he nods to Clint before dropping my hand and walking away.
“That man has it bad for you,” Clint tells me, pulling my attention back to him.
“What was that? I have never seen him that social on his own before. I usually have to prompt him,” I admit.
“He sees me as a threat but also knows that if he were to act like a tool, he would alienate you. So he did the next best thing. He was nice to me. Made it clear that you were his first. Every time he said ‘our girl,’ what he really meant was ‘my girl.’ He was practically peeing on you, girl.”
I shake my head. “You really think so?”
“I do.”
I sigh. “Why are relationships so complicated?”
“When you care, there are too many layers to sort through. You both want each other but don’t want to lose one another. It’s a vicious cycle, and until one of you is brave enough to break it, you will be stuck in limbo.” He shrugs, leading me toward the bar.
“What makes you so sure?” I ask, chewing my bottom lip.
He orders us each a drink before turning toward me.
“I’m an outside observer. I can see things that you can’t because you are too close and have feelings involved.
It is obvious to anyone with eyes that he has a thing for you.
Just like the moment you heard his voice, your entire body changed.
Your reaction showed me why you broke it off with me.
You are head over heels in love with him.
You need to decide if you want to risk it all for that love or if you are willing to let it go and move on.
Or are you going to stay stagnant? That’s a choice too. ”
He’s right. We have been stagnant for a decade. Always flirting with the edge of something more. A little flirting here and there, but always brushing it away as innocent because if it wasn’t, it would change everything.
“I’m scared,” I admit.
“That’s okay,” he tells me, handing me a glass of water. “Being scared is natural.”
“Water?” I ask, curious about his choice.
He smirks. “I have a feeling tonight is going to change some things. You’ll want to be sober for every moment.”
I suck in a breath, my chest feeling heavy. “I hope you are right about this.”
He nods. “I am. Let’s go spend ridiculous money on the silent auction. What do you think?”
MAX
She has been on his arm all night. It has killed me to watch her smile and laugh with him, but I’ve kept myself from going over and interrupting. I have engaged in meaningless conversation with many business associates that I have had over the years to keep myself from going to her.
My skin is crawling. I want to scream.
I don’t dare, though. I refuse to put any more attention on myself.
Social gatherings have always been the bane of my existence. Even as a child, I never liked coming to these things.
Before Iris, I would suffer through these with a grimace on my face. Then she came into my life, and she took some of the burden off.
I see now that I have been using her as a crutch. As a way to make my life better, but what am I really contributing to hers?
I want to show her I care. That I appreciate her.
I watch as they continue to talk and laugh across the room. I want to ask her to dance, but I don’t want him to taint it. I need to get her alone.
Another twenty minutes pass before I see my chance. I watch as Clint walks away from her, his phone to his ear.
She is standing alone. She won’t be for long, though. Not if I don’t make my move.
“Excuse me,” I tell the group of gentlemen I was listening to chat.
None of them acknowledge me as I slip away. Making my way through the room, I come to her side.
I let my hand fall to her lower back, startling her as she turns to face me. She is so close, I swear I can see the different pigments of blue in her eyes.
How have I pushed my feelings away for so long? Looking at her now, I feel like I have been starved for her for over a decade.
“Will you dance with me?” I whisper to her.
She licks her lips. “I thought you would never ask.”
She turns toward the floor, grabbing my hand as she goes. When she gets to an empty spot, she turns to face me, placing her hands on my chest. Slowly, she slides them up and around my neck.
I let my hands find her hips, pulling her even closer until there is no space between us.
“You always have loved to dance,” I tell her.
“I love the whole thing. Getting dressed up. Feeling like a princess. Being spun around the floor.”
I should have done more of this. We get invited to these things weekly. I could take her to one every single Saturday night if she wanted.
I make a mental note to start saying yes more. I’ll make sure I ask her before I do so I know she will have no other dates.
It will be just us two.
“Well then, let’s spin you around,” I tell her before pushing her back, grabbing her hand, and spinning her around.
She laughs, and it’s like music to my ears. I love seeing her so happy.
I spin her a few times before pulling her into my arms, laughing as she crashes into me.
“I’m so dizzy now,” she says through her laughter.
I smile down at her. “I’ve got you. I won’t let you go.”
She clings to me as she blinks up at me. “I know. You’ve always had me.”
I want to kiss her. In this moment, I want to lean down and take her lips with mine. If we were alone, I would. I would take the risk.
However, as much as I wish we were in our own little bubble, we aren’t. There are hundreds of people around us. I can’t risk her reacting negatively and running away. I don’t want to embarrass her in any way, shape, or form.
So I resist, swaying our body in time to the music.
“You seem different tonight.” Iris slides her hands back up to link behind my neck.
“I’m starting to see life a bit differently lately,” I admit.
“Oh yeah? Why the change?”
I reach up, brushing a piece of hair from her face before I slide my hand from her shoulder back down to her hip. “You.”
She looks surprised by my candid answer.
“I caused your change?”
“You said you felt like you were wasting your life. That you wanted to date and have a family. It made me look at my own life. What do I want from it? I have to admit, I was surprised by the answer,” I tell her.
“What do you want?”
Before I can answer, someone comes over the speaker asking everyone to take their seats for the results of the silent auction and a word from the organizer.
I lean down, pressing a kiss to her cheek. “I guess I should go find my seat,” I tell her.
She stares at me, desire clear in her expression.
“I guess so. I’ll see you later?” she asks.
“Of course.”
I leave her standing there, making my way through the room to find a quiet place to collect myself. When I step outside the room into the hall, I’m surprised to find Clint leaning against the wall.
“Hey. Everyone is taking their seats,” I tell him. Not because I want him to find his seat, but because Iris deserves to have her date in there with her. I don’t want her being alone.
“Thanks.” He pushes away from the wall and walks my way.
When he stops next to me, I wonder if this is it. If this is when he tells me that he plans to marry her or some other statement that makes it clear I need to back off.
I’m surprised when he pats my shoulder instead.
“She is an amazing woman. You know it. I know it. Hell, anyone who meets her knows it. She wants you to make a move. She needs it to be you. So, no matter how much your brain is telling you it won’t work, take the leap. You won’t be sorry.”
My mouth falls open as he heads back into the room.
I thought they were dating. She called him a friend. Maybe I was reading more into it than I should have. Maybe they are just friends.
They have to be because there is no way that man has a chance to keep Iris to himself, yet he is giving me tips on going for her. That would be dumb.
The question is, do I take his advice?