Lin was pacing the room, asking and answering his own questions.
"That didn't sound remotely like Anton? Ok, It was a bad line.
Why would she want to put the phone down so quickly? Come on she was busy and he was waiting. Why are they meeting so late at night?"
His mind drew a blank on that one, he sat down heavily and put his head in his hands.
"Stop it Lin. She has no reason to lie. She WOULDN'T lie. She wouldn't. This is Gia. This is your wife! She loves you. Everything is fine."
He walked over to the bed and laid down breathing in deeply and counting slowly, letting his heart slow down.
Iris woke as her alarm sounded. She looked outside, pleased to see it was at least going to be dry for their tennis outing.
She put on some shorts and a t shirt and went into the kitchen, noticing that the glass from last night had already been tidied away.
Lin appeared and poured a coffee, his head down saying nothing.
She watched him.
"Morning."
He raised his head and half smiled. "Morning."
She took a breath in, shocked by his appearance.
"Are you ok? You look exhausted! Have you slept?"
Lin laughed quickly.
"I'll be fine. Just need another couple of these."
He held up his cup.
"You good to go in half an hour?"
Iris nodded.
"Sure."
"Ok, I'll finish getting sorted"
He refilled his coffee mug and walked out of the room.
"Jon, let me introduce you properly to Iris. I know you saw her briefly at Wandas party."
Jon smiled and held out his hand
"It's a pleasure to meet you properly finally. This is Niall."
The pleasantries over with they collected a couple of balls and made their way to the courts.
Jon fell into step with Lin as Iris was chatting to Niall.
"Hey bud. You ok? You're quiet today."
Lin looked at him.
"Yeah. I'm fine. Just overthinking."
"Iris seems lovely."
"She is. She's so much fun Jon, great company. We spent all yesterday evening laughing. Well we did before she hurt her hand anyway."
"She's beautiful. She reminds me of Gia when you first met her."
"Huh?"
"You must have noticed. How old is she?"
"I... I actually have no idea. She doesn't look like Gia!"
"Not now no. But.."
He pulled out his phone and scrolled through some photos. Finally finding one of Lin from 10 years ago. He was standing laughing, his head thrown back, Gia next to him laughing with him.
Lin screwed his face up as he looked at the photo.
"I mean. There is a resemblance I guess."
Jon laughed.
"What makes you say that? The identical shoulder length hair? The hazel eyes? The figure with curves in all the right places or the million dollar smile?"
Lin looked over at her laughing with Niall.
"Ok. You've got a point"
He looked back at the photo and a wave of sadness washed over him. They hadn't laughed with each other like that in so long.
He passed the phone back to Jon as Niall shouted over from the other side of the court.
"Come on you two! Get a move on! Me and Iris are ready to go."
"You go warm up, we'll be there in a bit."
He turned back.
"How's Gia getting on?"
Lin shrugged.
"Ok as far as I know. She's been really busy so we haven't had chance to catch up."
Jon nodded.
"Why are you more excited to talk about Iris than Gia Lin?"
"Come on! We're waiting!"
Niall was getting exasperated.
Jon looked quickly at Lin.
"We are parking this conversation."
"Ok Iris, your service."
She bounced the ball a couple of times and the game started, Jon and Niall clearly used to being a team instinctively knew where the other would be and who would reach which shot.
It was safe to say that Iris and Lin were being thrashed. Both trying to get the same ball, cries of "Mine!" Echoing through the courts.
Jon stopped the game at one point he had tears rolling down his face he was laughing so much.
"Oh my God guys. It's like playing with the seagulls from 'Finding Nemo'!"
Lin gradually started to relax, watching Iris enjoying herself, he started to push his own worries to the back of his mind.
They both went for another shot, their rackets clanking, ending in them crashing together, Lin instinctively grabbed her as they both fell in a heap to the floor laughing.
Iris looked at him.
"Hey I did warn you! Maybe we should swap sides. I think you could do with a new partner"
Lin suddenly stopped laughing, his arms still wrapped around her. He quietly answered.
"Yeah. Maybe I do"
"Are you both ok?!"
Niall shouted over, shielding his eyes against the sun.
Iris answered quickly.
"Yes! All good"
but her eyes were fixed on Lin.
He gently stroked her forearm before helping her to stand up, both returning to their starting places.
"Ok! Your serve!"
The game ended predictably with Jon and Niall the victors. They walked back to the club house together making small talk.
Lin turned to Jon.
"So what do you two lovebirds have planned for tonight?"
Jon shrugged.
"Nothing really, probably going to have a quiet one in. Grab a take out"
"Why don't you come to mine? Oh, hang on. Is that ok Iris?"
She laughed.
"Lin it's your place. I am able to cook for as many people as you want."
"Ok great! Dinner at mine, about 7?"
He looked towards Iris as he asked the question, she nodded.
"No problem."
Jon grinned.
"Ok! We will see you there"
They all hugged goodbye and made their way home.
"I'm going to jump in the shower and make a start on shopping for dinner prep."
"Ok, what are we having."
"It's a surprise"
she smiled at Lin as she walked down the corridor and shut the door to her room.
