Page 95 of The Deal Breaker
She doubted she could move from being in shock. Iris nodded once.
Dash got in line.
Her cellphone buzzed.
Henry:Trust me, it’ll be okay. Give Dash a chance.
Iris:How do you know what’s going on?
Henry:I’m here, in case you need me.
Iris scanned the other tables until she saw a man dressed like the ultimate Blazers fan. She’d never seen Henry dressed so casually or wearing a baseball cap, but even his tennis shoes were team colors. He looked like should be at the Moda Center cheering on Portland’s basketball team to victory.
He blew her a kiss.
Her phone buzzed again.
Henry:Breathe, Iris.
Iris:I don’t know if I can do this.
Henry:You can and you will.
Henry:But if you need me, just say, “Oh, Henry.”
Dash returned with a coffee and sat. “You probably want an explanation.”
Under the table, she wiggled her fingers to keep from freaking out. “That would be helpful.”
“The simple answer is I wanted to see you.” His mouth quirked. “The complicated one is I know I screwed up and don’t deserve the chance to talk to you again, but I had to try.”
She let his words soak in. “So you enlisted Hadley…”
“That part was Henry’s idea. Most of this was, but he was right,” Dash admitted. “Hadley first said no. She wanted no part of this, but after she compared our two questionnaires and realized we were a match, she agreed.”
“I feel set up.”
“You were, but I didn’t think you’d see me otherwise.”
Iris couldn’t believe he’d done this. “I wouldn’t have.”
“I accept that. Even after you gave me another chance, I didn’t learn my lesson. Everything was still all about what I wanted. Not what was best for you or us.”
“Then why are you here now?
“To tell you I’m embracing change after losing you,” he admitted. “Not that I’m changing for you. I’m doing it for me. To be a better person. Lesson learned the hard way.”
Mission accomplished, but it was bittersweet. “You look different. Healthier.”
And hotter.
Iris didn’t dare say it. She wasn’t sure thinking it was smart, either.
His eyes brightened. “I hired a personal trainer. I’ve given Tony full-reign to make nutritious meals, and I’m learning to tolerate vegetables. I’m working set hours, going in late on Fridays, and sleeping more.”
“It shows.”
“Thanks. And I mean that. If not for you, I would have never done this.”
