Page 52 of Fixed Up Ever After
And just like that, the anger came back at full force. How anyone could find that man even remotely likable was beyond him. He hardly knew Marisol and from their brief interactions, he couldn't say he was her biggest fan, but not even she deserved a lowlife like Archie. He was sleazy and looking for people and things that fit his image.
“Whatever he said was bullshit, you know that, right?” Javi didn’t even need to know what he said. Whatever came out of that man’s mouth only proved to serve his best interest.
“Yeah, but—”
“No, there’s no ‘but’ about it. He wanted to get under your skin and that’s exactly what he did. Don’t give him that power over you.”
Lola pursed her lips into a tight line, eyeing him like she didn’t know whether to snap at him or pull him in for a kiss. He hoped for the latter.
She did neither of those things.
Instead, she let out a deep breath and sank back against her chair. “This isn’t about me giving him power or anything. I just can’t help but feel that there was a part of what he said that is closer to the truth than I realized.”
“And what is that?” Javi tried to keep his tone even. He didn’t want to take out his anger on her. She didn’t deserve his anger, that was solely reserved for Archie. What Lola needed was for him to just listen and that was what he planned on doing.
“That, well…” She trailed off, hesitating. After a pregnant pause where Javi thought he would have to ask her again, Lola continued. “He said I jump into things without thinking them through. That I’m reckless.”
Unable to help himself, Javi scoffed. “Oh, that’s rich coming from him. The man who jumped into a relationship right after he broke your heart. Men like Archie aren’t happy until they instill doubt in those around them. I’m sorry you had to deal with him alone, preciosa, but I’m proud of you for standing up for yourself.”
Javi wanted his words to be a comfort for her, to let her know that this one interaction shouldn’t shake her confidence. Though he wasn’t sure if he was doing a good job at that because Lola averted her gaze from him, still locked in a battle with her own thoughts.
“Lola,” he started, reaching across the table for her hand. Before he could make contact, she jerked her hand back as if she had just been burned. Confusion and hurt rippled through him as he slowly pulled back. A look of regret passed through Lola’s eyes, but she didn’t try to take his hand back.
“Sorry, I guess I just have a lot on my mind right now,” she said and to his dismay, Lola stood up. “I’m just tired. I’m going back to our room to lie down.”
“Lola—”
“Can you just charge our dinner to our room? And get to-go boxes? Maybe I’ll be hungry later.” Once again, she did not look in his direction as she leaned down to gather her purse.
“Sure, but—”
“Thank you. I just need to rest.” She cut him off again, not willing to hear what he had to say. Lola finally met his gaze and took a step back. She plastered on a smile that he saw right through.
“I’ll be up soon and maybe we can watch a movie,” he suggested, trying for an olive branch.
Lola averted her gaze and started backing up. “Not tonight. I just want to go to sleep. I’ll see you in a bit,” she said and then beelined for the door, leaving Javi alone.
A sense of anxiousness and dread filled the pit of his stomach at the thought of Lola pulling away from him. He didn’t like it and wanted to soothe whatever fears that man put into her head. But for now, he let her go so he could finish off his dinner alone.
Tomorrow was the wedding. He just hoped he could last through it long enough to get Lola alone at the reception.
CHAPTER32
Lola
The large suite felt smaller than the last time she had been in here, but that was because four extra women occupied the room. None of whom she recognized at all, not even after an hour of doom scrolling through her sister’s socials.
Marisol had plenty of pictures, but mostly of herself, the food she probably only took two bites of, and some of her and Archie. All of those looked posed and awkward. There may have been something akin to lust on their features, but love? No, she couldn’t say she saw that.
Lola was noisy by nature and probably a detective in a former life, so she had no qualms Googling the ever-loving shit out of the three bridesmaids while the hairdresser worked on their hair. It didn’t take too much digging after she found a tagged photo on her sister’s Instagram of a charity event.
The three women stood next to Marisol in the photo, all smiling for the camera. None of their smiles reached their eyes, but rather looked like they were practiced from countless other events.
At first glance, the photo looked like four friends having fun and enjoying the event, but upon further speculation—meaning Lola zoomed in to analyze every angle—their rigid postures and how they angled themselves to be almost touching, but not quite, showed the truth. None of the women looked excited to be there but knew how to wear a mask when cameras were around.
The women belonged in the same social circle as her parents and sister. They were here for appearances only. Though she couldn’t say for certain these women—who she believed were named Ashlyn, Vanessa, and Eliza—didn’t care for her sister, judging by the lingering silence in the room, she could surmise they were here out of obligation. Just like Marisol would be at their weddings.
Everything was for show.
