Iris Kelly Doesn't Date (Bright Falls, #3)(33)

“Hey, there you are,” Adri said, spotting them through the doorway. Her eyes flitted down to Iris’s arm around Stevie, before lifting again. “Did you two want to do a reading? I’m happy to run that so you can get a feel for interacting with Stevie on the stage.”

“No need,” Iris said quickly. “I’ll do the play.”

Vanessa clapped her hands once, her mouth spreading into a lovely smile. “Wonderful! Amazing.”

“That’s great,” Adri said. “We’re excited.”

Iris smiled. “Me too.”

Adri glanced at Stevie, then cleared her throat. “Okay, so, some details. We usually hold the full company rehearsal in the evenings to accommodate our actors with day jobs, though I also conduct regular workshops for our principal actors if they can swing it.”

“That works, I think,” Iris said.

“Everything starts up next Friday with our principals’ retreat at Vanessa’s parents’ house in Malibu. We have team building exercises, pair off to run lines, do some role reversal. I know it’s last minute, but I’m afraid it’s nonnegotiable.”

“Malibu?” Simon said. “That’s a bit far, isn’t it?”

“Not for me,” Iris said quickly, because Malibu. “I’ve never been and I’ve always wanted to go.” And, Jesus, the idea of getting out of Bright Falls for a bit sounded nice.

Vanessa smiled. “My folks pay for everything, including airfare, so there are no worries there. They’re big supporters of the arts, and this is part of their annual contribution to the Empress. They make themselves scarce while we’re there, which is also appreciated.” She laughed. “Things can get a little wild.”

“I love wild,” Iris said.

“She really does,” Simon said, and Iris elbowed him in the ribs.

“So you’re in?” Adri said, tucking her teal hair behind her heavily pierced ears.

Iris eyeballed Stevie, who was still staring straight ahead like she was facing down the barrel of a gun. Iris shook her a little, pressed their shoulders together and grinned at Stevie like the smitten kitten she was.

Well, pretending she was.

“I’m very much in,” she crooned. God, she was already so good at this.

“Jesus Christ,” Simon muttered under his breath, but Iris ignored him, nuzzling Stevie’s neck a bit for good measure.

Iris wasn’t positive, it happened so fast, but she could swear Adri’s smile dimmed just a little.

“Wonderful,” Vanessa said. “This is going to be so much fun. Right, Stevie?”

Iris heard Stevie inhale slowly, waiting a split second before she managed a whispered, “So much fun.”





CHAPTER TWELVE





FOUR DAYS LATER, Stevie was wearing a bathing suit that didn’t fit.

She couldn’t even remember the last time she’d been swimming, but now she stood on the warm deck of the Belmont Club’s giant pool with Iris, trying to get the courage to take off her tank and shorts to reveal a one-piece she’d had since she was seventeen. It was orange and pink and white—which she was pretty sure she’d picked out as some sort of baby lesbian pride statement—and had a one-shoulder style. The strap was so tight, it felt like it was about to snap.

A few days ago, the day after their fraught reunion at the Empress, Iris had texted while Stevie was wiping down tables at Bitch’s.


Iris: Hey sweetie



Stevie had stared at her phone. Of course, she and Iris had exchanged numbers before Iris left the Empress on Tuesday, but still, Iris’s term of endearment threw Stevie off balance. Maybe Iris meant to text one of her friends. Stevie ignored the text and went on with her shift, only to have her phone buzz approximately seven minutes later.


Iris: Snookums

Iris: Oh that’s horrible. Maybe just honey?

Iris: Baby. I like that one

Iris: Babe

Iris: Isn’t it a requirement that all queer couples call each other babe? Judging from my friends, I think it is

Iris: Darling, if we want to get fancy

Iris: Nope never mind, that reminds me of my best friend’s mom a little too much and shudder



Stevie just blinked at her screen as the texts piled in, unsure of what to say back. Finally, she settled for a very sophisticated Hey.


Iris: She lives!

Stevie: Sorry I’m at work

Iris: Where do you work?

Iris: I just realized we know nothing about each other. Might want to change that before rehearsals start.



She had a point there. All Stevie knew about Iris was that she was an author and lived in Bright Falls.

    Stevie: Bitch’s Brew. If you like a little bit of queer witch with your coffee, it’s the place to be

Iris: I always prefer a little queer witch

Stevie: As do we all

Iris: I’ll let you get back to work, but I wanted to ask you out on a date

Stevie: A date?

Iris: A “date”



Stevie inhaled slowly. She’d agreed to this part of their deal, but figured Iris would simply . . . forget? Then again, Iris didn’t seem like the kind of person who forgot anything. Nerves flared through Stevie’s stomach, but she swallowed them down. She could do this. It wasn’t like she actually had to impress Iris—she’d already humiliated herself in the worst way possible in front of the woman. Plus, Iris was sweet. A little hyper, but sweet.