Heart Me

34

Iris' hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly her knuckles turned white. Her mind raced, replaying the image of the woman's hand grazing Stone's, that intimate touch she couldn't unsee. Tears welled up in her eyes, blurring the road ahead, but she refused to stop. The harder she pressed on the gas, the further she could distance herself from that image-her husband, and that woman.

Why didn't he stop her?

Her chest tightened with each shallow breath, her heart pounding furiously against her ribcage. The trust she had fought so hard to rebuild felt as fragile as glass now, ready to shatter completely. She wiped her eyes, her vision barely clearing before the next wave of tears came.

It's not what it looked like, it can't be.

But the sight of their hands together lingered, gnawing at her like a splinter under her skin. Stone's calls echoed in her mind, but she shut them out. He hadn't chased after her, not hard enough. Hadn't stopped her from seeing what she saw. He didn't even have an explanation ready, did he?

He didn't even try to stop her.

The car swerved slightly, forcing her to focus again, pulling herself out of the spiral for just a moment. But the pain wouldn't let go. She thought about pulling over, catching her breath-but what was the point? Going back would only mean facing him, and right now, she wasn't sure she could handle what he might say.

Not knowing where to go, she turned to that familiar spot that always brought her some comfort. It was not that far. Her breath shaky as she neared the park she always turned to when her thoughts became too heavy. The rain had picked up again, falling steadily against the windshield, blurring the view of the lake in the distance. She parked the car and just sat there for a moment. The sound of the rain almost soothing despite the storm brewing inside her. The soft buzz of the call vibrating in the pocket of her jeans. Stone's name lit up her phone screen. She saw it, felt it, but couldn't bring herself to answer. Her heart was still pounding from the sight of him with that woman. Reaching for his hand, the way they stood together-it was too much. She closed her eyes, trying to push the image away, but it clung to her mind like the rain clung to the glass.

Meanwhile, Stone was pacing inside the studio, his own heart racing. Every time the call went to voicemail, his frustration deepened. He stared at the screen, willing her to pick up.

"Come on, Iris... please..." He tried again, and again the line rang, but no answer came.

He cursed under his breath, rubbing his hand over his face, desperate. His mind raced with thoughts-what she must be thinking, what she had seen, and how he'd explain everything if only she'd answer.

Iris got out of the car and walked towards the lake. The rain soaked through her clothes, but she didn't care. She needed air, space, time to think, though her thoughts kept circling back to the scene she had just fled. She clenched her fists, shoving her phone deeper into her pocket as it buzzed again. She stopped near the edge of the lake, the water rippling with each drop of rain, matching the turmoil in her chest. She let out a shaky breath, her body trembling-not just from the cold, but from the hurt.

Stone redialed, gripping the phone so tightly it nearly cracked. Each unanswered ring was a new wave of panic, his heart pounding louder in his ears. She wasn't answering. And it was killing him. He stared down at his phone once more, his frustration mounting with every unanswered call. His thumb hovered over the screen, willing Iris to pick up, but the silence on the other end felt like a growing chasm. Outside, the rain pelted the windows, each droplet a reminder of the urgency gnawing at his chest. The muffled roar of thunder echoed his racing thoughts, making the empty studio feel suffocating. He began pacing, his breath shallow, his movements restless. Every few steps, his gaze flicked toward Nora. She stood near the door, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. Her posture was stiff, a thin veil of control hiding the storm of emotions behind her eyes. She knew what was happening, and yet she stayed. There was something raw in the air between them, unfinished.