SO, THERE I WAS AGAIN, running away after taking something I shouldn’t have taken.
But this time, I knew exactly where I was going, and I didn’t have a furious mother chasing me. Just a bunch of out-of-shape union guys.
I turned right out of Jookie’s, sprinted down Pine Street, looped around the little league fields, and hooked a left down Harding Lane toward downtown.
By the time I got to Just Brew It, I was out of breath in that uh-oh, I’m in trouble kind of way. It reminded me of the old days.
Which is probably why it felt great.
The tattooed guy with all the piercings was there, right where I’d left him. He gave me a little wave. Then I turned around, and sure enough, there she was—sitting in the same exact spot I’d seen her when I first met her, what seemed like a lifetime ago.
“Hey, Iris.”
She didn’t seem surprised to see me. “Hey.”
“How come you’re not at the set?” I asked.
“I’d just get in the way.”
“Oh.”
After a minute, I decided to bring it up.
“So, um … why did you tell Shana to kiss me in the restaurant?”
Iris closed her computers and looked at me. “Because I’m in the movie business, and I do whatever it takes to make sure my movies are successful. And lots of attention helps make a movie successful.”
I shook my head. “But you had to know what would happen.”
“And what happened?” she said, smiling. “You stood up for yourself, and everyone lived happily ever after.”
“Not necessarily,” I said. “Nano is about to kill me.”
She took a sip of her drink. “Well, it just so happens I have news about that as well.”
“You do?”
“Yeah, isn’t technology amazing? Have a seat, while I help sort this thing out.”
I did.
We sat there quietly, as I caught my breath. Watching her work was like watching someone with four hands. Finally, she looked up from her phone and chuckled.
“Well, that’s that. Sheldon just fired Nano.”
I wasn’t sure I heard her correctly. “What?”
“Yup,” Iris said.
“Jeez.”
“Don’t feel guilty,” she said, reading my mind. “I’m only surprised it took this long.”
She got up, gathered all her stuff, went outside, and got into a car. Somehow, I knew to follow her and get in, too.
“Guess who’s taking over?” Iris asked.
“I have no idea.”
She told the driver to take us to Jookie’s, then looked at me and smiled.
“Ashley,” she said.