Page 92 of The Deal Breaker
“Or me with Paige.” Wes held up his hand.
Brett raised his. “I still don’t know how Laurel forgave me, but I’m grateful each and every day.”
Dash grimaced. “I’m not sure I’d forgive me if I was her.”
“Come on,” Mason encouraged. “Love conquers all.”
“Even when stupid guys act like jerks,” Blaise mumbled.
Dash stared at his beer. “I have no idea how to start.”
“Make her dreams come true,” Henry said.
Everyone looked at him, including Dash. “She’s attending culinary school.”
“That’s only one dream.” A mischievous smile spread across Henry’s face.“Do you truly want Iris back in your life?”
“Yes,” Dash croaked. “I’m barely functioning without her.”
Henry eyed him warily. “What are you willing to do?”
“Anything it would take.” Dash didn’t hesitate answering.
Henry’s mouth slanted. “Will you be patient?”
Dash cringed. That wasn’t one of his strong points, but for Iris… “If I have to be, yes.”
“Can you embrace change?”
That made him flinch. “I could, if I had to. Do you have an idea on how I can get Iris back in my life?”
“I do.” A devilish gleam glinted in Henry’s gaze. “But it will require a level of patience you’ve never imagined and a willingness to change. Not one thing, but multiple.”
“I’ll do it. Whatever it is, I’m in.” The words poured from his lips like water from a firehose. “When she left, my life changed. I’m living in black and white. I want the color—I want her—back.”
* * *
For Iris, Valentine’s Day had always been a holiday other people celebrated. Most years, she’d ignored it unless she was dating someone. Which hadn’t been often. But this February, every single pink or red heart captured her attention like a tractor beam. The cards, the candy, the flowers were everywhere, mocking her.
Seven days after breaking up with Dash, Iris’s heart was still tender. She focused on her classes, which were going well, and she survived the fourteenth with only a few tears and several cupcakes.
A week later, Hadley reached out via text. Iris had no idea why the matchmaker wanted to meet, but she begged off. She wasn’t ready to date, and given Hadley’s sister was Dash’s assistant, the temptation to ask about Dash would be strong.
Too strong.
Which was why Iris also asked Henry, who texted her almost daily, for more time before they met up in person again. She appreciated him checking in, but she needed to put Dash behind her.
Easier said than done.
By early March, Iris felt more like herself. Oh, her heart still missed Dash, but songs didn’t trigger as many tears. When Hadley texted about having lunch again, Iris agreed.
That was how she found herself seated at a cute café in the heart of downtown on a Saturday. Instrumental music played. The servers wore white. She and Hadley each ordered a different quiche with a salad. The crust was flakey and the egg mixture tasty. The best part was Hadley not bringing up Dash. Hadley talked about her most recent trip to San Francisco, and Iris showed off the photos of her DIY projects for the apartment. They paid the check, splitting it at her insistence, so Iris was almost in the clear. She crossed her fingers.
Hadley lifted her glass of iced tea. “So, have you considered dating?”
Uh-oh. Maybe Iris had spoken too soon.
“I haven’t.” She took a sip of her strawberry lemonade. “I’m doing better than I was in February. My focus is school.”
