Page 64 (1/1)

"Thanks That means a lot," I tell her "I miss you so ain, didn’t you?"

I roll h "I did, but only to tell him the news I felt like I owed a call to hi"

"He’s an idiot," Birdie"One day he’ll wake up and kick hio"

"I pushed him away, rees apologizing before I threatened you with violence if you called hiain He had ample opportunity to co up after five weeks of silence and seeing anice to you If he’s that much of a jackhole that he won’t even let you explain what he saw, then he doesn’t deserve you That’s why froain if you don’t want me to personally fly to New York just to kick your cute little ass"

"All right All right" I laugh but know she means business

"Good, now repeat after me: I, Iris Easton"

"Birdie" I co really silly, but go along with her because I know she won’t drop it until I do "I, Iris Easton"

"Proain," she says with an authoritative tone to her voice

I mutter the words but don’t really mean it, because when it comes to Ace, I can’t seem to control my actions

"Feel better?" Birdie’s voice turns cheery

"No," I laugh "But do I at least get an A for effort?"

"You’re ihs "Call me tomorrow and tellon her end of the line "I just huggedfor luck, even though you won’t need it You’re going to blow thes up, I still find ing hiive me another chance It’s been teeks since he was here and saw ive up hope and ical brain

ACE

I haven’t left my house in nearly teeks Jane Ann has li me by phone or text since the last ti ht I should at least shower, but I don’t even have the energy for that

The thought of Iris being with another o on

She left e after I saw her that day She wanted to explain herself, but I knohat I saw There was so, and I can’t call her back and listen to her lie toto convinceto kno she’s doing--to know if she’s happy--but I’ve forced o on trying to get her back into my life if she doesn’t want to be here That doesn’t stop rab the prepaid cell phone that I used while I was on the laes from when Iris attempted to contact me in the past I haven’t allowed myself to listen to the about her, I just need to hear her voice

I press play and close et to the last e, I raise my eyebrows, because it’s been awhile since I played these, and it surprises me that there’s a new one fro closely "Ace, hi, it’s Iris I know you probably don’t want to hear fro audition thanks to the things you taught ot a callback, and instead of the s back to read for the lead role in Forgiving Lesley So, I just wanted to tell you thank you and that I haven’t forgotten about the ot some saved and would love for you to call y runs through ood idea Instead I pick up a pen and the notepad in front ofthat expresses every e as I think of Iris

In less than an hour, I stare at the lyrics beforeI’ve ever written, and I need to get into the studio to record it

IRIS

Darcy and Jason were both over-the-moon excited for me when I first told theot to work yesterday Instead of being attentive to the restaurant patrons, we spendoveret about thehed and told them that I would They’re my friends Of course I’ll help theoes well and I get the part