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“Thank you. That’s kind of you to say. He has a way of keeping my priorities in the right place. I can only hope to have his wisdom one day. And I don’t know about the mysterious part—it’s not a quality I strive for.”
“Yeah, well, I don’t think it’s one you can create. You just have it. You come off as very intriguing.”
Laurel asked more questions and soon announced she had all she needed. For Ally, the experience was more like hanging out with a friend than being interviewed. She supposed that’s why Laurel had the excellent reputation she did.
Together, they walked to the Cozy Caribou to find that the place was hopping. It was easy for Ally to spot the pushed-together tables full of James family members and friends in front of the big screen. But she didn’t see Tag. Laurel waved and moved toward an empty chair near Shay. Iris appeared by her side and took her elbow.
“Ally!” she said loudly, a too-wide smile on her face. “Thank goodness you’re here. I have those samples to show you.”
“Samples?”
“Those paint samples.” Iris steered her to the window and began digging through her bag. Fake smile in place, she pulled out a handful of paint chips and fanned them out. Lowering her voice, she said, “This is just a diversion so I could warn you that Tag got kidnapped by his man-eating dragon of an ex and her parents. They are sitting at that table in the far corner right next to the bear carving. Please don’t worry about it, though, okay? I saw it happen and he wasn’t pleased. The only reason he agreed to join them is because of all this campaign…garbage.”
Ally glanced across the restaurant, her gaze zeroing in on him immediately. “Garbage?” she repeated, hating the way the tumble of emotions colliding inside her made her voice go hoarse.
Tone fired with annoyance, Iris said, “Yes, I think all of this campaign crap is over the top. I don’t understand why he’s even doing it. But who am I, right? I don’t live here anymore, and I don’t plan to stay for much longer.”
Ally forced her attention back to the paint chips that Iris was moving in her hands, but she knew Tag had spotted her. She could feel him watching her. With a marching band playing in her rib cage, she lifted her gaze, and it locked into place with his. Silently, he seemed to plead for understanding. Ally tried to muster it. Knew she failed miserably. And then she wished she could disappear.
“Ally, stop looking at my dumb brother. I know you want to run right now and I don’t blame you.”
Ally swallowed a lump of emotion but couldn’t seem to look away.
Until Iris tapped her arm with the paint chips, and said, “Hey, eyes here and smile, okay? So people don’t suspect this is upsetting you. Especially not that smug witch he’s sitting with.”
Ally did as Iris instructed and all the feelings of friendship that had been building between them seemed to coalesce at that moment, swirling around and then encasing them in an invisible cocoon. The sensation settled into her, and Ally felt a peace like she hadn’t known since she’d started this crazy journey with Tag. Finally, someone seemed to understand what she was going through.
Iris asked her, “The question is, do you want to stick around here and pretend you’re fine or do you want to leave with me right now? If I were you, I would leave. Not in a huff, of course. Just in a…” She plucked one of the paint chips out of the group, lifted it higher, pretended to analyze it. “I have somewhere else to be right now kind of way.”
“Okay.” Ally pointed to the sample. “I wouldn’t know how to leave in a huff if I tried. And the baseball game is on. Everyone knows I love the Mariners. I feel like if I leave, it will be obvious that it bothers me that he’s with her.”
Iris paused, lowering the paint sample and giving Ally an assessing, satisfied smirk. “I knew it,” she whispered.
“Knew what?”
“Nothing.”
Tapping the color with her finger, Ally read the name Melancholy Blue. How fitting.
Iris nodded, shifting all the cards back into a neat pile. “You’re right. I would be too…emotional. It’s possible I would punch him. No, her. No, both of them. First her for trying to steal him and then him for not seeing it. Do you want me to just do it for you?”
