Chloe Reed stroked Goudan’s smooth fur, her expression impassive. "Whatever happens with them from now on is none of my business."

Iris Yates nodded. "Uh-huh, we should spend less time dealing with scumbags. We have a bright and wonderful future ahead of us!"

She was always bursting with energy.

Chloe Reed asked, "Have you been okay recently? Your mom hasn’t been forcing you to go on blind dates again, has she?"

"Don’t even get me started!" Iris said, her cheeks puffed out in frustration. "That fucking idiot Nathaniel Monroe must have lost his mind. He actually told my parents we’re dating! And now, of course, my parents know, so they’re constantly telling me to bring him home for dinner. They tell me to behave myself and not be so bratty. They even said I’m lucky to be with him and that I should cherish this ’fated relationship.’ Bullshit!"

Chloe Reed was stunned speechless. "He... Why would he say that? Do you think he actually likes you?"

"He says he doesn’t like me. He said he was just trying to help get my parents off my back, since they’d been setting me up with so many weirdos." Iris’s expression was conflicted.

"I’m so frustrated. I mean, sure, I don’t have to go on blind dates anymore, but now my parents are constantly asking me to bring him home for dinner! I have nothing to do with him! This is his fault, so why does it feel like I’m the one dealing with all the consequences?"

Iris looked completely exasperated. The words were barely out of her mouth when her phone rang. She glanced at the screen, then tossed the phone onto the coffee table, answering it on speaker.

"Iris, dear, where are you?"

It was Mrs. Yates’s cheerful voice on the other end.

"I’m home," Iris said listlessly.

Mrs. Yates immediately replied, "What are you doing at home? You should be out on a date with Nathaniel! A relationship needs nurturing; you have to see each other often. Let me tell you, don’t you dare be difficult with him, you hear? If you let a great guy like Nathaniel get away, I’m going to be very upset with you."

Iris threw her hands up at Chloe.

She mouthed, "See? Was I exaggerating?"

Chloe was stunned, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

Iris sighed into the phone. "Mom, can you please stop listening to his nonsense? I have nothing to do with him!"

"Iris, you’re an adult now. You’re allowed to date. Don’t be afraid that we’ll blame you, because we won’t. Since you’re together, you should just try to get along. Stop overthinking things, you hear me? Besides, why would Nathaniel joke with us about something like this? It must be you who doesn’t want to admit it. Iris, we can’t be irresponsible."

Iris was speechless.

’Too late.’

’I already was.’

’The hit-it-and-quit-it type, even.’

Iris rubbed her temples. "Okay, okay, I get it."

Mrs. Yates’s tone instantly brightened. "So, will you bring Nathaniel home for dinner this weekend? Ask him what he likes to eat, and I’ll make it. You know I’m a great cook."

"..." Iris said. "Mom, I gotta go, another call is coming in." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

She hung up without waiting for a reply, then collapsed onto the sofa as if all the energy had been drained from her body.

Chloe was silent for a long moment before saying, "Maybe your mom just wants you to find someone good and settle down. She just wants to see you happy."

Iris let out a long sigh. "But this is just so suffocating."