Page 86 of The Deal Breaker
He hadn’t remembered.
He forgot.
The way he’d forgotten her at Christmas and the three years before that. Except, she realized ironically, for her birthday.
Yes, he’d worked nonstop this week, but he’d been in contact with his parents and seen his ex-girlfriend. He’d taken time for them, but not for Iris.
She wrapped her arms around her stomach that seemed to fill with heavy stones. The pain from her aching heart swamped her.
No matter how many times Dash promised to “make it up” to Iris, he hadn’t followed-thru. Words were easy for him to say, but they were meaningless without the actions that came next. He claimed she was the most important person in his life, but what he did, especially tonight, proved otherwise.
She wasn’t a priority.
His company, his parents, and his other friends were.
Iris thought about that—almost laughed at how history had repeated itself. Instead, she choked on a sob.
“How did I let this happen?”
This reminded Iris of her parents’ restaurant, which had been their priority. She’d longed for more of mom and dad’s time, yet she never questioned their love for her. Sure, they didn’t do the same things that other people did, but they included her in their passion for cooking, sharing their obsession with food. That was why she put her life on hold to take care of her mom and work at the restaurant to help her dad. Even knowing what her dad would end up doing, Iris wouldn’t change her decisions because she’d loved them, and sometimes love meant making the hard choices—sacrifice.
Her gaze traveled back to Dash’s text. She reread each line.
That was when she realized…
He hadn’t only forgotten her birthday. He’d also forgotten their dinner date. If he’d remembered, he would have contacted her earlier, not wait to hear from her when he didn’t show up.
In her heart of hearts, she knew what happened tonight was no different than before. His promises were empty ones. And his apologies had no meaning behind them.
Hot tears flowed.
Iris hated being treated this way. Yet, she kept letting him do it.
Why?
She’d only wanted to see the good in him.
Because you love him.
Iris stiffened. She did. She’d loved him forever. Probably from the day she met him when she was thirteen. The love had changed over the years, but it had remained a constant.
Hunching over, she sobbed.
Love wasn’t a good reason to put up with this treatment.
Did Dash care for her?
Yes, she believed he did. Inviting her to stay. Putting her name on the title. Wanting to see where their friendship could go. All those things told her she meant something to him.
But it wasn’t enough.
When Iris had decided to attend culinary school and move out, she’d known she had to rely on herself. Then Dash reappeared like the man she believed he could be. He’d captivated her. Only he wasn’t that guy. He admitted he was selfish, but she hadn’t listened. She should have because she deserved better.
Iris wiped her eyes.
She wanted to be with someone who built her up, made her a priority, and didn’t make her feel as if her best traits were being easy going and not making waves. Once again, as during the past three years, she’d allowed this to happen by letting the fantasy of how she imagined things to be override the reality.
Her cell phone beckoned like a lighthouse in a dense fog.
