Page 56 of Suddenly Dating
“What happened?” he asked.
“I don’t know!” Lola moaned, bending backward with the weight of her folly. “I was nervous and flustered, and I couldn’tthink.”
“Well, that was obvious,” Harry said. He slung his arm around her shoulder and gave her a collegial shake. “You’re going to have to buck up, you little lunatic. Birta Hoffman is going to take a look at your book and invite you into her inner circle, just like you wanted. And now, if all goes well, I am going to meet Albert Cantrell, and then we can really enjoy ourselves at this party.”
Lola waved him off. “I need a drink. I’m a wreck!”
“Harry!”
They glanced up. Mallory was standing on the deck, gesturing for Harry to come.
Lola sighed. “I suppose you need me to come with you in case you forget what it is you want to say, right?” she asked drily.
“I think I can handle it. Get yourself a drink and I’ll find you.” He started to walk away but paused and looked back at her. “My advice? If you see Birta again, walk the other way. I’m afraid of what might happen if I’m not around to talk for you.” He grinned.
“Ha ha,” Lola said, and shooed him off. Then, feeling like an idiot, she went in search of the bar and her new favorite drink, the martini, so that she could properly drown her humiliation.
She walked down to the dock with that goal, but the line at the bar was really long. Lola carried on, wondering if there might be another bar, but the dock turned a corner, and with the exception of a bench overlooking the water, there was nothing.
A woman with sleek, dark hair was sitting on the bench. Lola glanced back at the crowded dock and the line at the bar, then at the bench. She took a few steps forward. “Would you mind if I joined you?” she asked.
The woman looked up. Her blue eyes popped in the heavy makeup she wore. She smiled. “Not at all.” She scooted over.
Lola sat down. “This party is insane,” she said.
“A zoo,” the woman agreed, and sipped daintily from a flute of champagne.
“Are you waiting for someone?” Lola asked.
“No. I’m hiding,” she said, and smiled a little. “I’m here with some people from work.” She leaned forward and squinted around Lola, as if looking for them. “One of them is a little too interested in me, if you know what I mean. I’m avoiding him.”
“Ah.” Lola nodded.
“What about you?” the woman asked. “Hiding? Or waiting?”
“I’m taking a break,” Lola said. From herself, if possible. She couldn’t believe she might have blown her big chance. “This house belongs to my friend’s parents, and when she invited me, she didn’t mention how many people were coming. I thought it was going to be a much smaller affair. I’m trying to get my crowd face on.”
The woman laughed. “If you figure out how to do it, let me know. It’s a mob scene—I’ll bet there are two hundred people here. I’m Melissa, by the way.”
“Hi,” Lola said. “I’m Lola.”
“Lola!” Melissa said. “My sister has a dog named Lola. A little pug.”
Lola suppressed a sigh.
“Oh God, there’s Andy,” Melissa said, and leaned back, so that Lola’s body shielded any view of her. Lola looked around; there were several people gathering at the bar.
“Is anyone looking at us?” Melissa asked.
“I don’t think so,” Lola said uncertainly.
Melissa sighed. “I’m being silly. He’s really not so bad—I’m just not in a partying mood.”
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah, yeah,” Melissa said, nodding. “It’s...” She looked off a moment. “I broke up with my boyfriend a couple of months ago. It was all my doing... but nights like tonight make me realize how much I miss him.”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Lola said sympathetically. “I know how that is.”
