Page 27 of Forgotten Deeds

“We need to at least ease you into Iris’ life before springing this marriage on her,” she finally says, rubbing her temples.

Another win. I try not to grin like an idiot. “How about this? I’m going to drop you off at your house, and then I’ll be back around five to take you and Iris out to dinner.”

“Iris has to ride in a car seat,” she warns.

“Not a problem.” I don’t know the first fucking thing about a car seat, but I’ll figure it out.

“Why are you doing this?” she asks warily.

“Taking you out to dinner? Because I enjoy eating dinner,” I tell her playfully.

“That’s not what I mean, and you know it.” She narrows her beautiful eyes at me. “I hope you’re not expecting something in return.”

Of course I’m expecting something in return—that one day Lily will give herself to me completely. Until that day comes, I’ll wait. Waiting is still fucking hard.

“Iris already has one piece of shit man in her life who lets her down. Don’t ever make promises to her you can’t keep,” she warns.

“There might be times I’m called away for work,” I answer truthfully.

Lily twirls her mood ring before looking out the window. “Should I ask about your work?”

“You shouldn’t. Tell me about Iris’ father.”

“Harrison works long hours and tons of overtime, so I was always willing to cut him some slack, but Iris has always been an afterthought for him. His job and his women come first,” she says, pain laced in her voice.

“Did he hurt you, aggeloudhi mou?” If she says yes, I’ll be busy dismembering a body this afternoon.

“No, not like that. Not physically. I was just really young and naive when we got together,” she explains. “He was a player, but I believed him when he told me he’d change. A surprise pregnancy, and Iris was born.”

I do the math. “You were seventeen.”

She nods. “It took me a few years after Iris was born to discover he’d been cheating on me all along. Came home and found him fucking another woman in our bed,” she says quietly. “So anyway, I learned the hard way people don’t change.”

What a fool, but his loss is my gain. “Is he in Iris’ life?”

“When he feels like it.” Lily shrugs. “He’s missed the last two visits, and I haven’t heard from him. I’m sure he’ll turn up with some sob story. He always does.”

“What’s his last name?” I demand.

“Why?” She eyes me suspiciously. “So you can stalk him too?”

It’s my turn to shrug.

“Please don’t get involved,” she begs. “It’ll only make things worse for Iris. Promise me.”

“I won’t get involved. For now.” I make no promises about the future.

Lily grabs her phone, scrolling until she gasps.

“What’s wrong?” I ask.

“Nothing’s wrong; I’m just surprised. One of my professors is taking a medical leave.”

“Oh?” Looks like I won’t have to kill Professor Miller after all.

“And the new interim professor has just given us an extension on our essay.” She smiles brightly; a beautiful sight.

“What’s your essay about?” I ask.

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