Jessie's POV
"Can I get you anything?" Grey asks. He's been flushed ever since our encounter at the bathroom.
"No, I'm good," I reply, pacing the room, unable to settle.
He shakes his head. Sometimes it's unbelievable how much he's transformed. From a lanky, shy guy to this fit, attractive, confident man.
He must be the hot piece now in town, with his charm and success.
I look away, hoping my thoughts won't linger on him.
"Come, let me show you something," Grey suggests.
"Nah!" I say. My mind is still on Iris and what she said. She's still getting ready.
"C'mon," he insists, walking over to me. Before I can protest, he grabs my hand gently and leads me to the massive window that stretches from floor to ceiling.
We stop, and he gestures outward. "Look," he says, pointing.
I squint, but all I see are tiny figures scurrying about below, people looking like ants from this height.
"What am I supposed to see?" I ask, puzzled.
"Look at those roads, where they lead and what they form. Then look at the central areaâthe letter that forms from the smaller roads," he explains.
I focus, and slowly it starts to come together in my mind. Though the shape isn't clear, the roads seem to curve around the city, forming a heart shape, with one road passing through the park to create an incomplete "J."
"Incredible, isn't it?" Grey whispers.
I realize how close he's moved. He's behind me now, his body brushing against mine, his presence almost overwhelming.
"What are you doing?" I ask, my voice sharper than intended.
A discreet throat-clearing interrupts us, and we both turn to see Iris standing by the doorway. Her yellow sundress glows in the soft light, but her eyes are sharp, flicking between Grey and me.
She's wearing a yellow sundress.
Grey steps back, and I seize the moment to move toward Iris. We've barely had a proper reunion, and while we were never particularly close, it's been nearly ten years. We're sistersâthat has to count for something, right?
Without saying a word, I wrap my arms around her. She hesitates but eventually wraps her arms around me too.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that earlier," she apologizes.
"I'm happy to be here with you now," I say.
"I'll leave you two to catch up." He slips out, leaving us alone.
Iris watches him leave, fanning her face dramatically. "I wasn't prepared for the transformation when I saw Grey," she admits with a grin.
I chuckle. "He's not the loyal, innocent guy we once knew. He's a flirt, chasing after every skirt he sees."
"I know. I've seen more girls sneaking out of his place than I care to count," she says.
Her words hit me like a slap.
"Sorry, you two weren't the endgame. And I have a part in that," she says.
"We had our problems. The end was inevitable," I state.
"Still..." she starts to speak.
"Where's the guy Mom spoke of?" I cut her off.
"Oh!" She blushes.
Iris is the conservative one. I'm the wild one.
"I'd like to meet the guy," I say.
"I don't know where he is..." she trails off.
"What happened?"
"He was an English and literature lecturer. He creates plot holes, while I create polymers. It was doomed from the start."
Ah! I forget her disdain for humanities. She found them useless in the field of academia.
"Sorry," I say, lacking better words.
"Don't be," she says, a mischievous smile curving her lips. "He left his poetry on my skin." She closes her eyes and opens them again.
Is this really my big sister, or is it some game my parents are playing? Iris never spoke like this before.
"You dirty girl," I get carried away by this unusual interaction. "I can't believe it. What happened to waiting till marriage?" I tease.
"I'm still a virgin. I only let him explore my body. Ooh..." she says dreamily.
"Okay," I say, still in disbelief.
"How do you do it?" she asks, catching me off guard.
"Do what?" I ask, confused.
"I mean, he took off his pants, and I fainted. I couldn't imagine that big snake fitting anywhere in me!" She clutches her stomach, her face a mixture of embarrassment and horror. "I ran and never looked back."
Her confession sends me into a deep laughter. It leaves my chest hurting and unable to breathe.
Maybe she hasn't changed that much. Growing up, the boys nicknamed her Tyson because she'd break their legs for even looking at her with desire.
"Don't tell our parents you saw me," she says, her tone serious. "And don't tell Oliver," she adds.
The last request leaves me conflicted. Oliver is my husband, and he was supposed to marry her. I think he would've liked to know.
"How is he?" she asks, concern in her voice.
"He refuses treatment, and we're just starting to get along," I state.
"I..." she stops. "He's a good and kind man. I should have been honest with him," she admits.
I nod. His illness is always with me, yet he seems okay with whatever the outcome may be.
"I don't know how to convince him to get treatment," I say.
Give him something to fight forâsomething he's afraid to lose," she suggests.
"How?"
"Make him fall in love," she says simply.
I shake my head. "I was never his first choice. Maybe you canâ"
"Don't be silly. She interrupts. "Even to a blind man, you will always be his first choice," she says.
I glance out the window and realize that it's getting dark. The bodyguards and drivers must be going crazy looking for me.
"How long will you be here?" I ask her.
"Mmh," she seems contemplative. "Don't know, but if anything changes, I'll let you know," she says.
"That's fine," I say, standing up.
"I'll walk you to the door," she offers.
We walk silently, and she stands by the door with a smile. "Hope to see you soon," she says.
I nod and walk out. Once I'm out of sight, I hear her shut the door.
I find one of the bodyguards in the parking lot. When he sees me, he speaks into his phone and tells the others he has his eyes on me.
"I'm sorry if I worried you. I just took a walk and lost track of time," I say before he can speak.
"Please, ma'am, next time inform me so I can have someone with you," he says.
"I will," I lie.
"Your husband won't be pleased today," he says.
"He doesn't have to know," I imply.
"Only for today," he agrees.
I get in the car and wait for the driver.