Page 106 of Road Trip to Forever
Lola nods, and I can tell her fingers are itching to grab the patterned fabric leaning against the wall. She brought extra yards for this very reason, in case inspiration hit her while we were on the road.
“I could have it finished in a few hours,” she says.
“Have at it, sweetheart.”
“No. Wait, no. I don’t want to make you sit around while I work.”
I take her by the hand and guide her to the desk chair. I set the bag with all her supplies—scissors, tailor’s tape, needles, and threads—in front of her and kiss the top of her head.
“I’m going to the gym. Do your thing, Lola. I can entertain myself. Maybe I’ll see an alligator.”
“At the gym?”
“We’re in Florida. This place is unpredictable. Never say never.”
She reaches up and grabs my collar. “Thank you,” she murmurs. “You’ll have all my attention later. I promise.”
“I’m going to take my phone so you can call me if you need anything.”
“Okay.” She turns to the machine with determination in her eyes, and I know our conversation is over.
Lola’s been like this since we were kids, carrying a sketchbook in her backpack and dissolving into silence when an idea pops into her brilliant mind. She’s quick to tune things out like she’s doing with me right now, focusing solely on the idea in front of her. She might only have an hour or two before that attention wavers, so I kiss her cheek and grab my gym clothes from my bag, leaving her to work without my interruptions.
I slip in my AirPods and send a message to the guys in our group chat as I walk down the hall.
Hey. Anyone free for a FaceTime call?
My phone rings a second later, and I laugh as Henry’s name pops up.
“Are you sure you should be calling me on your honeymoon?” I ask, punching the down button on the elevator. “Your wife is more important than me.”
“I know she is.” I hear a muffled voice, then his face appears on my screen. He’s wearing sunglasses over his eyes and a hat is on his head, bright sunshine and blue ocean water in the background behind him. “She’s the one who told me to call you.”
“Hey, Em.” I wave. “How’s Greece?”
“Sitting by the ocean all day ishorrible,” she says, her wedding ring catching in the light.
“I’m so sorry to hear about your struggles.”
“We’re having a great time. How was Disney?”
“Incredible. Thank you for making that happen. It’s amazing what exuberant wealth can buy, like not having to wait in any lines at the world’s busiest theme park,” I say.
I smile, remembering the massive pretzel Lola and I split. Riding Big Thunder Mountain in an afternoon rainstorm, our clothes soaked to our bones and how quickly they dried when the sun came out. The photo of us on Space Mountain, Lola grinning at me over her shoulder and me reaching for her hands.
And thatkiss, forever seared into my brain.
“Hang on. Why are you smiling like that?” Henry shoves his sunglasses up his nose and into his dark hair. He squints at me through the lens. “Did you and Lola get together?Holy shit. We’ve got to bring the other guys in for this.”
“It’s only nine in the morning. No one wants to be bothered—”
“Did they kiss?” Jo pushes Jack’s shoulder out of the way as they join the call, diving in front of the camera. “Please tell me they kissed.”
“Why the hell are you two awake?” I ask. “Henry and Emma, I can understand. They’re halfway around the world.”
I step into the lobby and head through the glass doors at the back of the hotel, bypassing the gym for the outside running path. I find a spot under an oak tree and take a seat on the grass.
“Because I’ve been waiting for this moment foryears,” Jo says.
