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Iris cuddled close, as Sally gavegreathugs; she smelled like tropical fruit and summertime, and the older woman knew just how long to hold on without letting things become awkward. If Iris had gotten more hugs like that growing up, maybe her life wouldn’t have been so chaotic. She smiled as she stepped back, wondering if she should tell Sally how lucky Bruce and Kim were.
“Are you curious about the carnelian?” Sally asked.
“I am, but I might melt if you compliment me anymore today.”
Besides, Iris already knew that carnelian related to trust and abundance, so she had some idea of what Sally might say. While Henry Dale might dislike the woman’s endlessly chipper attitude, to Iris, it felt like Sally carried the sunshine with her wherever she went, even on rainy days. The older woman gave her a final pat before hurrying to her next engagement, and Iris returned to her studio to finish her necklace.
A bit past dinnertime, she got a text from Eli:
Food is done.
That was…beyond nice. When he cooked, he always made enough for everyone, and if somebody didn’t feel like eating, he’d put it in the fridge for later. It was odd; she felt more like she had a family now than she ever had while living at home. Her father wasthe dreamy sort, prone to leave messy life details to his overbearing wife. If he had the option, he’d stay in his study writing papers no historical journal wanted to publish. And Mom was still busy pretending he was a professor to keep up appearances.
She’d never thought about whether it was normal until she saw how other families lived. Her relationship with her folks had been chilly since she dropped out of college for the fourth time anyway, and things went from frosty to absolutely arctic when the rest of the Collins crew realized she had no plans to apologize for missing Rose’s promotion party. They probably found it incomprehensible that she was still pissed about Lily dating Dylan. Iris didn’t intend to let Lily off the hook.
Not this time.
Really, sheshouldbe hurt, right? That she’d been cut off. But instead, it felt like freedom. No more dodging calls. No more inventing excuses.
“You look conflicted,” Eli said, as she stepped into the kitchen.
She admired his and Henry’s work all over again. The white cabinets looked fantastic with the wooden counters, and the black-and-white tile floor hardly showed its age. This kitchen really was a welcoming space now, albeit like stepping back in time.
“Not as much as I expected.”
He flashed her a curious look. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“There’s not much to say. I don’t get along with my family, and I was just thinking that I’m happier now that we just…don’t talk.”
Eli didn’t say he was sorry or offer any of the usual platitudes. “I have cousins I rarely see, and I’m only close to Gamma, so Idon’t quite know how it feels. I miss her a lot, but I’m glad she’s happy and having fun.”
“Gamma? That’s so precious.” As they ate the vegetable soup, she repeated the story Sally had shared with her.
“Sallygram? Kids are so funny.”
“I know, right?” She glanced at the hall that led to Henry Dale’s room. “Is he okay?”
“He took a bowl of soup to his room. Said he wanted to finish his book and it’s rude to read at the table.”
“This is really good, by the way.”
Eli often made good use of Great-Aunt Gertie’s old slow cooker, choosing soups and stews that were low effort, high reward, and perfectly suited to a chilly autumn evening. Tonight, he’d made a vegetarian minestrone, chock full of carrots, onions, celery, white beans, spinach, green beans, zucchini, tomatoes, and plump little pasta shells. It reminded her of going to an Italian restaurant in college that offered unlimited soup, salad, and breadsticks, likely without realizing how much starving students could eat.
“Glad you like it.”
I like you too,she almost said, but that would be too much. They were housemates, right? He’d never indicated he saw her as more, and she shouldn’t read into his kindness. She’d gotten in trouble being impulsive and making assumptions before.
Don’t ruin this. Things are going well. Just…be happy.
Everyday magic.
If someone asked Eli to describe his current life situation, he’dchoose those two words. Because there were small wonders every day, new things he learned about Iris just from being around her. She had a sweet tooth, and she had a habit of putting whatever was handy in her hair to keep it out of her face. So far, he’d seen her use pens, pencils, chip clips, a chopstick, and once a wooden spoon. From what he could tell, she hated shoes and she only wore natural fabrics, none of which helped him figure out her true nature.
He hadn’t been able to get those colors out of his head. Because he was so baffled and fascinated, he’d even asked on a shifter forum—about how a psychic vampire’s aura looked. Most commenters hadn’t even run across them, but those who had? Described something bleaker than the incandescent beauty Iris radiated.
Whoareyou, Iris Collins?
Absurd how happy he was, simply washing dishes with her. She liked the scrubbing better than the drying, and he enjoyed putting things in their proper place. If he believed in fate, he might imagine they matched.
