Page 15 of Fragments of You

“I told him about a year in, during my second stint in rehab.”

“So before he and Paisley were together. Interesting.”

“Interesting?”

“Yeah, it’s interesting that he didn’t tell her.”

“That’s not the only thing he hasn’t told her.”

“There’s more?” She arches a brow.

“You have no idea.” I shake my head, pushing the too-long strands of hair that fall over my forehead back away from my face.

“Well, don’t leave me in suspense here.” She throws her arms up in the air in dramatic fashion.

“I think I’m gonna hang on to this one for now,” I tell her, smiling when she visibly pouts.

“Fine, keep your secrets. I’ll get the truth out of you eventually. Until then, how would you like some help?”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“I know.” She turns, grabbing an empty box. “Where should I get started?”

“Iris...”

“Don’t Iris me. You’re a recovering addict who’s just learned a pretty horrible truth. If you think I’m leaving you alone to wallow in your own self-pity, you’re out of luck. You may have resisted the temptation to drown your sorrows up to this point, but as you said, the day is still young.”

“You really don’t have to—”

“Not another word on the matter,” she interrupts, leaving no room for argument.

“You’re as bossy as I remember, you know that?”

“Kitchen?” She gives me a cheeky smile.

“Fine. Kitchen,” I agree, not saying the words that stick to the back of my throat like tar.

When I looked up and saw Iris standing in my doorway, I thought for sure it was going to be the thing that sent me over the ledge. Turns out, she might just be the very thing that keeps me from careening over it.

Chapter Five

Paisley

“OKAY, YEAH, I’M AT Pete’s now,” I tell Felix, balancing the phone between my shoulder and cheek to give myself a free hand to open the door, several bags from the farmers market taking up my other hand.

“Tell him he better have put extra sausage on there for me.” I can hear the smile in his voice, almost as if I were looking right at him.

“You’ve been getting the same order since you were a kid. I doubt he’s forgotten.” I chuckle, stepping inside the small pizzeria that sits on the main strip of town.

They set the farmers market up every weekend in the square, and when Felix learned I was going to stop and pick up some fresh fruits and veggies, I already knew he was going to ask me to pick up a pizza for dinner before he even said the words.

Though, I probably should have taken all these bags to my car first, but since I had to park a block away, I thought I’d save some time. At least this time, I had the forethought to call in the order before showing up, unlike last time, when I had to wait almost an hour because they were so busy. Considering they’re only one of two pizza places in town, and the other place isn’t that great, they are always slammed, especially on the weekends.

“I’ll be home soon.”

“Okay, be safe. I love you.”

“I love you, too.” I pull the phone away from my ear, shoving the device into the crossbody bag slung across my chest as I move toward the counter, only half paying attention. “Shit, sor—” I start, nearly running straight into the couple in front of me as they collect their own pizza and turn to leave, the words dying on my tongue when my eyes meet an all too familiar gaze staring back at me. Even after all these years, I still remember every speck of color variation in his eyes, having spent most of my life staring into them.

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