Page 218 of Masters of Pleasure
“You mean like you cared when you went out tonight without me?So, you could go hang out with your new friends and your new boyfriend, and just leave me on my own.The way you always do lately.”
Iris stared at her.This was a familiar tune, and normally, she would apologize and placate, thinking that maybe she’d misread the situation earlier, but this time, she had witnesses.If Noelle had shown any reluctance or unhappiness over Iris going out, Domi, Rae, and Avery wouldneverhave encouraged it.
They would have insisted Iris stayed home or even tried to figure out a way to get Noelle into the club with them, despite how difficult that would be on such short notice.None of them had mentioned a worry that Noelle was upset when they’d left earlier, which meant Noelle had definitely not indicated in any way that she was unhappy about Iris going out.She knew for sure she hadn’t imagined it.
“I asked you if you wanted me to stay and hang out with you.”
“You put me on the spot!What was I supposed to do, say no?”Noelle glared at her, putting her hands on her hips, but this time, Iris wasn’t having any of it.If Noelle had wanted her to stay home, she should have said so, but she not only hadn’t, she’d encouraged Iris to go out.
This was not her fault.
“Yes, Noelle, that was exactly what you should have done.I can’t read your mind.I don’t know what you’re thinking.Youencouragedme to go out and said you were getting together with Tyler.There is literally no way I could have known you wanted me to stay and hang out with you.”Iris crossed her arms over her chest and felt her heart pounding against her arm.“Heck, you were invited to come with us if you wanted to!”
Confrontations like this sucked, and usually, she would do anything she could to get out of it, but this one wasn’t fair, and she knew it.
“I encouraged you, so you and yournewfriends didn’t pity me!Oh, poor Noelle, left all alone.No one wants to hang out with her, but you don’t care about that.”Noelle snatched the plate she’d made for herself and stormed down the hallway.“The only person you care about is yourself.”
“Then why did I invite you to go with us?”
“You wanted to make yourself look good!That’s why I said no.I knew you didn’t actually want me coming with you.That or you wanted me to come, so you could leave me out again, and show me how little I mean to you!”
The blatant untruth made Iris want to scream.She didn’t know what to say, had no idea what she wanted to say because literally none of what Noelle was saying made sense.Noelle’s bedroom door slammed behind her, and the silence in its wake was resounding.
Iris let out a long breath.Definitely not how she’d wanted to end her night.
Law
Frowning at his phone, Law hesitated.Iris should be home by now.She’d said she lived only twenty minutes from Stronghold, and it was forty minutes since she’d left.
Should he start to worry?
Should he text to remind her?
While he didn’t like the idea that she’d forgotten about him, he also didn’t want tonotcheck in on her if something had happened.
Dammit.
Yeah, that was what did it.He couldn’t go to bed not knowing.
Quickly, he tapped out ‘Home?’and hit send before he could second-guess himself.No, it didn’t look desperate.Or overly controlling.He just wanted to make sure shehadarrived home safely since he’d told her to text when she was there, or he wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight.It was self-preservation as much as anything.
When his phone vibrated a moment later, every muscle in his body relaxed.
I’m so sorry.I got home, and my roommate picked a fight with me, and I completely forgot.I’m home safe, though.
Law frowned.
He didn’t know much about Iris’ roommate, though she’d talked about the other woman a little yesterday during dinner.From what she’d said, they’d been friends for years.
Now what?It was late, and he needed to get to bed, but it didn’t feel right to leave their conversation like this.While it had been a long time since he’d been in a relationship, he thought he was supposed to see if she wanted to talk about it.Sure, they weren’t officially in a relationship yet, but… He quickly sent back his reply.
Do you want to talk about it?You can call me.
The wait for a response was almost painful.The phone rang a few minutes later when he’d finally given up and had started getting ready for bed.Hastily spitting his toothpaste into the sink and giving his mouth a quick rinse, he snatched the phone.
“Hello?”
“Hey.I’m sorry, I probably shouldn’t have called.”Iris sounded down, almost defeated, a far cry from her demeanor when they’d parted.Law scowled.
