Iris turned to find the scowling sister—Cassidy, she presud—stalking toward them, her uniform deliberately disheveled and her tie hanging loose around her neck.
"Cass! This is Iris, Isaiah’s sister!" Harlow called, waving her over.
Cassidy stopped short, her purple eyes narrowing as they fixed on Iris. "What."
"Isaiah’s sister," Harlow repeated. "Isn’t that cool? She ca all the way from Philadelphia to et us!"
Cassidy crossed her arms. "Does he know you’re here?"
"No," Iris admitted, standing her ground. "I wanted to et you myself."
A flash of respect crossed Cassidy’s face. "Gutsy. He’s gonna be pissed when he finds out."
"Only if soone tells him," Iris said pointedly.
The corner of Cassidy’s mouth twitched. "Why are you really here, kid? Checking up on your brother’s bosses?"
"Yes."
"At least you’re honest." Cassidy studied her. "You look like him. Sa eyes."
"People say that a lot."
"So what’s the deal? You interrogating Harlow about our evil plans for your brother?"
"No! We were just talking," Harlow protested. "She’s nice, Cass."
Cassidy snorted. "Sure. Nice enough to skip school and travel to another state without telling her brother."
Iris felt her cheeks heat. "I’m just looking out for him. Soone has to."
"And what makes you think he needs looking after?"
"He always takes care of everyone else. Never himself."
Sothing shifted in Cassidy’s expression—a flash of recognition, perhaps even understanding.
"Yeah, well," Cassidy said, kicking at the ground with her shoe. "He’s doing fine with us. Getting paid well. Not being overworked or whatever."
Iris noticed the defensive note in her voice. "I didn’t say he was."
"Good. Because he’s not."
Harlow looked between them, her smile never dimming. "Isaiah says Iris is super smart. She’s already taking advanced math classes."
"Is that right?" Cassidy’s eyebrow quirked up. "Better than your brother?"
"At math? Maybe," Iris said. "But he’s better at everything else."
"That tracks," Cassidy muttered, then louder: "He helping you with applications to fancy schools too?"
"How did you know about that?"
Cassidy shrugged. "He ntioned it. Said you’re smart enough for Hartwell, just need the right opportunity."
The fact that Isaiah had discussed her with the Valentine sisters sent a strange warmth through Iris’s chest. He really did talk about her, was proud of her.
"So," Cassidy continued, "now that you’ve t us, what’s the verdict? We pass your inspection?"
Iris glanced between Harlow’s open, friendly face and Cassidy’s challenging stare. "I haven’t t all of you yet."
"Trust , kid, you’ve seen the best of us already," Cassidy said, gesturing between herself and Harlow. "Vivienne would lecture you about trespassing on private school property, and Sabrina would just stare at you until you felt like your soul was being examined."
"Actually, Sab would probably like her," Harlow interjected. "Iris draws manga! Sabrina loves manga!"
"Whatever. The point is, what are you actually hoping to find out here? That we’re torturing your brother? Making him scrub floors with a toothbrush?"
"No, I just..." Iris paused, trying to find the right words. "I needed to see for myself what kind of people you are. If you’re good for him."
Sothing flashed across Cassidy’s face—surprise, maybe, or recognition.
"Good for him how?" she asked, her voice lower.
"Just... good. As people." Iris carefully avoided ntioning the kiss. That was Isaiah’s business, not hers to share. "He works really hard for , for our future. I want to make sure the people in his life actually care about him."
Harlow’s hand flew to her heart. "That’s so sweet! Of course we care about Isaiah!"
"Do you?" Iris asked, looking directly at Cassidy.
Cassidy’s cheeks colored slightly. "He’s... not terrible at his job. And he doesn’t talk down to like the other tutors did."
Coming from Cassidy, Iris suspected that was high praise.
"Look," Cassidy continued, "shouldn’t you be getting back to Philadelphia before your brother realizes you’re gone? It’s already after four."
Iris checked her phone, alarm spiking. "You’re right. I should go."
"I can call our driver," Harlow offered. "He could take you to the station!"
"No, that’s okay. I know how to get there." Iris readjusted her cap and sunglasses. "But thanks."
"It was so nice eting you!" Harlow surged forward, enveloping Iris in a sudden hug that caught her completely off guard. "You should co visit again! Properly next ti! I can show you my cosplay workshop!"
"Uh, sure," Iris said, awkwardly patting Harlow’s back. The hug lasted several seconds longer than she was comfortable with before Harlow finally released her.
Cassidy, by contrast, simply nodded. "Later, kid. Don’t get murdered on the subway or your brother will kill us all."
"I’ll be fine."
Iris stepped back, taking a final look at the two Valentine sisters. They were nothing like she’d imagined, yet exactly as Isaiah had described. Harlow with her boundless enthusiasm and genuine warmth. Cassidy with her prickly exterior that didn’t quite hide sothing softer underneath.
"It was nice eting you both," she said formally.
As she turned to leave, Cassidy called after her: "Hey, Iris!"
She looked back.
"Your brother’s doing okay here. Just so you know."
Iris smiled at Cassidy, a real smile instead of the nervous one she’d been wearing all afternoon. Sothing about the gruff way Cassidy said it made her believe it was true.
"Thanks," she said. "That’s good to know."
She had only taken three steps when a familiar voice cut through the afternoon air.
"Harlow, I got your te— Iris?"
Iris froze. The world seed to slow down as she turned to see Isaiah standing on the sidewalk, holding a pink bubble tea in one hand and a folder in the other. His face cycled through emotions so quickly she could barely track them—confusion, disbelief, and then sothing that looked suspiciously like panic.
"Hey, Zay," she said weakly. "Surprise?"
Isaiah’s eyes darted between his sister and the Valentine sisters, connecting dots she could practically see forming above his head like a cartoon thought bubble.
"What are you doing here?" he asked, his voice dangerously calm. "Shouldn’t you be in school?"
"Technically, school’s over," Iris pointed out. "For both of us."
"That’s not what I asked."
Cassidy snorted. "Busted."
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