His version of love

Chapter 6: Three minutes

Iris’s POV

Eric led me back towards the main hall. The music was loud again, people were still talking, laughing and moving between groups as if nothing unusual had happened, I looked back again and the door of the records and preservation department was closed for a moment I wondered if I had imagined the conversation

"you're quiet again" Eric said

"I'm just embarrassed"

"why?"

"I walked into a restricted area"

"you got lost"

"that's basically the same thing"

"not quite."

"I feel like I interrupted something"

"you probably did"

I looked at him, he did not sound annoyed if anything he sounded amused

"You're not angry?"

"at you? Of course not"

"then why did everyone look so serious"

he was silent for a moment

"the foundation has more paperwork than poetry so that tends to make people serious"

I wanted to ask about the detective I wanted to ask why a police detective was walking about of the records department during the gala instead I asked

"Does the foundation always have police around?"

"not always"

"but often enough the Eleanor doesn't seem suprised"

"Eleanor has seen almost everything"

We entered another room. A long table had been set with desserts and coffee, a pianist was playing softly in the corner. The atmosphere was warmer here, less formal than the main hall. Eric picked up two cups of coffee and handed one to me

"thank you"

"You're welcome.” He watched me take the first sip

"Do you make that face every time a drink is hot?"

"What face?"

"that one"

"I don't have a face"

"you definitely have a face"

i laughed

"you're impossible"

"I've been told that before"

we stood near a tall window overlooking the gardens rain had started again the lights outside reflected on the wet paths

"Do you miss home?" He asked. The question caught me off guard

"A little"

"where is home"

"Manchester, London still feels new"

"I understand, but don't worry very soon you'll stop saying before I moved here and start saying my first year here"

"that sounds oddly specific"

"it happened to me"

"you didn't grow up In London?"

"no"

"where?"

"a place much smaller than this"

"You're not going to tell me?"

"not tonight"

"that's unfair"

"It's strategic."

I smiled. For the first time that evening I forgot about the corridor. I forgot about Victor. I forgot about the strange sentence I overheard. Eric had a way of making the night feel simple, comfortable, as if we were talking in a café instead of a room full of famous people. A woman interrupted us

"Eric they're waiting for you" he looked apologetic

"One minute"she nodded and walked away. He turned back to me

"I have to disappear again"

"I'm starting to notice a pattern"

"I'll try to make this the last time"

"I'll survive"

"I know you will"

"if you need anything ask Eleanor"

"she seems nice"

"she is"

Then he was gone, I was alone for a while watching the rain. Eventually I decided to find a quieter corner of the building. The lounge near the fireplace was almost empty I glanced at the clock

"Oh it’s 9:18 pm already"

I had been at the gala longer than I realized I wondered if Maeve was still awake, I thought about texting her but decided I would call once I got home. Across the room I saw Eric speaking with someone near the doorway. I took a step toward him then a waiter carrying a tray of coffee cups crossed in front of me. Someone laughed behind me so instinctively I turned towards the sound, for a moment the room seemed unusually quiet, I blinked.

when I looked back at the doorway Eric was gone. I frowned and looked up at the block again

"9:22 pm?"

I stared at it, I was sure it was 9:18 only a moment ago, I let out a small breath I must have been more tired than I thought, the evening was overwhelming too many conversations too many new faces too many things to think about I shook it off and walked towards the hallway, as I passed the lounge I noticed detective hale sitting

alone, he was reading a thin file folder I almost walked past him

"miss calloway" i stopped

"you seem tired"

"so do you. Isn't it weird I'm talking to a detective at a dinner event"

"it's probably stranger for me"

"what actually brought you here?" I asked

he looked towards the fire for a moment

"work"

"That's a very detective answer"there was awkward silence after.

"I should go"

"you should" I took a few steps

"Be careful where you wonder miss calloway"

He said that silently as I walked away, I pretended I didn't hear him. I left the lounge when I reached the main hall. Eric was nowhere to be seen, Gabriel was talking to a group of professors, Eleanor was speaking with board members. I realized I did not actually know where I was supposed to be

The rest of the evening passed in a blur, there were more introductions, more conversations and a final round of applause before the guests began leaving. Eric found me near the entrance

"I'm sorry I disappeared again"

"it's fine"

"Well you survived though"

"barely"

"that's still a pass"

"thank you for tonight" I said

"It was my pleasure. I'll see you soon iris"

"goodnight"

the taxi ride home was quiet, London looked different after ten o' clock, the streets were calmer the lights were brighter against the rain, when I finally reached the flat Maeve was asleep on the sofa with a blanket half falling on the floor I covered her properly and went to my room. I kicked off my shoes and changed into a baggy T-shirt and sat on my bed, the evening replayed itself in fragments. I picked up my phone to watch a movie because it helps me sleep and I saw a notification I had not noticed before, waiting for me from an unknown number, I opened it and there was no greeting no name just one sentence

"next Friday everything changes"

It was sent at 9:21 pm, I was still at the dinner when the message was sent I stared at it wondering who could have sent it maybe it was Eric, he had a habit of saying things that sounded as though they meant more than they actually mean. I smiled and shook my head and started watching my movie. I wonder what's happening on Friday.