Page 84 of A Sudden Romance

“If you put yourself in his shoes, you’d have insecurities,” Tessa said. “I mean his background is different from yours. He’s had a crush on you forever. You’re beautiful, intelligent, and successful. Suddenly, your feelings catch up to his. It has to be hard for him to believe you love him as much.”

Iris rubbed between her eyes. Trying to follow Tess, but she couldn’t put herself in Sabastian’s situation. If love was a factor, why would anything else matter?

Still, her chest tightened over her friend’s sweetness to console her while she could be spending time with her husband.

“Try not to start the New Year in stress mode.”

“I almost forgot we started another year.”

On the thirty-first, she’d basked in the New Year with Sabastian as they stayed up late with some of her family members for the midnight fireworks show and celebration. Her family had a professional set off the fireworks show on their property—over the pond several miles from The Peak.

“What are you and Chad up to this New Year?”

“We’re going to get serious about making babies.” Tessa talked about their plan to pray as they transitioned into the baby preparation phase.

Iris felt relaxed by the time she said good night. After ending the call, she called the front desk to schedule the four-a.m. shuttle. Her flight was at ten, but the sooner she left, the better. She’d spend her time at the airport answering emails and preparing for her upcoming meeting.

Having an entire month of dreaming about something she may never find had been nice. Now it was time to leave the true-love fantasy behind for a busy reality.

CHAPTER 19

The first weeks of January offered the longest days of Sabastian’s life. He trudged through each one without purpose, and two weeks passed since Iris slipped out of his life as fast as she’d snowballed into it.

He couldn’t even remember what kept him busy before Iris fell in love with him.

In the last days, he’d had the indoor Christmas lights taken down and the trees recycled. Since it kept snowing, the outdoor lights might stay until they had enough sun to melt some of the snow.

He’d cooked for Kyle and Regina almost four times during the last weeks. He’d not had dinner with them even once though, afraid they’d ask about Iris and he’d have to admit she dumped him. Okay, he ended things with her, not dumping her, big difference. He’d let his fear take control, and worse, he blamed Iris. What a jerk!

Fear was his greatest enemy, not Iris, not the money. At least, he was starting to realize that as Iris’s final words haunted him.

Shaking his head, he brought out the cutting board to prepare lunch for the cleaning crew, Leo’s team, who were now cleaning the guesthouse. Sabastian rested his forearms on the counter where Iris sat when he’d kissed her senseless and they’d set off the smoke alarm.

She was gone. For how long?

That depended on him. Each time he stared at the main area, the winding staircase, or the kitchen, all he could see was her. He could smell her on the jacket she’d borrowed. He pulled it closer to his chest as if he were embracing her.

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