Page 15 of Fixed Up Ever After
Social media? Who the hell had social media? Because she knew her friend was not talking about her. She covertly nudged Mona in the side, trying to look as normal as possible as she whisper-hissed, “There is no social media.”
“Looks like your ass is about to make one,” her friend retorted, barely moving her lips as she spoke, to keep up the vivid smile. She then gripped Lola’s wrist, not in a threatening way, but rather in a gentle squeeze as she continued to speak to the crowds. “Ms. Lola will be here visiting the tables while you create your dancer cookies. My lovely wife will walk you through those steps.”
Mattea took her cue and made her way toward their makeshift stage to lead the children and their parents through the cookie activity. Mona took this opportunity to lead Lola away and off to the side. “You were amazing, Lo-Lo. The kids loved you. Did you have fun?”
Despite her rather tumultuous start, Lola did have fun. “It was amazing. They were so invested in the story!”
“Nah, girl. They were invested in how you told the story. You are seriously a natural. Parents are going to flock to Phoenix if you keep up storytime.”
Speaking of Phoenix, she narrowed her eyes at her friend. “Yeah, and now I have to make and run a damn social media account, thanks to you.”
Mona was not bothered by her annoyance. She waved her off like she did any time she didn’t like what she was hearing. “Everyone has social media. Stop being a grandma. I know you be posting some spicy pics up on your ’gram.”
“Okay true, but I can’t post pics like that for a bookstore!”
“We will figure it out later, Lo-Lo.” Once again her hand moved through the air and Lola wanted to snatch it and shake her. But since there were far too many witnesses in the room, she settled for a good ol’ fashion pout.
“Girl, don’t give me that face. I already have a wife who pouts to get her way; I don’t need another.”
“That’s only because we know how easy you are.” Lola giggled.
“Har har.” Mona rolled her eyes. “Anyway, I wanted to introduce you to Javier, the contractor guy I was telling you about.”
Lola felt her stomach sink…again. This was not happening. Her best friend was not about to walk her over and introduce her to the man she had already slept with. She didn’t care how good a handyman he was, there was absolutely no way she would ever consider hiring him. Not because she hooked up with him and he left without saying goodbye—she wasn’t mad about that at all. She was pissed at the fact that he was married with kids!
“I don’t think right now is a good time. Shouldn’t we be helping out with the cookies?”
“Nah, Mattea can run these classes in her sleep. She doesn’t need us. And you are the one complaining no contractor can finish on your timeline. So let’s see if he can.”
“But—”
“No ‘buts,’ Lo-Lo! I love you very much, but if I have to continue to search for the perfect contractor, I might pass away. We’re going.”
There was no getting out of her grasp, not when Mona had her mind made up. She could be an adult about this. All she had to do was remain cool and collected, pretend his dick hadn’t been a gift to humanity, and she would be alright.
She could so do this.
Mona led her toward Javi’s table and Lola swore she was having heart palpitations. Mona tapped Javi on the back of his shoulder to gain his attention. The breath was stolen from her lips when he turned around, his eyes immediately locking on hers. She barely heard Mona say, “Javier? I’m Monique, and I wanted to introduce you to Lola.”
She could sonotdo this.
CHAPTER9
Javi
So much for attempting to avoid her. Javi cursed his horrible luck, even though he wasn’t entirely sure why he didn't want to see Lola. It was not as if they left on bad terms. They had an arrangement, fulfilled their agreement, and parted ways on amicable terms.
She had been a ghost living rent-free inside his head for so long though. Never once had he suspected he’d run into her again, but here she was. His dumb-ass self stood there with his mouth slightly parted, looking like the idiot he felt like, and unable to form a coherent sentence.
“Javi.” His sister nudged him, brow creased with concern. She gestured to the woman in front of him as if silently saying,“Speak, pendejo.”
He cleared his throat, buying himself another minute. Was he supposed to pretend like he didn’t know her? As if they were strangers and he had never seen her come before? Fuck, those were not the thoughts he needed to have right now. He was a grown-ass adult. He could be civil around a woman even if she had seen him naked before. Easy.
He opened his mouth to speak, but Lola beat him to the punch. “We’ve met once before.” She said, almost begrudgingly. Monique shot her friend a look that clearly said they were going to have words about this later. “I just didn’t realize you were talking about him.”
It clicked for him then. Why Monique decided to bring Lola over. Mattea had mentioned a friend interested in reopening Phoenix Books during his repair visit. But the odds of that woman being Lola? It seemed so improbable and yet she stood in front of him, looking wildly uncomfortable.
Should it be this awkward? Perhaps Javi was overthinking it all. Apart from the split second of apprehension he spotted on her face when Lola noticed him for the first time, she had shown no other signs of tension, making Javi feel like this was one-sided.
