Safe and Sound (34 page)

 
Next year
, she promised herself.
Lola’s senior year would make up for her junior.

 
A knock sounded
at
the closed door. “Lola?
Ready, honey?”

 
“Come in.”

 
Lola turned
; strangely nervous
about revealing her appearance
,
and
took in her aunt’s look of awe. “Wow. You look…you look so beautiful, Lola.
You got all the good parts of your mother and father.
”

 
She blushed, please with the compliment. “So do you, Blair. Jared’s going to be drooling all over you.”

 
“He better.”
Blair wore a teal off the shoulder dress and black heels. Her auburn hair was pinned to the side with a glittering black clip.

 
The closer it got to the time to leave, Lola got more anxious.
Her nerves were on edge. Lola felt bad she was
n’t looking forward to it
. She owed it to her friend to be there for him.
Lola paced the length of the living room, glancing out the window every few minutes.

 
“I can’
t do this,
”
she said, closing her eyes.
For some reason, the thought of seeing her old house in daylight was scarier than her seeing it under the gloom of clouds.

 
“Do what?”

 
She
spun around
and sucked in a sharp breath. Jack stood inside the doorway, wearing khaki shorts, a blue and white buttoned down shirt, and brown sandals.
His clothing was n
othing
especially
spectacular
or noteworthy
, but at the same
time
it was. He took her breath away.

 
Every time Lola saw him was like the first time she realized she was in love with him.

 
Jack stared at her, not speaking, his eyes going up, then down, the length of her.
His
expression
went blank, but when h
e
raised his head
his eyes smoldered at her. Lola felt faint, hard a time swallowing.

 
“I’ll just…be outside,” Blair said and left.

 
“You cut your hair.” His ebony locks had been shorn, now styled short and messy. Jack’s eyes were greener
somehow
, his eyelashes thicker and longer without the hair hiding them.

 
Jack’s
features were sharper, more angled, and breathtakingly gorgeous.
Not a
single
bruise lingered on his face,
not a cut or scrap
e
marred it; there was
nothing to take away from
the beauty of
his features.
             

 
Lola felt a smile curve her lips. He no longer had a reason to hide.

 
“Had to make myself presentable.”
Jack
took a step into the living room, another.

 
“I like it.”

 
He cocked his head, studying her.

 
Lola clasped her hands in front of her, self-conscious with his electric gaze on her. Those eyes didn’t miss a thing, not one fine detail.

 
Was it
the arti
st in Jack that allowed him to see so much in a person, to look past the exterior and into the person’s soul
; to
know
Lola
with just a glance
? Or was it because it was him, and it was
her,
and no other reason?

 
They were connected, inexplicably and forever.

 
Jack stopped before her. Lola craned her head back to meet his gaze. He lifted a hand, trailed it down her cheek. “So soft,” he murmured.
Lola inhaled his scent she loved so much, closing her eyes.

 
He
dipped his head into the crevice between her shoulder and neck, his breath causing shivers down her arms. “You smell so good.”
Lola trembled, each nerve ending on alert.

 
“You look stunning, Lola.
Beautiful.
”

 
Jack lifted his head, cupped her face between his hands, and kissed her. Lola’s stomach dipped. It was a soft, slow kiss, full of tenderness.

 
“I love you,” he
whispered
against her lips.

 
Lola opened her eyes; saw the green depths of his focused on her with such intensity, such longing. “I more than love you,” she told him, smiling at the flicker of surprise in his eyes.

 
A
throat
cleared
behind them and they pulled apart.

 
“Hate to break it up, but we
gotta
go.” Jared leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed.
He wore jeans, a brown polo shirt, and boots.

 
“Jared! You dressed up,” Lola teased, grabbing Jack’s hand as they walked.

 
“Yeah, well, don’t get used to it,” he grumbled, heading out before them.

 
It was warm out, but there was a nice breeze. Lola smelled
flowers and sunshine. It was too beautiful a day to ruin it with ghosts from the past. She straightened her back, her resolve returning.

 
You can do this.

 
When they got to the porch,
Jack pulled her back. Lola looked at him in question. “What were you talking about when I got here, about not being able to do something?”

 
Lola
looked to where Blair and Jared waited for them by her aunt’s car.
“Seeing my old house.
It just…it’s upsetting.
It’s silly, I know.”

 
“No. It’s not silly at all, Lola. Don’t minimize your fears.
But…
”
He put an arm around her and hugged her to him as they walked. “
The house didn’t hurt you; the people inside it did. Just remember that.”

 
“And what about my mom?”

 
Jack gave her a fierce look. “Your mother gave up the best thing she had in her life. I know you miss her, I know you’re confused and have all sorts of questions for her. But you’re
better
than her, Lola, you’re better than all of this.

 
“
She
wronged you, not the other way around. You didn’t do anything wrong. You didn’t deserve what happened to you. She’s the one that needs to feel bad, not you.

 
“
Sometimes there are no answers. You have to accept that.
Maybe you’ll never know what you think you need to know, but do you
really
need to know all the details, really?
You know she wasn’t there when you needed her, she
still
isn’t here when you need her, but look around, Lola.”
Jack
opened his arms wide
. “You got me. You got your aunt. Jared. Sebastian. Rachel.
Even Isabelle.

 
“You need to realize that and move on, as best you can.
I
had to realize that myself. When you let go of the pain and hurt and unanswered questions, Lola,
then
you’ll be okay. You’re safe now.” Jack pressed a kiss to her forehead. “You’re safe now. Remember that.
Believe
that.
”

 
Lola couldn’t move, couldn’t speak; stunned by his words, stunned by how very true they were.
Her heart pounded as his words sank in
, melting warmth trickling through her
.

 
“
Oh my God, I love you. Y
ou’re so smart,” she finally said, breathless.

 
Jack laughed.

 
“Can you, like, write that down for me so I can remind myself daily?”

 
He tapped his head. “It’s all up here, Lola, even
if only
subconsciously.
”
Jack propelled h
er toward the car.

17

 
The party was dying down as the sun set.
The Jones’ backyard had been turned into a party palace, complete with a dance floor and DJ.
Black and silver streamers littered chairs, tables, and the large canopy the tables and chairs sat under.
Citronella candles marginally helped to keep the mosquitos at bay.

 
Sebastian had decided to wait until the party was over to open gifts. Lola was glad; the pile was
huge
.
But hers she needed him to open before she left.

 
She sat at a table by herself. Jack and Sebastian were talking across the backyard, Jack’s eyes on her.
They
appeared to be getting
along
so she
didn’t want to interrupt them.
Lola
smiled when
Jack
winked at her.

 
Lola
turned her head and
watched the horizon with its oranges and reds and pinks and tranquility lapped over her.

 
The house had just been that; a house.
Same as last time.
Lola had stared at it for a minute, feeling emptiness more than anything, and turned away
before stronger emotions had a chance to override her newfound acceptance.

 
“I love your boyfriend,” Blair announced, sitting down beside Lola with a plate of cake in her hand.
She offered a second plate to Lola, but she shook her head. Blair shrugged and ate from both plates.

 
“Really?
Why?
”

 
“
Yes
,
really
.
Everything he said to you before we
left,
all those awesome words that came
from
his magnificent brain, were all things I was thinking and didn’t know how to put into words. He’s a
genius
.
This cake is
so
good.”

 
“Have you been drinking, Blair?”

 
She
squinted
one eye and measured with her fingers. “Little bit.”

  
Jared appeared behind Blair’s chair. He watched her eat her two
pieces of cake
, a strange expression on his face. It took a moment for Lola to realize it was wonder.

 
Lola turned her head to hide a smile.

 
“Hi, Jared!
Want some cake? Oh. It’s gone. Sorry.
I’m tired.
”
Blair’s head fell back against Jared as her eyes closed, body going limp.

 
Lola stared at her aunt, mouth open. “Did she just pass out?”

 
“She only had two glasses of wine.” Jared had his hands on her shoulders, keeping her upright.
Lola laughed at the look on his face.
It was a mix between incredibility and disgruntlement.

 
Jared’s lips twitched as their eyes met.
“Should probably take her home.”

 
“Good idea. I just need Sebastian to open my gift and then we can go.”

 
“We’ll be in the car.”

 
Jack rushed over as Jared hefted Blair’s slack form into his arms. “What happened? Is she okay?”

 
“Oh, yeah.
She’s fine. Just drunk,” Jared said dryly and
maneuvered
his way through the dispersing crowd.

 
He turned to Lola. “How did that happen?”

 
“He said she had two glasses of wine.”

 
“Two?
Two?
”

 
Lola shrugged.
She didn’t understand it either.
“I have to get Sebastian to open my present quick before we go. Coming?”