Chapter 24: Picking Up the Pieces

Chapter 24: Chapter 24: Picking Up the Pieces

The apartment felt strangely quiet after Jason’s dramatic departure.

The moment Zoey locked the front door behind them, she leaned against it with a long sigh, clutching the aluminum baseball bat against her chest.

"I honestly thought I was going to have to swing this thing," she admitted, looking down at the bat before setting it beside the shoe rack.

Iris laughed, the sound softer than it had been in days. "I still can’t believe you came charging out like some action movie heroine."

Zoey shrugged as if it had been the most natural thing in the world. "I’ve known you for four years, Iris. You’re family." She pointed toward the door with a scowl. "If that idiot had laid one finger on you, I’d happily explain to the police why he suddenly forgot how to count his own teeth."

That earned another laugh from Iris. The heaviness that had settled over her chest since the previous evening hadn’t disappeared, but it no longer felt impossible to breathe beneath it.

Zoey noticed. "Well, am honestly glad that I’ve gotten back the cheerful Iris." She smiled warmly. "I was beginning to think Jason had stolen her too."

Iris rolled her eyes, though her smile lingered. "You are so dramatic."

"Says the woman who disappeared for an entire night with a mysterious billionaire-looking stranger."

Zoey narrowed her eyes suspiciously, the playful smile on her face slowly widened.

"Oh..." She folded her arms. "We’re definitely talking about it." Zoey pointed toward Iris’s bedroom. "Inside now, we don’t have all day."

Iris laughed helplessly as Zoey gently pushed her toward the bedroom. The moment they entered, Zoey shut the door behind them before dramatically pulling over Iris’s desk chair and sitting on it backwards.

She rested her chin on the backrest and folded her arms.

"Now..." She smiled far too sweetly. "...tell me absolutely everything that happened with Mr. Tall, Dark and Criminally Handsome."

Iris’s cheeks warmed and she avoided Zoey’s eyes almost immediately. She suddenly found the pattern on the bedroom rug incredibly fascinating.

Zoey noticed every bit of it. "Oh my God." Her eyes grew wider at Iris’s reaction. "You actually have something to blush about, which means there’s lots of juicy stuff."

"Zoey..."

"No." She pointed accusingly. "You don’t get to say my name like that and then skip telling me everything."

Iris sighed. "I don’t even know where to start."

"Trust me Iris, the beginning usually works."

Iris’s silence lingered for a few moments, and finally, Iris spoke so quietly Zoey almost missed it.

"...We spent the night together."

Zoey blinked, then blinked again, not quite getting her drift. She tilted her head thoughtfully.

"Just so we’re perfectly clear..." She lifted one finger. "...do you mean you both literally fell asleep in the same bed..." A second finger joined the first. "...or are you telling me you two actually fucked."

"Zoey!" Iris buried her burning face inside both hands, mortified at Zoey’s bluntness. "Oh my goodness."

Zoey burst into laughter at her reaction. "What? I’m only asking because your definition of ’spent the night together’ could mean several different things. Am just trying not to misunderstand your words."

"You know exactly what I meant."

"I wanted confirmation Iris, you can’t blame me. You’re full of surprises."

Still laughing, Iris walked over to the bed and sat on the edge of it. Only then did she slip Alexander’s oversized suit jacket from her shoulders.

The expensive fabric pooled beside her, and Zoey’s grin disappeared. Her eyes landed on the faint love marks visible above Iris’s neckline, which indicates the exactly how serious last night was.

She gasped dramatically, and she clapped both hands over her mouth. "Oh....my..." Then she squealed. "Iris Carter!"

Iris covered her face again. "Please don’t make this worse."

"Worse?" Zoey jumped from the chair and practically bounced onto the bed beside her.

"This is unbelievable." She grabbed Iris’s hands. "You finally let someone close, and now you’re a non virgin, both I and your mom are proud of you."

Iris smiled shyly. "I suppose I did. But don’t forget, my mom wanted me to spend my first time with Jason."

Zoey studied her friend’s face carefully, at her expression, the softness in her eyes. The quiet smile she seemed unable to suppress.

"Well thank goodness that it didn’t work out. What matters is that it was with someone that you were comfortable and safe with. Am sure your mom wanted the same thing." Zoey told her with a small smile.

"Well?" Zoey asked more gently this time. "How are you feeling?"

Iris leaned back against the headboard and stared at the ceiling for several moments before answering.

"I feel...Different."

"Good different? Or a bad different?"

A thoughtful smile tugged at Iris’s lips. "Good different. I finally understand why people make such a big deal about sex. It’s a wonderful feeling, especially if it’s with someone they truly want."

Zoey nodded knowingly. "That sounds about right."

Iris laughed. "You are not helping."

"I’m being honest."

The two friends dissolved into another fit of laughter. When it finally faded, Zoey became serious again.

"So..." She tucked one leg beneath herself. "What happens now?"

Iris looked confused. "Now? What do you mean?"

"You and the stranger....what will happen between the two of you now?."

The smile on Iris’s face slowly disappeared. "I don’t think anything happens."

Zoey frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I admit that, talking with him, was very nice and comforting. And the sex was very nice....but....It’s over now. So...."

Zoey blinked and interrupted her. "Wait you’re confusing me here. What do you mean it’s over now....did he disappear after you two slept together?"

"No."

"Did he pretend that none of it happened? Some guys do act like that, after hooking up with someone."

"No he didn’t."

"Did he refuse to take responsibility?"

Iris shook her head. "He actually didn’t."

"Then what happened?" Zoey was now bewildered at Iris’s statement.

A guilty expression crossed Iris’s face. "I emm..." She looked away. "I...left before he woke up."

Zoey stared. "You what?"

"I slipped out of his penthouse while he was still asleep." Iris said, closing her eyes, knows to expect Zoey’s outburst.

"You..." Zoey paused as though hoping she had misheard. "...ran away?"

"I wouldn’t call it running."

"What would you call it then?"

"A very strategic early departure."

Zoey stared at her for another second before letting out a dramatic groan. "Iris."

"I know."

"No, I don’t think you do." Zoey was now angry at her childish actions. "What if...god forbid ...that you get a disease from him? What if you get pregnant from just this one night you spent with him."

"Now now Zoey....don’t try to scare me." Iris said, almost like a plea.

"Please tell me he at least, used protection?" Zoey asked with a sigh.