Page 139 of Road Trip to Forever
“Wait.” Neil frowns. “You two aren’t a thing? I thought you were going to talk to her on your trip?”
I shrug nonchalantly. “We were there for her and career. I didn’t want to ruin her special moment by talking aboutfeelings.” I wrinkle my nose like the word disgusts me, not like I’m close to bursting at the seams with giddiness, and take a sip of my drink.
“Damn. Sorry, man. I know how much you were looking forward to making things official with her,” Noah says, clasping me on my shoulder.
I almost feel guilty for lying and keeping this secret from our friend group, until I remember they literally threw cash around on my behalf and didn’t tell me until after the fact.
Assholes.
I shrug again. “It is what it is. Can we help you get dinner ready, Henry? I’m starving.”
* * *
An hourand a plate of tacos later, I lean back in my chair at the dining room table and set my napkin next to my water glasses, stuffed.
“I can’t eat another bite,” Jo says, staring down her last taco like it’s a hurdle she has to jump. Her eyes narrow and she snatches it up, teeth sinking into the crunchy shell and cheese going everywhere.
“Josephine. Stop,” Jack says, using her full name and shaking his head as he pries the food from her hand. He pushes her plate out of the way and folds his palms over hers. “You’re going to be sick, sweetheart.”
He’s lucky I don’t make fun of him for the way he acts with Jo, like some infatuated idiot who sprinted into the living room earlier when she saidowafter stubbing her toe on the leg of the couch. He acted like she had torn a ligament, carrying her to an empty chair to inspect the bruise.
I glance at Lola across the table. “How was your dinner, Lo?”
“You know I’m a pizza gal, but Henry makes a mean fresh salsa.” She smiles and wipes her lips with her napkin. “How was yours?”
“Delicious. The salsa is the only reason why I’m still friends with him, to be honest,” I say, laughing as a tortilla chip gets launched at my head.
It feels so good to be surrounded by our friends, where everyone knows exactly who we are and exactly what we mean to each other. The guys know I love her, the girls know Lola’s been thinking about me, and it’s refreshing to know that when wedotell them we’re together, they’re going to be nothing but supportive.
And maybe give us a little bit of shit.
“Who wants dessert?” Lola asks, standing up and scooting her chair back. “I’ll bring out the ice cream.”
“Me, please,” Jo says, ignoring Jack’s sigh.
“Me too,” Rebecca says. “I’m starving.”
“Maybe you’re pregnant again,” Emma says, and Neil’s fork clatters against his plate.
Lola’s eyes meet mine as she disappears around the corner toward the kitchen with a knowing tilt of her head.
Kids.
It’s a topic we haven’t discussed, but one I think we’re on the same page about. I get to spend my days with over four hundred elementary students for two-thirds of the year, which is enough rambunctiousness for me. I’d be open to adopting or fostering though, making space in our home for a child who needs love. Lola has so much love in her heart to give. She’d be a wonderful mother if it were something we wanted down the road, but I think for the foreseeable future, it’s just going to be us.
“Here you go,” Lola says, carrying out a tray of desserts. She distributes the bowls one by one before walking around the table and standing by my side. “Ice cream?”
“I’d love some,” I say.
She hums and scoops out a spoonful, bringing it to my lips. I raise an eyebrow and she grins, one of our silent conversations passing between us.
Trust me, she says, adding a wink.
Always, I say back, opening my mouth.
The metal is cold against my tongue and I barely have time to swallow the bite down before Lola’s lips are against mine, fused together by the sticky dessert. I pull her into my lap, my hands on her waist and the smell of vanilla bean in the air. She sighs, a sound I keep for myself, reveling in the way her body goes pliant and relaxes into mine.
A yelp breaks our private interlude and we pull apart, grinning at each other. I tuck a lock of hair behind her ear and kiss the tip of her nose.
