“Then why is he free to roam now? I don’t understand.”
“He spent his entire life at Bio-Core. The board and I agreed that it was better that no one know about your brother—he was simply too dangerous. We agreed to keep him safely hidden away.” Sam sighed. “Which worked right up until you and your friends went to Bio-Core last fall.”
“That’s why he’s in town now,” Gage said, piecing the rest of the story together.
“Yes, once you and your friends realized who he was, the board had a change of heart. Now that Steel is older, he can keep his abilities in check. They took a vote and determined that it was only fair for Steel to...” Sam struggled to find the right words. “To have a life outside of Bio-Core.”
Gage groaned. “More like a mission to torment me.”
“I’m very sorry for that. I continue to plead with the board to rein him in, but they’re not listening. Cat’s out of the bag, I’m afraid.” Sam stood.
More like snake. Steel was determined to be a menace to him. He obviously had the Bio-Core board fooled into thinking it was safe for him to be outside the facility. But something in Gage’s gut told him there were worse things to come beyond what happened to Coach...
Gage stared at the door to Dixon’s Diner. The sun hung low over the mountains. The light would only last until just past five. He picked up a spoon and swirled his cup of coffee, his lip twitching. He was meeting up with Derrick and Luke, who said it was time for him to come out of hiding. Unfortunately, the last thing he wanted was company. The incident at the game happened a week ago, but it was still fresh in his mind.
Coach Smith was okay. Although the doctors weren’t sure what had caused what they were calling a seizure. But Gage suspected what, or rather who, had caused the trauma. Coach had regained consciousness soon after they admitted him to the hospital, claiming that he didn’t remember anything past trying to split up him and Steel. At least he didn’t have any memory of what happened, that was something. He wished beyond anything that he could go back in time and unlearn that he had a brother. Unfortunately, that wasn’t going to happen.
The door to Dixon’s opened. But instead of the twins, Adam walked inside. Adam’s expression went from perplexed to a smile, and “Owner of a Lonely Heart” by Yes started playing on the tableside jukebox at Gage’s table. Adam had long since accessed all the mini jukeboxes after offering to “update” them for free.
Gage chuckled. Adam always could lighten the mood.
Adam slid into the booth opposite Gage. “Hey, man, how’s it going? Haven’t seen you in a week. How many more days are you suspended for?”
Gage inhaled slowly. Everyone assumed his absence at school was involuntary. Except, it wasn’t. His granddad had somehow managed to get him a minimal sentence of two days out of school and also saved his basketball career with a one-game suspension. The rest of the days he was absent were by choice. But the reality was that he couldn’t stay out of school forever. “I’ll be back on Monday.”
Adam nodded. “That’s good.”
The door to the diner swung open again, and Evie, followed by Iris, walked inside.
His chest tightened. He’d missed seeing her, and she looked beautiful—hair down, pouty pink lips, and a short skirt that showed off the most perfectly shaped legs he’d ever seen in his life.
The two walked over to their table. “Hey, Gage, what’s up?” Evie asked.
Gage shrugged. “Not much.”
Evie narrowed her eyes and shook her head at him.
He frowned. What was that about? What did he do to her? Adam and Gage both slid further into the booth to make room for the girls. Iris sat next to Gage.
“Hey.” Iris pressed her hands on the table with such force that it tilted the surface toward them. “When are you taking me out on our date?”
“Whoa.” Gage jumped.
“Iris—” Adam’s eyes grew large as he righted the table.
Evie burst out laughing. “Amazing. You’re my idol, Iris.”
After everything that happened, Gage had completely spaced that he’d asked her out. The heat rose in his cheeks. She must think he was backing out. “Uh, yeah, sorry. I’ve had a lot on my mind.”
“I understand that you and Steel had an altercation at the basketball game. My understanding is that Coach Smith has recovered. So, since everything is okay now…” Iris glanced down at her lap and back up at him. “You can like me again?”
Adam and Evie glanced at each other, their mouths agape, then back at Gage and Iris.
Evie said, “This is getting good.”
Gage’s lips twitched. This was why he asked her out in the first place. She was a straight shooter. Most girls would have not said a word. Not Iris. Nope. She knew what she wanted, and right now, she wanted him to take her out on a date. He reached for her hand. “I never stopped liking you.”
“Oh.” Iris smiled shyly.
“How’s tomorrow?”
“I have to work at Dalia’s tomorrow,” she said, frowning.
“What time are you done?”
“I work until 5:30.”
“How about I pick you up after work?”
Iris smiled, her violet eyes sparkling in the overhead diner light. “Yes, I would like that.”
“Great.” Gage leaned back, feeling better.
“Great,” Iris replied.
“You two are freaking adorable.” Evie giggled. “Please let me sketch you.”
Before Gage could reply, Luke and Derrick burst through the kitchen doors from the back. Neither one looked happy.
“Hey guys,” Derrick said to the group and then focused on Gage. “Can we talk to you?”
Gage nodded. “Sure. What’s up?”
“No offense,” Luke said, glancing at the others, “in private?”
“Oh, okay, sure.” Gage nudged Iris to let him out of the booth.
Derrick shrugged. “Sorry, guys. It’s a personal matter.”
“No problem,” Adam said. Evie nodded.
“See you tomorrow?” Gage smiled at Iris.
“Yes.”
Gage followed Luke and Derrick outside, more than curious about what they needed to speak with him about.
The twins crossed their arms at the exact same time once they were out of earshot from anyone inside the diner.
“It’s Garcia,” Derrick said.
Gage frowned. “Yeah? What about him?”
“Our mom hired him to update all our accounting software,” Luke said.
“Why?” Gage asked.
Derrick huffed. “I have no idea. They were talking last week at the basketball game, and the next thing I know, she’s hiring him to make all these changes at the diner.”
Gage found it hard to believe that Eric Dixon would let anyone besides his wife touch their finances. “Are both your parents on board with this?”
“No. I mean, maybe? Who knows with Dad right now. He’s been acting weird,” Derrick said.
Luke frowned, and he swiped Derrick’s chest with the back of his hand. “What are you talking about?”
Gage shifted from foot to foot. He had a pretty good idea why Mr. Dixon would be acting weird, but he didn’t want to say it in front of Luke. Rumors were floating around that he was having an affair with Celia Black. Gage didn’t believe their dad would do something like that. But then again, Ashwater was turning into a hotbed for abnormal family dynamics. He had a deranged twin brother he never knew about.
Come to think of it, he was talking to his best friends, who were also twins. Huh. Were twins that common? A curious thought formed in his head, but now wasn’t the time to pursue it. He stored it away for later. “All right, it doesn’t matter. Obviously, you can’t tell your mom what we know. But you can watch Garcia like a hawk. Who knows what his real game is? He might be trying to steal from you.”
“Or maybe he doesn’t have one,” Derrick said, shrugging. “I mean, he’s been kinda cool at school and seems sorry for what he did at Bio-C
ore. Maybe he’s just trying to fit in.”
Luke and Gage glanced at each other, and as if a chill had crept up both their spines in unison, they shook it off.
“Are you for real? That dude is crazy,” Gage said.
“Yeah. Seriously,” Luke added. “I told you already he’s not cool.”
“Fine.” Derrick shrugged and shoved is hands into his jean pockets.
“So, we’re agreed? Derrick, you’re probably in the best position to watch over his shoulder. Maybe you could tell your mom you want to learn more about what he’s doing or help him.”
“Okay, I can do that.”
“All right. Keep me posted.”
“You got it.” Derrick opened the door to the diner. “You coming?”
“I’ll be in in a minute.” Gage put his hands on his hips, sighing. The parking lot was filling up for the dinner crowd. He thought he had a lot on his mind before today. First Steel, then his mom, now Garcia was breathing down their necks. It was like the universe was working against him. In every respect but one.
He glanced back at the diner and caught site of Iris, who appeared to be listening intently to Evie. As if sensing his eyes on her, she looked out the window at him and smiled. His heart swelled as he returned her smile. He had a date to plan.
11
A Dress
Iris
Iris stared at her reflection in the dressing room at Dalia’s. Her hands smoothed out the waistline of her dress. Dalia had granted her permission to design and sew it herself. She’d planned on taking her time with it, but Gage set their date for this evening. So, she’d woken up extra early to work on it. Over the past few weeks she’d soaked up all the sewing skills she could from Dalia. Given her unique abilities, she could work for long periods of time with great precision. Dalia once complimented her on how perfect her stitches were.
She’d created a pattern according to her own measurements and got to work. Dalia was more than happy to give her the access code to get into the store early after hearing she needed to work on her dress for a date that evening. Iris noted a sense of reluctance in Dalia’s voice that she would be able accomplish her task in such a short amount of time, but she knew she could do anything when she was motivated. And she was definitely motivated.
Iris had finished just past 10:30, her fingers still tingling from their journey of stitching the gorgeous fabric together. Her heart soared with each adjustment and added piece of fabric. The skater dress fell to mid-thigh, and she created a high halter neckline. At the seams, hemline, and around the high waist, she sewed some sheer lace panels that matched the shimmering amethyst fabric. After placing a hidden zipper in the back, she leaned back in her chair and exhaled. When she took her next breath, the air of humanity poured into her, filling her with life, joy, and purpose. She smiled up at the ceiling. You were right, Adam. I understand now.
The front door of the shop opened and closed. Iris turned, anxious to see Dalia.
“Iris? You here?” Dalia called.
“Yes, I’m by the dressing rooms.” Excitement bubbled up inside Iris. She turned around as Dalia came into view.
“Oh, my.” Dalia gasped and covered her mouth. She turned Iris around a few times. “It’s just gorgeous, honey. How did you ever create this in such a short time?”
“You like it? Truly?”
“Like it?” Dalia arched an eyebrow. “I love it.” She touched the waist. “The lace here is perfect.”
“I thought it would be a nice touch.” Iris turned back around, looking at her reflection, her heart close to bursting. “It’s not too short, is it? I was worried about the back falling a quarter-inch shorter than the front.”
Dalia turned her around feeling the underside of the hemline. “No, not at all. It’s perfection.” She stood and grasped Iris by the shoulders. “You’re truly talented.”
“Thank you.” Iris smiled down at her. “I can’t tell you how much it means to me for you to say that.”
“Of course.” Dalia looked down at Iris’s bare feet and smirked. “Well, that won’t do. You need shoes and accessories.”
Iris’s eyes grew wide. “Oh, yes, please.”
She worked most of the day with a smile that refused to leave her lips. Her steps were lighter, and her heart was full. She wasn’t only happy about the dress she’d created. No, her CPU was also zinging because of Gage, who said he still liked her. Some of the regulars noticed her extra-pleasant demeanor and complimented her.
“It’s like you’ve got a radiant aura about you today,” Mrs. Abernathy said after changing back into her regular clothes.
Mrs. Abernathy bought a new outfit every week. She said it was something she did to keep herself feeling young. She had recently turned eighty, and Iris wondered what she did with all those clothes. Dalia explained that a woman of her wealth could afford her customary purchases, and in the end, Mrs. Abernathy donated most of them.
Iris smiled. “Thank you.”
“Boy, what I’d give to be young and in love like that again.”
In love? She was feeling better than she’d ever had in her short life. But she did not think she was in love. That would take some time. At least two dates to be sure. All the videos she’d watched made her believe that was the case. “I do not think I’m in love.”
Mrs. Abernathy’s eyes crinkled up, her blue irises filled with mirth. She patted Iris’s arm. “Give it time, dear.”
“I will do that. Thank you,” Iris replied. She made a note to calculate exactly how much time that would be, given the current variables and trajectory. She smiled. This was going to be fun.
Around four, Adam and Evie stopped by to see how she was doing before the big date. Evie was worried, but Iris reassured her that she would be on her best behavior and no harm would come to Gage. It annoyed her that Evie thought she’d ever hurt him. She was more than fond of him. Granted, she’d mapped out how to efficiently kill him when they were last at Bio-Core, but she was a completely different android now. One with style too.
With Dalia’s permission to end her day early, she changed back into her dress for the date so she could show Adam and Evie.
“Whoa. You made that?” Adam nodded, approvingly. “Nice, Iris.”
Evie stood up from the fluffy ottoman she’d been perched on. “You must be going to some fancy place with a dress like that.”
“Gage said to wear a dress.”
“Well, this definitely qualifies.” Evie touched the fabric on the skirt and stepped back to get a better look at Iris. “Okay, don’t take this the wrong way, but Mazy would fight you for that dress.”
“She would lose.”
“No doubt.” Evie laughed.
Iris looked at her image in the tri-fold mirrors, turning back and forth. She really had done the fabric justice.
Adam’s expression in the mirror changed from approval to wonder and, finally, to acknowledgement. “You figured it out.”
Iris turned and smiled. “I did.”
“Now you know.” Adam hugged her tightly. “I’m so happy for you.”
“Will someone please tell me what the hell is going on? Figured out what?” Evie asked.
He let go of Iris and smiled down at Evie. “She found her niche that will help her be more human. The thing that will expand her…” Adam’s eyes darted back and forth as if searching for the right word. “Mind.”
“Oh. That’s great.” Evie looked between the two, her eyebrows knitting together. “Just to be clear, what exactly is blowing her mind?”
Iris grasped Evie’s hands in her own, her heart soaring. “Fashion.”
“Fashion?” Evie’s green eyes flashed.
“Yes.”
“Okay...” Evie shrugged. “Well, whatever floats your boat.”
Iris frowned. She wasn’t sure what Evie meant about boating, but her nonverbal communication indicated she understood.
“So, I guess we should get going,” Adam said. “Unless you want us to stay until
Gage picks you up.”
Iris shook her head. “No, I’m okay. But thanks for your concern.”
“Sure.” He put his arm around Evie. “You ready?”
“Yep.” Evie glanced back at Iris. “Good luck.”
At exactly five-thirty, Gage Strickland walked into Dalia’s. He was wearing a button-down dress shirt, skinny slacks, and a stylish blazer. Iris spied him from a distance, getting out of a car she hadn’t seen him drive before. Her breath hitched as she fought to control her erratic heartbeat from her hiding place in the back of the store.
Dalia was at the front register. “Hello, Gage. Don’t you look handsome.”
“Iris likes fashion, right?” Gage looked down at his clothes. “I hope I didn’t overdo it?”
“Nope. With Iris, I don’t think there’s any such thing as overdoing it.”
“Oh, okay.” Gage glanced around. “Is she here?”
“Of course she is. I’ll just go get her.” She headed toward Iris, her thumb extended in front of her. “So cute,” she mouthed as she approached.
Iris smoothed out her dress, wondering why her hands and armpits were wet. The moisture under her arms could stain her dress. She grabbed two paper towels and pressed them under each arm.
“Oh, honey, you’re nervous. It’s okay,” Dalia said. When she reached Iris, she frowned, her nose wrinkling up. “Did you remember to put deodorant on?”
Iris groaned. All those hygiene lessons from Evie, and she’d botched the most basic one. “No. I was in such a rush this morning that I forgot to put some on.”
“Well, lucky for you, I keep a stash of travel-sized products here. You never know with some of the people that come in here. Some need more than just clothes.” Dalia opened a cabinet and pulled out a miniature stick of deodorant. “Here.”
Iris tossed the paper towels and applied the deodorant. “Thank you.”
“Now, this,” Dalia opened her purse and pulled out a tiny glass vial. “This is my own personal stash of perfume.” She pulled the glass stopper out and held it up for Iris to smell.
Perfection Page 7