Vegas Lights

Chapter 17

Iris's P.O.V

It was already 6:30 and I only had gotten about half of my essay done. I'll just finish it up and edit it later. It wasn't due for another two days, thankfully. It was bittersweet that this was my last year of college. I loved learning about everything. Things I knew and didn't know alike. But I'm twenty-six and ready to explore more of this world that I haven't been able to because of it. It takes up so much time and dedication, you really only have time to do the things that are absolutely necessary. Like working your job, so you have money to survive. But, there's also times where you can mix in pleasure. That is, if you can stay on top of your work like I try to do.

I made sure to save my masterpiece before shutting my laptop and placing it back onto the table. I decided it was about time to make a quick dinner. I went over into the kitchen opening my cabinets up, looking at my options. I grabbed a box of spaghetti noodles and a jar of sauce and sat them on the counter along with my spices I like to add. I got my big pot out, filling it with water and sat it on the stovetop. I turned up the heat, waiting for the water to boil. Spaghetti isn't my favorite but, it was quick.

As I was waiting on the water to boil I heard my phone start vibrating from the living room. I jogged over, grabbing it and answered it without looking.
"Hello?" I said into the phone.
"Hey baby." I heard my dad on the other end and he didn't sound good at all. His voice let off this hoarseness and his cough sounded like it was filled with mucus.
"Are you okay?" I asked him, with worry in my voice.
"I'm not feeling the greatest, whatever I've gotten sick with, it's gotten worse." He said. "I don't know if I'm gonna be able to take you to get your car checked out on Monday, I don't see me getting better that quickly. I haven't even been able to get out of bed, everything is hurting." He finished.
"I'm not worried about my car more than you. I'm making dinner now, do you want me to bring you some?" I asked him.
"No. I don't want you to spend any more money on them Ubers than you already have." He said chuckling. The laughter he produced caused him to go into a coughing fit so bad, I thought he might throw up. When he recovered from it, I spoke up.
"Dad, it's really not a problem, you have to eat." I told him.
"I really don't have much of an appetite anyway, I promise I'll be okay." He said trying to reassure me.
"Dad..." I trailed off, knowing his stubbornness.
"You finish your dinner and enjoy it, okay? I'm really sorry I can't take you. Maybe your friend Amelia can." He suggested.
"Possibly, I'll have to talk to her to see if she's busy." I said. I remembered she was suppose to be meeting Donatella Versace on that day. I just didn't know when.
"Hopefully she can, if not, I'll take you as soon as I start feeling better." He said.
"Okay..." I trailed off. I hated he was feeling so bad.
"I'll text you my buddies information just in case you can make it over there. I love you baby." He said.
"I love you too, feel better soon."
"Thank you, sweetie."
After that I hung up the phone. If he doesn't get better soon, I'm going to take him to the doctor. I know he'll try to fight me on it too but, oh well.

I locked my phone and went back to making my dinner. I opened up the jar of sauce and dumped it into the pot of noodles, mixing them, and adding in the spices as well. My phone went off and I glanced over at it seeing my dad had texted me that guys' info. It was a place called Gene's Automobile Services. He had also typed in there who to ask for. Gene McGowen, who I'm assuming is the owner. I locked my phone back and got me a bowl out, putting some spaghetti in it.

I went back over to the living room and sat down, turning my tv on. I had no clue what to watch but I saw one show on Netflix that caught my attention. Money Heist. I usually stick to my comfort shows and don't stray, but I took a chance on this one. It was in Spanish but, that doesn't bother me. I usually watch all my shows with subtitles anyway because, well, I can't hear shit.

When I finished my food, I grabbed my phone looking for Lia's name. I clicked on it and hit the call button. I grabbed my remote and paused the show I was watching, which was really good so far, even though I'm only halfway through the first episode. Lia answered fairly quickly.
"Hey, what's up?" Lia asked me.
"Hey, um, I had a question."
"Shoot." She said.
"I know you're suppose to be meeting Donatella Monday. My dad was suppose to take me to get my car checked out that day but, he's really sick and can't. Is there anyway you could?" I asked her while biting my nails.
"You know I would if I could but, I'm suppose to meet her early in the morning at the warehouse. If all goes well, I should be going to her store that she has here." Lia said.
"No, no I totally understand. Worth a shot asking." I chuckled.
"Why don't you ask your boss?" She said in an all too familiar voice.
"I don't know if I could ask him for a favor like that."
"Are you kidding? He was just all up on you in his library, I'm sure he wouldn't mind doing something like that for you just for another quick taste." I heard her growl over the phone and it made me scrunch up my face.
"Lia, oh my god. Don't ever do that again." I told her. I heard her contagious laugh over the phone.
"Okay but, seriously, just ask. You never know." She said.
"What about Jason?" I asked in hopes that maybe he could.
"No can do baby girl. He's got work in the morning too. Don't be such a chicken shit. Just askkk." She said, dragging out the word.
"Fine, fine. I will in the morning." I said, finally giving in. At this point I didn't have many options.
"Good. Let me know how it goes!"
"You know I always do." I smiled.
"Alright, love you girl."
"Love you too." I told her and hung up the phone.

I grabbed my empty bowl and took it to the sink. I quickly grabbed a water from the fridge while I was there, taking a drink of it. I went to my room and grabbed some pajamas. A long sleeve maroon waffle knit shirt and shorts to match. I sat them on my bed and went to the bathroom, turning on the water to my shower. I got my phone and turned on some music before getting in. I stepped into the shower and let the warm beads roll down and off my body, enjoying the warmth it gave me.

I was almost done with my shower, now washing my body. All of a sudden, my music stopped playing and my phone was ringing. I peeled back the curtain to look at my phone to see who was calling me. I saw Brendon's name was on my screen, and quickly, without falling of course, grabbed my phone and answered it.
"Brendon?" I asked.
"Iris, hey, how are you?" He asked me.
"I'm doing great, you?" I asked him, still leaning out of my shower.
"I'm good, are-are you in the shower right now?" He asked me. I looked back at my running water, realizing he had to hear it.
"Uh, yes?" I said in more of a question.
"Hm. I called just at the right time, huh." I could hear his smirk through the phone. Don't ask me how, I just could. "Well, I know we was suppose to spend the day together tomorrow doing things besides work but, I have a meeting that's mandatory. I was wondering if you'd be willing to go with me? I feel like if you're there, it'll make it somewhat more tolerable. Plus you might end up learning some things about the business." He finished. I thought about it for a minute and thought why not. I'd still at least get to spend some time with him.
"Sure." I simply said.
"Really?" He asked me. I saw this as a perfect opportunity to ask him to take me to the garage.
"Yeah. But, I'll only go to this meeting on my day off, on one condition." I heard him chuckle through the phone.
"Yeah? What's that?"
"You have to take me to this garage on Monday so I can get my car checked out." I told him. I heard silence over the phone and thought I pushed it too far. Until he spoke up.
"Deal."
"Are you serious?" I asked, shocked.
"Yes." He laughed. "I'll text you what time to be ready tomorrow. You don't have to get dressed up or anything either."
"Okay, thank you for agreeing to take me." I said to him.
"Thank you for agreeing to go to this meeting with me."
"It's nothing. Like you said, I could learn something."
"I'll see you tomorrow then." He said.
"See you tomorrow." I hung up the phone with a smile on my face. Putting one foot out of the tub, I placed my phone back on the sink. I got back in and rinsed the rest of the soap off of my body.

I got out and grabbed my towel, drying myself off and wrapping my hair up. I went back into my room and got dressed quickly. I thought about finishing my essay but, the coziness of my bed was calling my name. I sat up and took the towel off of my head and tried to dry it as much as I could. I grabbed my hair tie from my nightstand and put my hair up in a messy bun, still damp from the water. I didn't really care though, I was just too tired at this point. I laid down, covering myself with my blanket, waiting to fall asleep.