Page 115 of Hotter in the Hamptons

“A loft in Soho,” Colette echoed. “That sounds like where Lola lives.”

“Oh, you’ll have to give me your Realtor’s info,” Giancarlo said.

Lola nodded. “I will,” she said, though even as she said it, she felt another idea brewing.

Their drinks came, and the champagne was poured around the table.

Lola clinked her fork on her flute and everyone looked at her. “Thank you all so much for coming,” she said, beaming at the people around her. “I love you all so much. I know I’ve been a lot over the past year. Well, maybe I’ve always been a lot.”

Her parents laughed.

“The truth is I’ve always been so afraid to be alone. But looking at all of you here, what I’m realizing is that I’ve never been alone, and I never will be, no matter what.”

Her mom took her reading glasses off to wipe a tear away. Across the table, Colette beamed at her. Ryan squeezed her knee.

“I’m pretty surewe’resupposed to be making toasts aboutyou,” her dad said, raising his glass. “To Lola. Who is only just getting started.”

Lola’s throat constricted like she might cry, but it was canceled out by the warm, floaty sort of glow she felt in her chest.

They clinked their glasses, every combination of people making sure to look in each other’s eyes as they did for good luck, and then they all took a sip. Bright, sweet champagne bubbles fizzed in Lola’s mouth.

“So what are you two doing while you’re in town?” Colette asked Jeanette and Roger.

“Lola is going to take us to all her favorite places,” Jeanette replied. “So I think we’re about to spend a lot of money.”

Everyone laughed. “It’s not my fault I have good taste.” Lola shrugged, amused. She loved going shopping with her mom.

“And maybe a museum or two if there’s time,” Roger added. “And we also have some old friends to see, so we won’t be in Lola’s hair for too long.”

“I want you guys in my hair,” Lola said, though she also appreciated that they had their own plans.

The waiter came to take their food orders. Lola let Ryan handle it.

While Ryan talked to the waiter about the specials and everyone’s various dietary restrictions, Jeanette asked Colette about her book. Emmett and Giancarlo talked about work. Roger and Jess discovered they had mutual friends in production. And Lola simply sat there, vibrating with happiness just looking at all of them together.

***

When the meal was done, the waiter brought a slice of flourless chocolate cake with a single lit candle in it and placed it in front of Lola.

“Don’t worry, we’re not going to sing,” Ryan said. “You do have to make a wish, though.”

Lola closed her eyes.

The only wish she could think of was that her thirties would be full of as much joy as she felt in that moment.

She blew the candle out.

Everyone clapped, including a few people at nearby tables. She grinned goofily at an attractive woman with short, brown hair sitting at the table next to them, who smiled back and then held her eye contact for a few seconds longer.

Colette, clocking the exchange, gave Lola a friendly nudge under the table.

Lola was blushing as she pushed the cake into the center of the table. “You guys do have to help me eat this,” she said. Then she turned to Giancarlo. “So would your daughter be interested in a sublet?”

Ryan gasped.

Giancarlo looked interested, tapping his fingers on the table. “Tell me more.”

“I’ve been thinking of moving somewhere more modest while I’m in school. But I don’t want to give up my loft altogether. It’s a dream apartment. I’d love to hang on to the lease until I feel like it’s financially responsible to live there again.”

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