by PE Kavanagh
“No, he’s still here. Showering upstairs. We just got back from lunch.”
“You look happy,” said Diego, squinting suspiciously.
“I guess I am. We are working it out.”
“He is stunning. I mean, I just about lost my shit when I saw him at the door,” Timothy drawled.
“Honey!” Diego was not amused.
“Darling, I am very happily married. But I am not dead. I mean, really.”
Diego sighed in exasperation. “He’s staying, I assume?”
“Yes, if that’s okay. Sorry about the big surprise. I had no idea he was going to show up like that. He’s a little crazy.”
“Crazy for you, I would imagine.”
Lola smiled at the thought.
* * *
The young and beautiful began to stream into the house a few hours later, greeted with champagne, pink-tinted martinis, and elegant hors d’oevres. She had met many of the guests, but didn't know any of them well enough to feel completely comfortable.
Aidan, on the other hand, was in his element. Unlike all the extravagance around him, he had stepped out of the shower, thrown on navy drawstring pants and a brushed silk t-shirt the color of the Caribbean Sea. He was barefoot.
Lola followed his movements as he worked the room, garnering admiring looks from the men and the women. He charmed and schmoozed and delighted the small crowd. She tried to engage the many people who wanted to talk to her - the sister Diego and Timothy constantly bragged about - but all she wanted to do was gaze at Aidan. She wondered how someone who tried so little was able to magnetize so easily.
“How’s my girl?” Aidan snuck behind her, wrapped his arms around her stomach and kissed the back of her neck. “I like the easy access to all this skin with your hair up.”
“Thanks, Aidan.”
A couple she recognized from several hit movies temporarily stopped their stream of questions to turn their attention to Aidan. They cut her off as she began to make introductions. They'd already met Aidan. Of course. After enduring the awkward but brief small talk, Lola relaxed, relieved, when they excused themselves to head over to the bar.
Aidan tightened his grip around her waist. “I’m having a hard time paying attention to what people are saying to me, Lola. I just wanted to come over here and talk to you, hold your hand, kiss your neck.”
“I’m glad you’re here.”
He stepped around to face her. “Whenever you call, I’ll be there. Even if you don’t call.”
She put her hand on his jaw and drew him in for a kiss.
When their lips had only just separated, he whispered, “Dance with me."
"I thought I was the only one who could hear the music."
"You are the music, my love." He twirled her around, nearly knocking into a small group hovering around the piano.
Because the room was loud with chatter, Aidan spoke directly into her ear. “Can I ask you something?”
“Okay,” she answered in the drawn-out way that often meant not okay.
“When did you know you loved me?”
Lola started, having almost forgotten that she had let those words out. It felt like ages ago. “Sometime between your trip to Florida and enchiladas.”
“Even thinking of enchiladas gets me hard. This makes Mexican food a little complicated.”
“I’m going to cure you right now. Are you ready?”
“I’m not sure…”
“Your grandmother loves enchiladas. Mmmm, mmmm.”
“Oh my God, you’re so sick. How is that level of twistedness even possible??”
“Did it work?”
He paused. “Maybe.”
“You’re welcome. So, did you know that I had fallen in love with you?”
“Back then? Not really. Well, maybe a little. I knew you liked me. I just didn’t know how much.”
“Hmmmmm.”
“Why do you ask?”
“I was surprised to hear you say it today. And I started wondering when you knew. And how it felt.”
She paused their movement. “It feels like you would expect it to - amazingly good and devastatingly bad, depending.”
He pulled her into him. “I get that. I’m not one of those guys, by the way, who gets uncomfortable hearing it all the time. I have no problem with excessive use of I love you.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. Thanks.”
“My pleasure.”
* * *
It was well into the morning when they headed back up the stairs, toward the bedroom.
When she emerged from the bathroom wearing a tank top and low-cut boy shorts, he sat straight up in bed.
“Lola, if you want me to keep my hands to myself, can you please wear something else?"
Lola slid the edge of her top up just a few inches, revealing her abdomen. "Well, this might be a good opportunity to get some practice in temperance and discipline. So you can add them to your long list of character traits."
He shook his head. "You are not playing fair."
"Fair is for the weak. I know you can handle it."
"I wouldn't be so sure. You should see what's already happening under the covers."
She really wanted to. "Listen, if you need to go… take care of things… that's fine with me."
His eyes and mouth opened to capacity. "Are you inviting me to go jerk off?"
"I'm just saying if that's what you need, I don't have a problem with it."
He burst out laughing. "That's very evolved of you, baby. And generous."
"Just not in front of me, please."
He stopped laughing. "Would you be embarrassed by seeing me masturbate?"
"No. I'd be turned on."
Aidan sucked in a huge breath and held it.
"What? No response to that?" Lola crawled onto the bed.
"Come here." He pulled her into him, mouth first.
When his hands pushed on her ribs, separating their mouths and bodies, it left her stunned. He looked directly into her eyes. ”Oh, didn't you know my middle name is Temperance? And my other middle name is Discipline." His face could not hold any more self-satisfaction.
"Well played, Connelly. Well played."
“Good night, Lola.”
“Good night, Aidan.”
* * *
Lola kept being awakened by Aidan’s presence in the bed, even when they weren’t touching. Over and over, she went through the process of remembering where she was and why he was there with her.
She wanted to believe that there was hope, that all this suffering hadn’t been for naught. She wanted to trust that being in charge of how close she got would keep her heart safe. There was no doubt that she loved him, that she wanted him, but she didn’t want to feel pulled under again. It was a narrow line to walk.
As the sun rose, and after a thorough mental review of their relationship, Lola made an important decision. She stared into his sleeping face until her patience ran out, at which point she placed her palm on his cheek. He opened his eyes.
“Come with me.”
He blinked several times, still groggy. She repeated, “Come with me. To San Francisco.”
He snapped to full attention. “You want me to drive up with you?”
“Yes, and I want you to stay for Thanksgiving. Unless you have other plans. You can change your plane ticket, right?”
“With no problem. But, are you sure?”
“Yes. I’ve been thinking about it. I like the idea of going slow, of more carefully building something, but I’m not sure keeping you at arm’s length makes sense. At least it doesn’t right now.”
“I’m thrilled, baby. But I also want to make sure it’s what you want. I mean, this now involves your family. Even more of your family.”
“Yes, there’s that. But I actually don’t know a better vetting system. It’s like running for president - expect all to be revealed.”
Aidan grimaced. “All?”
“You can choose what comes out. And I’m not advoca
ting full disclosure. But you will be scrutinized, dissected, examined under the magnifying glass. Are you ready?”
“Ready or not, I’m in. I’m all in.”
* * *
The rest of the morning moved in a soft haze. There was packing and goodbyes to Diego and Timothy, who gave Aidan a generous kiss on the cheek in lieu of a handshake.
Aidan insisted on taking the first driving shift so Lola could have uninterrupted viewing of the stunning California coast. They held hands, sang to pop songs on the radio, and stopped to get out and take selfies whenever they felt like. She massaged his neck and shoulders while he did his best to keep his eyes on the winding road.
Their first real stop was a cafe in Santa Barbara, where they shared grilled cheese sandwiches, which Aidan declared nearly as good as his, and spicy tomato soup. The primary goal for the first day on the road was to make it to Carmel with enough daylight hours to catch some of the world renowned views. As a splurge, Lola had booked a room at the Carmel Valley Ranch, the rustic landmark of the coastal town, and now looked forward to sharing it with Aidan.
They paused at the door to the hotel room. Thoughts about the awkward visit upstate, the last time they had been in a hotel room, held her back. Aidan stepped through first, took her hand and eased her inside.
“It’s as beautiful as I imagined,” she said, while looking straight through the room to the deck, overlooking the treetops and rolling hills. She moved her attention into the room, the stone fireplace, already burning, a burnished leather couch in the sitting area, and a bed draped in gold fabric.
The door slowly closed behind them. “This is fantastic, Lola. I’m so glad you let me come with you.”
“Me too.” She turned to kiss him, willing herself to enjoy his amazing mouth without giving in to the whispers of worry.
Despite an exquisitely romantic dinner, and a room designed for lovers, Lola and Aidan tucked themselves into bed, wrapped their bodies together, and slept, undisturbed by dreams, fears, or the desire to figure out where their relationship was headed.
14
Meet the Parents
AS THEY PULLED into the driveway of her mother’s house, Lola remembered that she hadn't informed anyone about bringing her boyfriend. Or that she had a boyfriend. She considered turning the car around when her mother appeared at the front door, lifting her arms and waving as if she were in a parade.
Shit.
“Is that your mother?” Aidan asked while his eyes doubled in size.
She knew exactly what he was thinking. “I know, she’s gorgeous.”
“You look like sisters.”
This reaction was expected. “Yeah, I know.”
Her mother strode toward the car and stopped. She stared into the passenger seat, not trying to hide her surprise. Aidan took the initiative, while Lola prayed that she might be swept away in a freak tornado.
He stepped out of the car and outstretched his hand. “Hi, Mrs. Malone. I’m Aidan. A friend of Lola’s. And one of your biggest fans. I hope you don’t mind a surprise extra guest.”
Her mother continued to stare, as if she were waiting for a camera crew to pop out from the bushes. “Hi! Oh my gosh! Uhhh… welcome! And please, it’s Monique. A fan, you say?”
“I would fly all the way across the country just to go to Ocean. The top three meals of my life were all at your restaurant.”
“Well, my goodness, you are invited anytime!”
Lola finally opened her car door and stepped out. Her mother ran to her and took her into her arms. “Baby! I’m so glad you’re here.” She stepped back to take a better look, then clasped Lola’s face in her hands. “How was the drive? Did you hit traffic? You look great!”
Lola broke away and swallowed. “It was really easy Mom. Aidan drove all yesterday, so I only had to do a short stint this morning. Sorry about the surprise. I figured it would be okay?”
“Of course, sweetie! Of course. The more the merrier. And you know, Marco will be happy to bolster the male numbers.” She looked over at Aidan and said, “Get ready, Aidan. There’s lots of woman-power here.”
“That sounds great to me.”
She looked back at Lola and said with a too-wide smile, “I can’t wait to hear everything about what you’ve been up to.”
Aidan unloaded their bags while Monique dragged her daughter into the house. Lola looked back at Aidan, and mouthed, Help!
“I didn’t make anything to eat because we’re going out to lunch. Just the girls. But I didn’t know,” she tilted her head toward Aidan, draped with bags, “there would be someone else. I can whip something up for him.”
“That’s okay, Mom. I’m sure there are a hundred delicious things in the fridge. He’ll be fine.”
“Are you hungry, Aidan?” she yelled into the main entry.
He joined them in the kitchen. “I’m fine, Mrs. … I mean Monique. Where should I put the bags?”
Monique eyed her daughter, who ignored the curious look. Lola pointed to the staircase. “Upstairs, to the left. The green door.”
Lola’s mother smirked, not trying to hide that she knew her daughter had brought home more than a ‘friend’. “Marco won’t be home till later, but I can call him, if you want someone to be here with Aidan while we’re out.”
“It’s fine, Mom. He’s a big boy. He’ll probably rest or something.”
“So, is this the guy Pablo was talking about?” Her mother tried to whisper but was too excited to keep her voice down.
Big-mouthed brother. “I guess. Sorry I just dropped this on you like this, but I need you to not make a big deal, okay? Promise?”
“Of course, sweetie. Of course. I’m just so happy to see you. You look wonderful.” Monique ran her hands down her daughter's arms.
“Thanks Mom. You do too, as usual.”
They turned, hearing Aidan’s footsteps coming down the stairs.
Monique opened the refrigerator door and started moving things around. “Do you like eggplant, Aidan? I’ve got some lovely caponatahere, with some fresh bread…”
“My mother will not allow you to be unfed. I’d just say yes,” suggested Lola.
“That sounds wonderful. Thank you.”
After serving Aidan a full plate of food, on a fully executed table setting, Monique whisked Lola away to lunch.
Aidan made sure to get her attention for a proper goodbye.
“Have a great time. I’ll miss you. I love you.” He gave her a soft kiss.
She prayed her mother hadn't noticed, while knowing nothing escaped her keen eye. Especially not her daughter kissing the boyfriend she didn’t know existed.
Monique did nothing to conceal her big smile. “What will you do while we’re gone?”
“I might find a mall. I didn’t really pack for an extended stay and I can pick up a few things.”
“Ooooh, there’s a huge mall close by. Would you like me to give you directions?” offered Monique.
“That’s not necessary. You two have to get going. I’ll figure it out.”
They headed over to Claire’s house, just a few miles away, to pick her up on the way to the restaurant. They slowed on the gravel driveway and found her standing in front of her large red door, hands on hips, lips pinched, scowling.
Lola swallowed. Her sister did not tolerate being kept waiting.
Something was different about Claire. She had always accentuated her exotic features to stand out in the sea of white male faces running the tech industry. But her expression held a severity Lola didn't recognize. Maybe it was the way she had started wearing her dark hair (had it gotten darker?) long, stick straight, and parted down the middle.
Even with disdain on her face, Claire was as put together as always. That day, dark jeans, an expensive-looking rose blouse and burgundy jacket, fitted at the waist with a ruffle edge, created her look.
“You’re late,” was Claire's sole greeting while getting into the backseat of the car.
“It’s not like we’r
e going to lose our reservation, sweetie,” offered Monique.
“I know that, Mom. You’re still the restaurant queen.”
Lola waited to be greeted, then gave up. “Hey, Claire. You look great. How are things at work?”
“You would have known all about that if you had actually called me back. Anyway, it’s crazy. Like, who plans an IPO around the holidays? Complete lunacy.”
“Just think, you’ll have an extra reason to celebrate on New Year’s,” Lola said, trying to stay positive.
“If I live that long.” Claire was never one to give up a dramatic moment.
“Sorry we haven’t been able to connect. Lots going on for me, too. But we’ll have plenty of time this week to catch up.”
Monique turned into the restaurant parking lot. “You two really need to spend some time together.”
Lola didn’t understand the odd look on her mother’s face. Almost as if there was an actual drama happening. As far as Lola could tell, her sister’s life continued to read more like a fairy tale than reality. Claire was the poster child of Silicon Valley CEOs - young, beautiful, aggressive and much too smart - and was set up to be one of the youngest female CEOs of a major tech company. This upcoming IPO would have her set for life.
“I’m sure we will, Mom.” Lola turned back to look at her sister, but Claire had already stepped out of the car.
* * *
Lola’s aunts, Lizzy and Nora, were already seated at a large table. They popped up out of their seats to smother her with hugs and kisses. There were too many questions to answer, but they came anyway. Lola knew that information traveled like telepathy between the women in her family, so she was prepared for the inevitable interrogation.
“We heard there’s a guy!” Aunt Lizzy, the most excitable, and often the most fun, was the first to demand to be heard. Her sisters looked at her disapprovingly.
Aunt Lizzy was not going to accept any of their judgment. “You know what, Nora, don’t even start. You want to know as much as we do.”
