Long Shot

August spends the year looking for Iris without luck. One night, he talks to Jared about his situation. Jared urges him to move on. He then reveals that Houston wants to trade August. It’s a good contract, so August accepts. Meanwhile, he promises himself that he’ll find Iris.

After MiMi’s funeral, Iris has a conversation with her aunt May. She and Lotus haven’t spoken in years. They get into an argument about the past. Priscilla gets involved, too, and the sisters leave together. Afterward, Iris and Lotus chat about their childhoods and recent adult experiences. They reflect on their maternal relationships and their misunderstandings as friends and cousins. The conversation turns to Iris’s current life. Lotus encourages her to start over again, assuring her that she is safe from Caleb now. She points to a delta in the river, comparing it to Iris’s life path. Iris still feels anxious about the future but feels encouraged while listening to Lotus and studying the landscape.

August and Jared discuss the Houston trade. Then, Jared reveals that Iris called him about a job and is moving to San Diego to work with him. An emotional August decides to “[k]ill the deal” with Houston so that he can stay in San Diego and pursue a relationship with Iris (296).

Iris reports to Jared’s new sports agency, Elevation, for her first day of work. She never expected to move to California, but the job offer is a good professional starting point. She also found housing and daycare through the job. She wonders if August is still around but tries not to think about him. Then, he appears in the conference room with a Louisiana iris for her.

August is excited and emotional when he sees Iris again for the first time. He explains that Jared is his stepbrother and that they own Elevation together. A frustrated Iris realizes that August is behind the job, daycare, and housing. She doesn’t want to be dependent on a man. August insists that the job is real but admits that he helped Jared arrange things for Iris in San Diego. Iris softens, and the two embrace. She admits that she still has feelings for August, too, but doesn’t want to move too fast. August promises that he won’t do anything to compromise Iris’s independence, revealing that he gave up Houston to be with her.

Over the following month, Iris and August see each other casually. Then, one night, Lotus comes over to watch August’s game on television with Iris. While watching, Iris tells Lotus about her and August’s dynamic. Lotus is thrilled and encourages Iris to give him a chance and try living a little. Iris pushes back because she doesn’t want to depend on a man—especially given their mothers’ dating history and her history with Caleb. They talk about Sarai’s future and how domestic violence affects women and children. Finally, Iris reveals the details of Caleb’s abuse. Then, August gets injured during the game. Iris is terrified for him and immediately realizes that she doesn’t “want to go slow after all” (318).

August recovers at the hospital. Pippa visits and tries to rekindle their brief affair, but August kindly dismisses her when Iris appears. They talk about their relationship. Iris admits that she wants to be with him. August is thrilled but asks Iris to be open with him about her past. Iris reveals that she signed a non-disclosure agreement and can’t talk about her relationship with Caleb. Realizing the severity of the situation, August promises not to press her. He meets Lotus for the first time and loves spending time with Sarai.

August stops at Iris’s one night. They hug and kiss before preparing dinner and discussing August’s game. They start kissing again, but August moves to leave. He doesn’t want to go too far with Iris before she’s ready. She realizes that she’s ready, and the two have sex for the first time.

August and Iris have sex again. August is overwhelmed by their physical and emotional connection.

Iris and August continue sleeping together over the following two weeks. One morning after another passionate night, Iris gets up to work on bills. August is surprised when she admits that she’s having money troubles and offers to help her. Iris insists that she’s fine and has to do this alone. She doesn’t want his money and fears that if he pays for or buys her things, nothing will be hers. August insists that he wants to help because his heart belongs to her. Sarai enters, interrupting their conversation. August heads out before he and Iris can finish their conversation.