Page 18 of Homecoming

“I—” she started to say something, but I didn’t give her the chance.

“You’re here, Lola,” I said softly. “It’s good to see you.”

Lola watched me, not saying anything, and I started to feel like an idiot standing before her with a smile on my face which clearly didn’t do anything for her.

After a tense silence, and me not so patiently waiting for her to say something, she sighed like she felt defeated. “Yes, I’m here. It’s good to see you too, Ian.”

I felt like I just won the Grand Prix just by exchanging these two sentences with her.

It almost felt like coming home.

We stood there, in complete silence, staring at each other.

It was clear that Lola was lost about what to do next.

I’m sure when she first saw me, she expected me to be rude, and say something that would hurt her feelings. It wasn’t like I hadn't done it before since she came back.

Slowly, I walked towards her, and as she caught on, she started backing up, matching me step for step. Until she was leaning against the fence.

We were in the almost same position I was in with Stacy, a fact that was not lost on me. And judging by the irate flash of her brown eyes, Lola.

“I missed you,” I said softly. I wanted to touch her. Kiss her. Taste her.

But I knew it would be too much, way too soon.

She needed to feel safe with me, she needed to be able to trust me.

She needed to know me again.

Too much time passed, and we were strangers to each other. We were nothing more than a fond memory. And I intended to be much more to Lola Adams.

I wanted to be her world since she was quickly turning out to be mine just by seeing her a couple of times.

“What are you doing?” she asked weakly, looking left and right. Everywhere but at me.

Bending down, I put my face in hers so that she was all I could see and vice versa.

I wanted all her attention on me, and not if someone could see us.

God, she was beautiful.

Full lips, a button nose with a few barely visible freckles over the bridge of it. And her eyes.

Those big, brown eyes that, when she looked at me, made me feel seen. She had the power to destroy me with just one look.

Once the shock of my actions had worn off, and she registered our position, her breath came quicker, and her pulse raced. It was obvious by a tiny flutter at the base of her throat.

“Breathe, Lola,” I said soothingly.

I need her to be comfortable with me being so close to her.

I wanted to be much closer still.

“Wha-what are you doing?” She repeated her question, her eyes flickering between mine.

“I wanted your attention, and I got it.” I shrugged.

“Why?”