POV: Raven
I look at Lola with duality in my eyes because I feel like she betrayed me. But I can’t surrender to this ridiculous notion. Knowing my best friend, she probably thought, in her screwed-up mind, that she was helping. But whatever her motivations were, I can't stomach or accept this disloyalty.
I put the card back into the container before backing away from my desk as sadness stream from my eyes. I get up and walk over to the couch to sit next to her with so many relevant and angry questions at the brim of my subconscious. But there is only one question that barrels out of me at maximum velocity.
” Lola... How could you?” I inquire, holding the envelope out toward her. “We’ve worked too hard for this, just to find out you’ve intentionally sabotaged all of our arduous work... all the team's efforts. This hurts me.”
She takes the note from me, opens it, and reads the contents, before letting both hands fall to her lap in surrender. “I see you're hurt, but you know that I didn't intend to deceive you. Hugh called the night he ambushed you at the restaurant and asked for my support...” she pauses, with sincerity in her eyes. “I agreed to help him because that evening wasn't the first time that I'd communicated with him.”
” What?” I stutter, telling myself that I must be imagining things, because Lola's is my person. Her shoulders were where I cried when I felt abandoned or hurt. She was the only one to witness my demise, and then my resurrection after Hugh left. Now, she is informing me she's talked to him without my knowledge, leaving me to wonder if there's any forgiveness in all of this, because I just can't see it. I'm devastated.
I get up from the couch and pace in front of her, trying to reconcile her betrayal.
“I know this is hard to digest... but let me try to explain,” she pleads.
I wave my hand in the air, telling her to continue... not believing that there is anything she can say that will help me understand what she's made.
“Over the years, from time to time, he would call me to check in to see how you were doing. However, when he found out you were doing this bucket list, the calls came more often. He begged me not to tell you because he didn't want to disrupt your life. Hugh just needed to know you were okay. When he reaches out to me for help, I didn't recognize he would do this. Maybe I should have suspected it when he pleaded for all the men's numbers that you were dating these last 4 months...”
I whip my head around, with my mouth wide open in shock... not believing what I’m hearing. “What?!”
She nods her head in confession before continuing. “I was apprehensive until he declared, and I quote: I have been waiting for her too, she means the world to me.”
I stop pacing. “Too?!”
Lola's pink cheeks tell me she realizes that she's revealed too much. “Well, after the restaurant episode, he called me and explained to me what he did. After railing him about his clueless behavior, I sort of clued him in. I informed him you are doing this because you want to be desired, pursued and chased, not commanded and controlled and that waited to have sex because, whether you cared to admit it, you were waiting for him...”
“Lola! Why would you do this? How do you claim to know how I think?! You’re supposed to be my best friend!” I shout as her voice raises an octave in response.
“That is why I did it. As your number one supporter, I will be remiss if let you squander the moment to explore how you feel about Hugh because of your damn pride! I've had a front-row seat to your devastation about him walking out on you, and I've seen what it's done to you. You no longer believe in happy endings, you don't think you're worth an individual fighting for you, a willing man to put everything on the line for you, Hugh wants to prove to you he’s that gentleman! Let him do it! I hear the way you talk about him, you light up even when you are angry at him. Your body responds, just hearing his name, Raven. I wouldn't be your friend if I let you misuse this marvelous opportunity. Open your eyes, allow him the chance to explain... what do you have to lose?”
“Apparently everything! You two made damn sure of that. You have single-handedly left me with no options allowed. I started this bucket list because I needed to choose the man, and the way I wished to be loved.You guys have taken that away from me... Dammit Lola.”
“I know you think we have, Raven... but I believe that I’m just forcing you to admit the decision you've already formed. A judgment you made a long time ago, sweetie. Please don't let your pride prevent you from doing this with Hugh, don't let it keep you from finding out what this could be.”
I grab the letter from her lap, and the velvet box from the desk, before collecting the rest of my things. “This is not over.”
” What are you going to do?” Lola asks, following me to the door.
“I’m going home to get ready for this evening... but Hugh will not like what I have to say, or who I will choose.”
