One Night Stand-In (Boyfriend Material #3) - Lauren Blakely Page 0,61
And thanks again for taking care of the iPad. May we have it back?”
“Of course,” she says. She heads to a desk, grabs it, and hands it over.
“Thanks, Angeline,” Lola says.
“If you change your mind, I’m here. I’ve taught tango to all kinds of couples. It can be fun for friends too.” Angeline smiles knowingly.
“Thanks. We’ll keep that in mind,” I say, but I won’t, because tangoing with Lola won’t help me be the responsible one.
And that’s who I am.
That’s the part I know how to play.
When we reach the street, I take a deep, fueling breath, and Lola seems to do the same. “So, here’s the big question,” she says.
“Yeah?” A part of me hopes she’ll say, Want to figure out a way to . . .
But I don’t even know how to finish that sentence. I don’t know how to figure out anything right now.
She smiles, lifting up her chin. “We’re going to do it this time, right?”
“Stay friends?” I ask.
“Yes. We’re not those hotheaded college kids anymore, right?” She adds in an elbow nudge. “We let our friendship die before, but we’re going to be adults this time.”
I have no choice but to agree. “We so are. We are definitely wiser, more mature. We can do this.” I muster up all my confidence.
Because we can.
And we will.
Because it takes two to tango, and we both want this friendship.
And neither wants the messiness and the inevitable pain of what Luna and Rowan have. How could they be headed for anything but trouble?
“We’re doing it.” I offer a fist for knocking, and she takes me up on it like she’s one of the guys.
We quickly segue into sorting out what to do with the items we’ve collected. I’ll hold on to Rowan’s things, she’ll keep Luna’s, and we’ll both email Harrison by tomorrow morning.
That’s all there is.
On Madison Avenue, as the twilight sky surrounds us, I search for what to say next. We’ve bumped fists in agreement that we should remain friends, but what can I do differently this time around?
I have to make it work.
“So, my good friend Lola. Do you want to have coffee this week? As friends?”
She smiles. “I would like that.”
Setting Luna’s things on the ground, she then wraps her arms around me in a hug, and I try to resist the smell of her hair and the scent of her skin.
The feel of her in my arms.
She doesn’t feel like a friend.
But she has to be. Because we’re adults. Because love is dangerous. Because we’re doing things the mature way this time around.
I let go. “Bye, Lola.”
“Bye, Lucas.”
Trouble is, it doesn’t feel like a friendly goodbye when I turn the other way, my heart weighing ten thousand pounds.
24
To: Lola Dumont, Lucas Xavier
From: Harrison Bates
Subject: A deal is a deal
Just gonna come right out and say it. I had NO FAITH in you two. I didn’t think you’d pull it off so quickly. I mean, c’mon. What were the chances? But where there’s a will, there’s a way. And I have to know—did you enjoy it?
To: Harrison Bates
From: Lola Dumont
CC: Lucas Xavier
Subject: Re: A deal is a deal
Perhaps the question is—did YOU enjoy it?
To: Lola Dumont
CC: Lucas Xavier
From: Harrison Bates
Subject: So much
More than I thought I would! After all, I went bowling with a friend, visited some alpacas, devoured cheese, and had the best pancakes in the city. (Guess Luna and Rowan were right about that one!)
Life has a funny way of working out, doesn’t it?
To: Harrison Bates
CC: Lola Dumont
From: Lucas Xavier
Subject: So hilarious
Yeah. It’s a barrel of monkeys.
To: Lucas Xavier
CC: Lola Dumont
From: Harrison Bates
Subject: Why so sad?
Aww, is there trouble in romance land?
To: Harrison Bates
CC: Lola Dumont
From: Lucas Xavier
Subject: Not sad, just busy
How about the rest of the security deposit?
To: Lucas Xavier
CC: Lola Dumont
From: Harrison Bates
Subject: I’m a man of my word
Check your Zelle! Also, maybe you should take a tango lesson to cheer up. But then again, ask me in a couple of hours, since I’m headed off to mine. Who knew? Me? Tangoing? Well, the jury’s still out. I might have two left feet.
But what I do have is this—a clear mind.
There’s nothing quite like a quiet place to live to set one’s creativity free.
And now I’m off to try out the dance of love.
25
Lola
I answer Harrison’s emails while I finish my Sunday morning workout, but his last note gives me an idea.
Because quiet sounds perfect. After all, creativity is what I need.