Heart Me

23

Iris stood near the barbecue grill, a slight frown forming on her face as she observed Eddie and Poppy returning from the beach. As Eddie and Poppy approached, their cheeks flushed from the sea breeze, Iris couldn't help but notice the subtle glances they exchanged. There was a certain electricity in the air, a tension that was hard to miss. They quickly separated ways, but there was something different about them, something that told her they had shared a secret moment at the beach.

"Aren't they weird?" She held Stone's hand and squeezed it to call his attention.

"Who?" Stone asked feeling a little lost. He took a sip of his beer while his eyes searched for something weird.

"Them..." Iris pointed at Poppy and Eddie. Poppy's cheeks were tinged with a rosy tone. "There..." She then added, as they almost touched hands as passing by but avoided each other's gaze.

"Oh?" Stone smile at her.

"Right?" She grinned.

They watched Eddie and Poppy once more. Despite their attempts to act normal, the air between them crackled with an unspoken connection. There was a sudden shift in their dynamic.

"They had sex." She then added which caused Stone to spill his beer as he started laughing.

"Stop!" He cleaned his lips.

"There's sex written all over their face." Then, she turned to him and kissed his lips. "I'll be right back."

"Iris!" Stone held her hand to halt her. "Leave them alone."

"I'm just going to talk to my friend." She put on an innocent look.

"You're going to tease her." Stone insisted, without letting go of her. "Come on, babe. Leave them... maybe they need their own time too. We needed ours..." He looked in her eyes trying to change her mind, her but Iris looked determined. "...and maybe if you go there tease them will only scare them more." He then continued.

"If you don't let me go I won't let you come in my mouth later..."

"Oh..." Stone opened his hand right there. "Go." They laughed.

"I'll be right back." She kissed his lips. "That blowjob won't come for free though."

"Like you can complain." He smiled against her lips. "No one is around right?" Iris pulled away and looked around them.

"No one's listening." She winked. "Chris is not here yet." She then commented. A sad sigh escaping her lips.

"He said he'd come?" Stone asked and she nodded as her eyes raided the people scattered over the garden. Chris was hard to miss though. He wasn't there yet. "They have two kids, and you know how kids are." Stone kissed her cheek to cheer her up, seeing how sad her eyes became.

"Yeah..." Iris nodded. "Maybe they're just late. Now... let me go check on that girl." Her index finger pointed ap Poppy. "I'll be right back." She turned to kiss Stone's lips quickly and even before he could kiss her back, she was already walking away.

Iris felt her husband's eyes on her as she walked away from him. The Christmas lights casting a warm glow on the garden. She could sense the tension between them as she began walking towards Poppy, who stood by the flickering barbecue pit. As Iris drew closer, she noticed the nervous flicker in her friend's eyes, a tell-tale sign that something was amiss. Poppy's hands fidgeted with the hem of her cardigan, her gaze darting around anxiously as if searching for an escape. Iris could almost feel the weight of the unspoken truth hanging in the air between them. Memories of the beach with Eddie flooded Poppy's mind, a wave of heat rushing through her at the recollection of their forbidden encounter. She instinctively reached up to fan herself, her cheeks flushing with a mix of embarrassment and desire. The flames of the barbecue cast dancing shadows on her face, highlighting the conflict waging within her. Iris could see the struggle reflected in Poppy's eyes, the unspoken plea for understanding etched in her friend's features. With a deep breath, Iris took a step closer to her friend, reaching out to grasp Poppy's trembling hand.