CHAPTER TWO
OLIVIA WAS FEELING GOOD when she emerged from the bedroom. She’d just gotten out of the shower and looked remarkably perky and fresh after last night’s rigorous romp with George. Her skin was rosy pink and a few beads of water were still visible on her collarbone. She looked over at the living room and saw her friend huddled in a mass on the couch looking like a small injured animal. At some time in the wee hours of the morning, Iris eventually did manage to fall asleep. Her body was curled into a tight ball and her feet poked out from under the thin blanket. Olivia did her best not to wake Iris as she made her to the kitchen.
Olivia carefully measured out scoop after scoop of coffee and poured water into the coffee machine. While she waited for it to brew, she went back to the living room to check on Iris again. She frowned at the sight of her friend. She knew Iris was going through a difficult time and wanted to help her, but didn’t know how. Olivia gently placed another blanket over Iris’s small body and watched over her as she slept.
Before she could dwell on the situation for too long, George appeared in the hall. He was bare-chested, wearing just a pair of pajama bottoms. God, he was gorgeous. His hair was tussled from their night together, but it didn’t look messy. It just looked sexy. “Sleep well?” He asked. George walked over to his girlfriend and leaned in for a kiss.
“Yeah. But I can’t say the same for Iris.” Olivia whispered and nodded in her friend’s direction. “I’m really worried for her. I know she’s going through such a hard time…”
“It’s temporary. Things will get better for her.” George reassured her. He wrapped his arms around Olivia’s waist and drew her into him so he could nuzzle her damp hair.
“Still… I wish I could do something.” Olivia nibbled at her bottom lip and returned to the kitchen where she absentmindedly poured herself a cup of coffee. She forgot to add sweetener and so when she took a sip of the bitter brew, she almost spat it out.
“Why don’t you invite her to the exhibition later tonight?” George offered. He grabbed a loaf of bread from the top of the fridge and popped a couple of slices into the toaster for their breakfast.
“You mean at the art gallery?”
““You’re covering it for the magazine and you get a plus one. It’s the perfect opportunity for her to get out of the house.”
I don’t know if she’ll be up for it.” Olivia sipped her coffee thoughtfully. “She was never a big fan of art.”
“But at least it’ll get her out of the house. It doesn’t hurt to ask. It would probably be good for her to be around people.”
“You’re probably right, dear” Olivia replied.
Olivia joined George at the table. He watched her slowly butter her toast before surgically removing the crust with a knife. George marveled at her odd bread-eating ritual.
“Does your OCD affect every aspect of your life?” he asked.
Olivia shrugged. “That’s why my copy is so clean and all of the editors love working with me.” She scrunched up her nose at him and added, “Isn’t that one of the reasons why you love me?”
“I suppose.” George smirked. He loved that she could spot a grammatical mistake a mile away. They really were an odd and quirky couple.
When Iris eventually woke, her eyes were red and puffy from her fitful slumber. She looked miserable. Her skin, once a beautiful and healthy peach color, was now dull and held a grayish hue. Her lips were cracked, colorless and pressed into a permanent frown. Her clothes were rumpled and unwashed. She could’ve been homeless person or an escapee from a mental institution. Olivia’s heart ached just looking at her friend.
“Good morning, dear. There’s some coffee in the pot for you.”
Iris mumbled a greeting and looked toward the kitchen but ignored the offer. She didn’t feel like coffee just yet. Under her feet, Misty suddenly materialized, rubbing against her legs, purring loudly. As if on autopilot, Iris reached into the cabinet and pulled out a can of cat food.
“Oh. You don’t have to do that. I was just about to feed her.” Olivia stood and offered to take the can from her, but Iris shook her head.
“It’s fine. It gives me something to do,” Iris mumbled.
Olivia kept a watchful eye on Iris as she carefully scooped food from the can onto a saucer for Misty before setting it down on the floor. The cat meowed gratefully before chowing down. Iris lifted her arms over her head and stretched. Her back cracked and her bones creaked as she straightened herself out. Sleeping on an old couch for almost a month now was starting to take its toll.
“Speaking of things to do. I’m leading an art exhibition this evening for work. I’m allowed to bring a plus one. Do you want to come?” Olivia asked brightly, hoping her friend would say yes.
“Why don’t you take George?” Iris answered reflexively. She leaned against the counter, and purposely avoided making eye contact with her friend.
She itched and wished she could shed her skin like a snake. She scratched at her arms, legs and back hoping to get rid of the crawling sensation, but the itch just got worse, which made her scratch even more. All she managed to accomplish was to make her body red and raw before she finally gave up.
“George has a deadline tonight. So, he’ll be working. I thought it would be a lot of fun if you came with me.” Olivia pressed, hoping to convince her.
Iris glanced over at George who gave her a warm smile. George swallowed the last bite of his toast. “It is a lot of fun. You should go.”
Iris hesitated. It wasn’t like she could come up with an excuse not to go. What would she say? That she had plans already to stay home and feel sorry for herself all evening? “Alright… I’ll go.” She relented.
“Great! Just think of it as an excuse to blow off some steam. We’re gonna have a blast... Girl’s night out. Can’t wait!” Olivia smiled enthusiastically.
“Right…” Iris answered flatly. She knew her friend meant well. “What time does it start?”
“We leave here at six. Don’t be late. And please, clean yourself up!” Olivia pleaded with her friend. She was excited. She hoped this might be a nice distraction for Iris from the breakup and the stressful task of searching for a job in a nonexistent job market. Plus, she was looking forward to having some much-needed bonding time with her best friend.
Iris nodded, but stared blankly out the window. Finally, feeling a little more alert, she poured herself a cup of coffee.