Pinpoint (Point #4) (26 page)

“It was an emotionally charged moment. I can’t blame her for snapping at me.” Iris sighs and drops into one of the matte black wood chairs. She doesn’t ask, but I start serving her. I pour soy sauce into a plastic container and set it on her plate. Then I place several rolls on her dish. The chopsticks separate with a loud snap. Once she is set with food, I take my own seat and fill my plate. “Wouldn’t you be upset if someone you relied on let you down?”

Nodding thoughtfully, I chew on a piece of fatty Bluefin tuna nigiri. “Absolutely. But she should know you didn’t do anything on purpose. You don’t have a malicious bone in your body, Iris.”

She fiddles with the chopsticks, biting her lower lip. “She was so angry. I’ve never seen Violet like that; least of all, have it directed at me. Even when our father kicked her out of our house, she kept an even head.”

Internally, I wince. What kind of bastard kicks his own daughter out of his home? Come to think of it, he probably did the same thing to Iris. She hasn’t mentioned any trips home to Winter.

“What was your childhood like?”

Iris frowns. “Unpleasant. Strict rules made it less of a childhood and more of a regimented youth. Father said his children should be seen and not heard. Children at the church could be full of life—but they weren’t his. Violet and I and even our mother were expected to behave a certain way.”

“What happened if you broke a rule?” I’m tense. If she says that bastard laid his hands on her, I’ll drive down to Winter and see how he likes to take on someone his own size.

“We never dared to break the rules. If we stepped out of line, Father gave us a stern dressing down, but he never . . . Nothing like physical abuse.”

“Don’t discount emotional abuse,” I say sharply. “Your parents didn’t do right by you or Violet.”

Iris nods. “You’re right. And that’s the reason why Violet and I became so close. We hardly ever fought because we were the only support system we had. To think I let her down breaks my heart. She’s been watching me closely at work, and obviously, I gave her reason to be critical. Gosh, I still can’t believe I made this mistake.”

Leaning across the table, I toss the chopsticks aside and grab her hands. “Listen to me, Iris. It wasn’t an intentional lapse in judgment. There was a problem, and I could offer a solution, so I did. Violet is taking this too far. There’s no reason why she should be watching you critically. You give your heart and soul to Expertly Planned even though it’s not what you want to do with your life. Do you want to know what I think?”

Iris pins me with her soulful navy eyes.

There.

The exact thing I’ve been afraid of happens at that moment. I lose my heart. She snatches it from my chest and holds it in her hands with one tender look. For a moment, I’m lost to her. And to my unrelenting shock, I’m not afraid. This is a prime opportunity for Iris to bail on her sister, yet she’s not. How much more proof do I need that Iris isn’t the one to leave when things get tough? She stays.

“Violet realizes that you shouldn’t work as an event planner. She’s starting to see that her dream of running her business alongside her beloved sister isn’t what’s right for you. That’s the reason she lashed out today. She doesn’t want to lose you again.”

Iris doesn’t try to wriggle free from my grasp. In fact, she settles into my hold, looking hopeful and uncertain. “How do you figure?”

“She sees how deeply you love working with the teenagers at Mentoring Chicago. She knows you hate traipsing around events in high heels and talking to event guests. My guess, Violet feels guilty because she knows you’re too supportive, too kind, and too giving to stand up for your own needs.” I drop Iris’ hands and lean back in my seat for good measure. The longer I hold her hands, the harder it is to think logically.

“But I don’t want to let her down,” Iris says quietly.

“Iris, don’t take this the wrong way, but you need to flex that backbone I know you have. Eventually, you’ll resent your sister. You’ll feel trapped because you let yourself work for a business you don’t believe in. Don’t do that to yourself, Iris. Own your dreams. Go after what you want. That doesn’t mean you need to leave Violet high and dry. You need to talk to her woman to woman. Be honest. Start there and you’ll work it out.”

My girl studies the untouched food on her plate, letting my advice sink in.

Yes.
My
girl. That fits. All this logic I’m spouting to her applies to me too. What I want is Iris Harper. I’ve been resisting and resisting her pull, and where has that gotten me? Pissed off and alone. So it’s time to own it. Bullshit excuses like business and fear are ruining my chance at happiness. Fuck that. I didn’t become the head of a restaurant empire by doubting myself and pushing back against my instincts. My instincts are screaming at me—this woman is for you.

“Okay. You’re right.” She inhales, and then exhales deeply. “It’s crazy that I’m scared to talk to Violet. She’s my sister, my best friend. If I can’t talk to her, then who can I talk to?”

“We trust the people we’re closest with our most intimate secrets. Admitting what you want to Violet makes it real.”

“You make it sound simple.” Midnight eyes go wide with uncertainty.

“Don’t give yourself time to be afraid. Talk to her tomorrow.” Frowning, I look at her untouched plate. “And for God’s sake, eat something.”

Iris is adorable when she blinks and looks down at her plate as though she had no idea anything was on it until now. “Oh.” Her cheeks redden. “Right.” Iris places the chopsticks between her fingers and deftly selects a piece of nigiri. “It’s a good thing I’m not a picky eater,” she muses.

“Why’s that?”

Iris finishes chewing and swallowing the food before answering. “Not that I’m complaining, but you hardly ever ask what I like. Most of the time, you run the show. Pick out what and where we eat.”

Involuntarily, my lips curl toward a smile. “It has become your mission command to remind me of my proclivity for control.”

“If the apron fits.” She smiles a little at me, and I fight the urge to do a victory lap.

This is the first small battle to overcome. Even though Iris and I are sitting across the table eating in companionable silence, I’m aware that I’ve set the standard that the relationship must remain platonic. Iris treats me with little more romance than she would one of the teenagers in her Mentoring Chicago class. There’s no one to place the blame on but myself, but that doesn’t mean I can’t fix this situation. No more holding back. I am going to make my intentions clear.

Violet

Curled on my side in Cameron’s massive king-size bed, I whistle to Rocky, beckoning him to the bed. The dog leaps onto the mattress, tucking himself into my curved body. I press my cheek against his fur. The physical comfort doesn’t deter my self-loathing thoughts. How could I attack Iris the way I did earlier today? I feel like the world’s biggest bully for slashing into her.

The mechanical sound of the garage door hums beneath the second-story bedroom. Then I hear the door slam and the sound of Cameron making his way through the house. I can visualize his movements, from removing his jacket and tossing it on a hook in the mudroom to hanging his keys on the hook next to the back door.

It doesn’t take him but a moment’s time to assess the mood of his bedroom. “Baby, what’s wrong?”

Careful not to disturb the lightly snoozing Rocky, I uncurl from around him and move to a seated position. “Do you think I’m a bad sister?”

Cameron’s eyebrows knit together. “Of course, not. Why would you ask me something that ridiculous?” He sits on the edge of the bed, prompting Rocky to fully awaken, lick his master’s hand, and move to the other side of the bed to rest unbothered by our conversation.

“Today, I went after Iris. Verbally, I mean.” The confession makes me ashamed enough not to meet his eyes when I speak.

Cameron grabs my chin and forces my gaze upward. His expression shines with loyalty—one of the hundreds of reasons I fell in love with him after thinking I’d never find a partner again. “If you got upset with her, there must have been a good reason for it. And we all fly off the handle at times. You must not have seen a game during my rookie season when I got into a fight with a left wing from Milwaukee.”

My curiosity is piqued. “But goalies aren’t fighters.”

Cameron smiles ruefully. “That day I bent the rules. The dick talked shit on my sister. What was I supposed to do?”

At the mention of a sibling, I’m immediately thrown back into remorse. “Iris promised one of her students she would go to his cooking competition. Normally, that wouldn’t be a problem, but it so happens to fall on the same day as the Sterling wedding. I felt like she slapped me.” Anger stirs. “How could she forget the date of our most important event? It was a glaring sign that she doesn’t care about this job. And—and it hurt my feelings.”

Cameron releases my chin, then leans forward and touches our lips together in a gentle kiss. “Forgot to do that when I walked in,” he murmurs, his breath skirting over my face pleasantly. My tense shoulders slump, and I lean back into the pillows, ready for his assessment. “Sounds like a shitty situation. But we’re not discussing whether Iris did this on purpose, are we?”

“Of course, she didn’t do it on purpose,” I instantly jump to defend. “When we were kids, Iris used to carry spiders out of the house because she didn’t want to kill them. The last thing she ever intends to do is hurt someone.” My voice fades away. “Still, I accused of her not giving a darn about Expertly Planned.”

“Did you say that because you mean it, or because you are afraid of it?” Ever the observer, Cameron asks the question gently, knowing it will pierce straight through my heart.

“Worse than that, I dumped it on her that we’re moving in together. Like some twisted version of revenge.”

Cameron doesn’t bother to hide his grimace. “Not the best timing.”

Groaning, I shake my head. “There are half a dozen reasons I can blame on the blowup. Iris really did screw up by promising to go to the competition, Jana Sterling tests my sanity on a daily basis, I’m about to move in with you . . .”

“If you aren’t ready to take that step in our relationship–” I cut Cameron off before he can finish.

“That is
not
what I’m saying. I’m more than ready to move in with you, Cameron. The looming changes just make me anxious. Figuring out how to tell my sister, boxing all my things, picking a place to live . . . None of that is bad, but it’s a lot for me to wrap my mind around while planning an event that will put me on the figurative map.” Cameron looks appeased, so I continue. “None of those are good enough excuses for shouting at Iris in front of Oscar and then taking digs at her in front of Stella. Low, low, low.” Burying my face in my hands, I shake my head back and forth a couple of times as if to erase the memories.

“Violet, stop destroying yourself over this. Iris will forgive you.” Cameron pulls my hands from my face. With the back of his hand, he brushes a lock of hair behind my ear, then curls his fingers around the shell for good measure. I nuzzle into his hand.

“You’re right. I’m being dramatic.”

“Get to the heart of what’s bothering you,” Cameron encourages.

“I’m scared she’s not going to want to work for Expertly Planned anymore.” The words come out in a rush, but after I say them aloud, some of the tightness in my chest abates.

“Keep going.”

“We lost ten years together. Ten freaking years because I ran away, and she wasn’t ready to go, and Father put a moratorium on our relationship that neither one of us was strong enough to fight. Expertly Planned isn’t right for Iris. She hates interfacing with clients and guests, and high heels are enemy number one. She should be teaching or in a kitchen or doing something that fulfills her. Expertly Planned is my dream. But I want her in my life, too.”

“You being closer to Iris and her working elsewhere are not mutually exclusive.”

I let his words sink in. Logically, I know he’s right. Emotionally, on the other hand . . .”If she leaves Expertly Planned, I’m scared she may go back to Winter.”

Cameron scoffs. “Come on. That won’t happen. I’ll admit it’s taken her a while to take a shine to Chicago, but she’s starting to love it here. She and Dex hang out, she has the mentoring program, and she has us. You’re making excuses to fit your theory.”

All of a sudden, a memory flashes in my mind, and my spine goes rod straight. “Oscar Alexander offered to fill in for Iris while she attends the competition. He said he’ll even meet with us ahead of time to figure out what needs to be done.”

Cameron raises one of his dark eyebrows. “Come again?”

“Exactly. I was too upset at the time to think about it, but . . .” At Cameron’s confused expression, I back up. “Oscar and his partner, Clint, were at our offices today because we’re doing an event for the opening of Mariquita.”

“I remember now.”

“And then Clint left, and Oscar hung around. I know they’re friends, but Iris insists it’s nothing more. Anytime I bring it up, she gets super uncomfortable, so I drop it. Anyway, Iris got a text from her students confirming the date, and I saw it–”

“Hold on,” Cameron interrupts. “You looked at her phone without her permission, or she showed it to you?”

I wince. “Another thing I need to apologize for. We argued—rather, I started shouting at my sister and then he interrupted, offering a solution to the situation. It was the type of thing you would suggest.” My eyes meet Cameron’s in a silent conversation. “Do you think . . .”

“If he wants to make a play for Iris, he’s going to have to talk to me first.” Cameron uses his gruff, tough, testosterone-fueled hockey voice that typically makes chills erupt all over my body. This time, I’m smiling at his protectiveness over Iris.

“Before you do anything, I need to talk to my sister and figure this out.”

Cameron hooks an arm around my waist and pulls me onto his lap. He burrows his face into the crook of my neck, his breath tickling my skin. “You’ll make it right, baby. I have faith in you.”

Sighing, I snuggle into his embrace. “You know just what to say to make everything better.” Cameron squeezes me tighter, and in a flash, I’m lying flush on the mattress with him looming over me.