Page 85 of Suddenly Dating
“He told me,” she said. “What are the odds, do you think?” she asked curiously. “That I would meet this really cool chick at a party, and say too much about my ex, and then run into her again as my ex’s date. I’m not sure Harry believed me,” she said with a rueful smile. “It’s bizarre.”
“It’s bizarre all right,” Lola said. It was more than bizarre. She felt as if something in her had shattered, and she was scrambling to pick up the pieces.
“Look, Lola... I’m going to cut through the tension here.”
“Tension? I don’t—”
“This has been a shock,” Melissa said, cutting Lola off before she could deny any tension. “I didn’t know Harry had moved on,” she said, pressing a hand to her chest. “I had no inkling he was seeing anyone, although I probably should have guessed that a guy like him would be snatched up.”
“I didn’t snatch him,” Lola said.
“I obviously didn’t know he was at Lake Haven,” she continued. “I was just as shocked as you probably are.”
Ah, but she did know. Hadn’t Harry’s sister said she told her where he was? “We’re not really seeing each other,” Lola said, in all honesty. “We’re roommates.” But that didn’t sound entirely accurate, either. What the hell were they? They’d had fabulous sex, had enjoyed each other’s company. Didn’t that mean there wassomethingbetween them? Something deeper, something more meaningful than sharing a pan of mac and cheese and fooling around? Or was she really such an idiot?
“You don’t have to try to make me feel better,” Melissa said. “Believe me, I know what a big mistake I made.”
What was Lola supposed to say? Yes, you did? Your loss is my gain? But Lola didn’t say that. This situation was obviously different than what had happened with her and Will, but nevertheless, Lola knew what it was like to be the one on the outside. She knew how Melissa must be feeling right now, how crushing it was to see someone you love with another woman. So she said, “Harry and I are just friends,” and the moment the words left her mouth, Lola felt a strange twist in her belly.
Melissa frowned. “Really?”
Stand up for yourself! Tell her how you really feel!But Lola couldn’t do it. She kept thinking of the way Harry had looked at Melissa, and vice versa. Of all that history between them, and the time and effort they’d put into their relationship—didn’t they deserve another shot? Could she really upend it after only a few weeks when there was nothing really spoken between her and Harry? “Really,” she said, and the twist in her gut deepened.
Melissa didn’t have to look so relieved. “Wow, that’s... that’s really interesting. It’s just that, I don’t know... I’ve had some regrets, you know?”
Lola nodded. She was best friends with regret, and she was going to be sleeping with a big fat one when this was all said and done.
“I’ve had some time to think about it, too, and I... I don’t know, I’d like to try again.”
“Yeah... I sort of got that,” Lola said. She wished Casey was here. Casey would know how to extract herself from the bomb that was detonating around her right now.
“Well,” Melissa said, and smiled sadly. “Thanks, Lola. Thanks for understanding. You seem really nice.”
Don’t be so fucking nice, Lola,she heard Casey whisper in her ear. “Sure,” Lola said. Who thanked her ex-boyfriend’s date for listening to how brokenhearted she was?
“Want to get a drink?” Melissa asked, as if now they could be besties.
“Ah... I’m going to find Mallory,” she said.
“Okay. Talk to you later?”
Lola nodded, and Melissa sashayed over to Harry, who was speaking with the Rosenthals. She watched Melissa put her perfectly manicured hand on his arm and lift her chin up to say something. She watched the way Harry looked down at Melissa and gripped his drink.
Lola’s heart sank.
She looked back to the lake. Maybe she should be grateful that her questions were answered now—this was casual sex for him, and he still had feelings for Melissa. Instead of sinking into a pit of despair, maybe she could see this and accept it for what it was. They were friends, and a friend would help Harry get what he wanted. After all, isn’t that what Lola did best? Make life easier for people around her so they could have what they wanted while she kept searching?
Bitter much?
The night did not improve, because Mallory was terribly drunk. Mia and Everett had left. So had Melissa and Andy. Lola hadn’t seen them leave, because she couldn’t bear to see Harry say good-bye to Melissa and had stayed outside with Mallory.
But now it was time to get Mallory out of here. Lola made her way to Harry’s side and touched his arm. He smiled down at her. “There you are. Are you ready to go?”
“If you are,” Lola said. “We might have to carry Mallory.”
Harry winced and nodded. He turned back to Mr.Rosenthal. “I guess we’re heading out.”
“What’s this? You’re leaving?”
