Page 64 of Fixed Up Ever After
All the color drained from Lola’s face. She couldn’t imagine what Ofelia must think of her right now. Somehow knowing she knew about their arrangement was worse than Javi not showing up.
“I have to admit I was surprised by what he said. Not the fake dating part, but that he agreed to take such a large payout. My brother’s prideful and doesn’t like to admit he’s struggling. I try to help him as much as I can, but he hates when I offer. I’m trying to respect his boundaries, but it’s so hard when he’s suffering. You know?
“Anyway, I’m here to tell you he said he didn’t want to accept the rest of the payment. Just enough to cover expenses and pay his men.”
Lola had suspected as much and was ready to argue the point that Javi earned the money fairly and should be compensated. But apparently, Ofelia was thinking the same thing. “But my brother can be an idiot, so I’m here to accept it and make sure he gets it. If you are still offering. At the very least, he can put the money away for Camilia for when she’s older.”
“Of course. The money is his to do with what he pleases,” she said, fishing in her jeans pocket to pull out the check with the remaining balance she offered to Javi.
Tears began to pool in the corner of her eyes and she had to rapidly blink them away before they could fall. This felt like the final piece of Javi and once she gave that away, they had nothing tethering them together. Sure, he would still be working in the shop to get it prepared for the grand opening, but she wouldn’t be his and they wouldn’t have time alone.
“Can you tell him something for me?” Lola asked, handing Ofelia the check. Immediately she safely put it away in her purse. When she nodded, Lola continued. “Just that I’m sorry. And…no—just that. I’m sorry.”
She had a whole speech prepared, but it didn’t seem right anymore. Not when the message would be delivered by someone else.
Ofelia’s kind eyes shined with sympathy. “Lola, for what it’s worth, I don’t think my brother is ignoring you. He’s not that type of man. And even if you claim the situation between the both of you was fake, I saw the way my brother looked at you. He hasn’t stared at anyone like that since Estella.”
Hearing Javi’s former girlfriend mentioned surprised her. She wasn’t trying to be his new Estella, but maybe she had played her part a little too well and tricked them both.
“I guess what I’m trying to say is that I know my brother. Don’t be surprised if he finds ways to stay in your life. He’s a private person and doesn’t let many people in, but he’s different around you. More…alive.” She sighed and finished her explanation with a shrug. “Anyway, thank you. And if it’s okay, I was hoping I could still come to the opening?”
“Of course you can. I would love it.” Lola was surprised by how true those words were.
Ofelia beamed. “Good. Then I better go. This place looks amazing. I can’t wait to see the final product.” Ofelia hesitated, but then hugged Lola. She was so surprised that she didn’t think she managed to hug back, but when Ofelia pulled away, she didn’t seem upset about it.
“I’ll see you soon,” she said and then waved goodbye to Mona. Lola watched as she walked away, opening the front door and leaving the shop. When the door shut, the reality of what happened settled over Lola, leaving her empty and thinking she had just made the worst decision of her life.
CHAPTER40
Javi
The moment Javi left the airport a plan had started brewing in his mind. He understood Lola needed time to sort out her feelings, which Javi could respect…even if he was impatient as hell about it. There was no doubt in his mind that she cared for him, even if she was too afraid to admit it right now. That didn’t mean he had to deny the love he felt for her and he was showing his love by giving her what she asked for.
Space.
But space didn’t mean he had to sit down and twiddle his thumbs until she realized his feelings. Hell no. Instead, he had things he needed to do and spent the past week since returning back from Colorado getting things in order.
A small part of him feared he was overstepping, but on the other hand, he had not been the one to request the meet-up he was driving to. He saw it as an opportunity and not one he planned on losing, even if that meant Lola would hate him forever. It was a risk he was willing to take if that made just one person understand the hell she put up with for so many years.
That would change today.
Camilia sat in the back seat of his truck, kicking her legs absentmindedly and watching the world pass them by as he drove. He opted not to leave her with Ofelia today since she had already done him a favor by meeting Lola. Every time he thought of Lola seeing his sister walk in instead of him, it sent a longing pain through his chest. This feeling was temporary and he would make her understand why he had not been there. In time.
No, he brought Camilia along for two reasons. One, he had missed his princess after nearly a week away. He hadn’t realized how much that would affect him until he returned and had her in his arms again. And secondly, they needed to talk.
Nearly all her life, it had only ever been the two of them. She had been too young to remember Estella, but she knew Estella had been her mommy and that she was no longer with them. Never in her short life had he brought another woman over or introduced her to anyone out of fear the relationship wouldn’t work out, leaving Camilia attached to yet another ghost.
He couldn’t do that to her.
But he also had come to realize he would start dating again. Hopefully Lola, if his plan all went accordingly, but at the very least to someone in the future. He didn’t want to be alone his whole life and he did want to have more kids one day.
“Mija, can we talk for a second? About something important.”
From the rearview mirror, he saw Camilia swivel her head toward the front. She nodded, but it still took him another moment to get his thoughts together. He wanted to make sure he said this in a way a six-year-old would understand.
“So, you know how much I love you, right?” he asked. Camilia nodded, holding her arms far apart to indicate “this much.” “Exactly. Well, one day papá wants to find a partner to love that much too.”
Camilia tilted her head to the side as if digesting the information. “Like a girlfriend?” she asked, stunning the ever-loving shit out of him.
