LOLA

        “Mhmm,” At this point of their interaction, all tipsy Logan could do was hum in agreement toward Lola’s statement. The large amount of alcohol and lust swimming in his body made it hard for him to complete full sentences at this time. The way she spoke, moved her icy eyes all over his features, and most importantly, touched him impelled him to want to rip off her clothes right then and there. It wouldn’t be his first time having steamy, hot sex in a local bathroom, so he wouldn’t turn her down if that’s what she wanted to do. What made him stop imagining them having sex in the stall before them was her immediate closeness. His breath becoming heavier, he followed her lead of brushing his lips against hers, but not going all in for the future kiss that was bound to happen. All of this made his hand move from her hip to the middle of her ass, easily letting it roam around to familiarize himself. He was an ass guy, after all. Quickly setting his drink down behind him, not at all breaking eye contact, he finally planted his other hand on her ass, feeling the need to claim both of her cheeks as his. Letting out a light groan when she removed her hands from underneath his designer shirt, he took in her questions as much as he could without drowning himself in desperation and desire. “Let’s go to my place. There’s already impeccable lighting, a great camera, and my portfolio waiting to be seen there.”

        Starting to feel his growing erection throb against his jeans, Logan smirked before pushing Lola’s body against his, leaving no room for air or gaps between them. His hips pushed against hers was a way of him letting her know how he was really feeling about all of this. Finally gripping her ass with both hands, he let out the most important statement of the evening. “I’ll get us an Uber.” Winking her way, he released her and made his way out of the bathroom. Moments after calling the Uber and closing his tab, he rushed out of the club and waited for the car to arrive. Once it did, he climbed in, told the driver his address and awaited Lola’s arrival. After she was in and they were completely settled, he locked his eyes on her and lust was in full control. “First off, just giving you a heads up, I don’t live alone. I live with three other roommates who are all out on the town right now.” He stated. “And second,” Having nothing else to say, he leaned in, wrapped a hand around the back of her neck and kissed her passionately.

Bold ― that’s how she'd remember him, when the night came to a heart-stopping end. His hands on her ass were welcomed, so much so, she felt no need to remove them. Instead, she had yearned for a tighter grip, wanting him to relish in all that she had to offer. Which, believe her, was a lot more than he could probably handle but she was sure going to let him try. With him momentarily gone, Lola freshened herself up one last time in the body length mirror, before joining him in the Uber. 

At his ‘first off’ Lola merely hummed, not at all bothered that he appeared to have roommates. An audience never deterred her before, and therefore she predicted it wouldn’t do so now. But, before she could respond, ( or much less tell him that )  her thoughts were quickly silenced by his lips attached to hers. She could taste the alcohol and the buzzing hunger on his tongue, feel the heat radiating off his body. She’d barely noticed when the Uber came to a stop outside his home, the money was thrust into the driver’s hand, and she was led through the front door of his place.

He wasn’t sure which part he found more amusing — the fact that she claimed not to beg, or that she would even imply that someone else would be taking her home that night. Lola had begged, perhaps not tonight but on one or two occasions in the past; as per his request, of course. Maybe in some sense she was right to voice that she might be going home with someone else, only because after her comment, River wasn’t as much in the mood to have her himself. She wanted to be in charge after all, wanted him to keep his hands to himself. It seemed like she was counting on the fact that River wanted her so badly that he just couldn’t have it any other way, and perhaps that was true for the most part, but her mood seemed somewhat contagious and he was happy to play her wicked game along with her. The goal of tonight wasn’t to land Lola in bed, after all — only to entertain his parents long enough for them to think he was changing for the better.

Despite her initial mood, it seemed like Lola was still able to play her role perfectly, the reunion quick and harmless with nothing but smiles and positive feelings. For everyone but River, perhaps. A certain impatience laced his features, and perhaps that was one of the things Lola picked up on. Her hand on his thigh came unexpectedly — she wasn’t really there for moral support, or rather, it wasn’t part of the deal. Yet, it might have been what he needed right then, and for a brief moment, River forced himself to take a deep breath, letting go of some tension as he slowly breathed out. Perhaps he had been right to pick her as his company after all. Perhaps Lola had more of an effect on him than he had previously realized, outside of the bedroom too. She could read him. Which meant she was maybe able to prevent some of the bombs from ticking off before they actually did. The gaze the blonde threw his way before giving it a shot at answering his mother’s question was brief, and while he knew she was looking for some sort of hint from him, he left it for her to answer on her own. Perhaps back together and better than ever wasn’t the phrase he would have used himself, but the forced, stiff smile that formed on his lips after, somewhat confirmed that he agreed with her. However, what he didn’t know was that Lola had far more up her sleeve, waiting to let the real fun begin. Warning bells started ringing in his head already by the time Lola claimed that they had reason to celebrate after all, and as his gaze steered back to the blonde next to him, surely, she would have no trouble picking up on his cautious look. Telling her to tread carefully with her next words. To not do anything crazy. But, he should have known that Lola had always been more than happy to provide a little crazy.

It wasn’t often that River found himself struck with horror, but in the same moment his mother mentioned the word pregnant, that was the sole emotion running through his body. Even if he technically knew that it was impossible, it still felt like he had his heart up in his throat, feeling every rapid heartbeat. The question had been phrased by Sophia, but when his eyes landed on Lola it was clear that he was asking the very same thing. Was she pregnant? It wouldn’t be completely unbelievable after all, even if she had surely chosen the worst possible time to let him know if that was the case. Not to mention, a child was the last thing on earth River would ever want, and maybe that was why he was more terrified by the idea of that, than what Lola actually had in store for him. In mere seconds, his features had turned incredibly strained, and it wasn’t until Lola confidently corrected the mistake and claimed not to be that he realized that he had been holding his breath, or at least partly. Luckily, with the serve of their drinks, the glass of whiskey was now in place before him, and suddenly reaching out for it, he knew he needed something strong now more than ever. That little cu—… As it turned out, River had underestimated just how angry with him Lola actually was. She was out for vengeance, and the smile on her lips told him that she was only getting started. Other news. The words echoed in his head, and already then, he was starting to get a feeling for what those news would be. But she wouldn’t… would she? Putting the glass back down on the table, now half empty, he looked up to meet with Lola’s gaze, forcing a fake smile, simply letting out a hum to verbally agree with her. River wasn’t stupid — it was far too late to interrupt her now after she had already built up the expectations. And she knew that too, reaching for his hand and grasping it so lovingly, playing her part impressively well. She could have fooled him, had the circumstances been different. And then there it was — we’re getting engaged. This time, he was more prepared. And while her grasp of his hand had been supposedly sweet and loving, River’s hold in return only tightened by the second, not visibly, but Lola would be sure to feel it. Letting his feelings shine through, if not with words then through action.

And the damage was already done. His mother was clearly ecstatic, and even Demir looked positively surprised when River’s gaze turned to his parents. In a way, it was making him look better in their eyes, but the choice to do so hadn’t been on his terms. Lola wanted to set him up for failure, and it seemed like she was about to succeed with doing just that. “She’s right.” When River finally spoke up again, it was to back up her news. His features were slowly getting less tense, not because he was learning to relax, but rather because he was getting better at playing his part again more convincingly. “That’s what you wanted, isn’t it?” Yet, he still had to leave a remark for his father, his gaze bitterly meeting with the other’s, forcing a crooked smile on his lips. “Besides—” His head turned to the side then, giving Lola’s hand a hard squeeze as she faced her. “Lola is… something special.” For his mother and father, that surely came off as something said in love or affection, however to Lola, the meaning wasn’t at all intended to be of the positive sort. Looks could easily deceive, and if River had been tense already before Lola’s confession, it was nothing compared to how he felt now. “It’s wonderful news. Congratulations!” Most of all, River nearly felt bad for his mother who so clearly was genuinely happy about the news. Smoothing their lie over even more, River leaned in closer to press his lips to Lola’s cheek in a show of affection, only he steered slightly to the side by the end of it, hovering above her ear for an extra second or two. “You’ll regret that.” The words were low, and the smile on his lips made it seem like he was whispering something far more loving into her ear — leaving both his parents clueless to what was actually going on.

While it seemed like the dinner went on in a far lighter mood from there on, River remained the opposite. Of course, multiple questions regarding the engagement followed — all of which were somewhat vaguely answered. At least the topic was interesting enough to get them through the first course, now currently half-way through the main one; by which River had already managed to get both champagne, whiskey and wine into his system. “I wasn’t going to mention this today, but with your good news, it only seems fitting.” When his father suddenly spoke up and abruptly changed the current topic, River’s gaze instantly diverted, caution smeared all over his features. “I know you’re looking for investors, and I want to invest.” It was an impressive feat, to have words that would genuinely take him by surprise. So much, that an involuntary scoff escaped his lips, mocking the other’s statement altogether. It was interesting how quickly the air could change in a room, soon proven by the time River’s response arrived. “I don’t want your money.” The response was harsh, cold even, because to him, the offer in the first place had been an insult. Demir found him weak, incapable of getting his own business successful, and the last thing he was going to do was to help prove him right. “From what I’ve been told, you need it.” Demir’s words brought another grim smile to River’s lips, putting down his knife and fork, quickly losing his appetite. “You’ve been told… Good to know you’re keeping tabs on me.” His tone was sour now, but feeling a hand on his own, his gaze steered to the side to glance at his mother who was squeezing his hand lightly, reassurance in her gaze. “The offer came from a good place, Zeki.” Unlike his mother, River’s faith in Demir wasn’t as big, and another scoff slipped through his lips, quickly pulling his hand back. “From a good place?” His skin was itching now, and with his voice growing louder, it was starting to become more apparent to everyone around the table. What his mother failed to take into account was that Demir Kartal rarely invested in other companies — and when he did, it was mostly as his own, personal charity case. “The hell it did. What else have you been told, huh? That I can’t run my own business?!” His voice grew sharper with each word, and for a moment he completely forgot about Lola or whatever anger she had caused him earlier. Maybe he was fueled by it now, though — which wouldn’t prove to work in Demir’s favor. “You’re forgetting you hired people from my company — you think they wouldn’t tell me what’s going on?” Demir’s response was just as condescending, but in that moment, River didn’t really have the energy to contemplate the words of a possibly discontent employee. “I really don’t give a fuck what you’ve been told. And I sure as hell don’t want you involved. Keep your fucking money. You think a ring on my finger is gonna change anything? That I’m suddenly worthy of your investment? You didn’t want to be here tonight any more than I did.” Practically spitting out the words, he pushed back his chair, causing it to screech loudly as it scraped against the floor. “This is a fucking waste of time.” In an matter of seconds, River was up on his feet, and without anything else said to announce his departure, the male marched off towards the exit, his steps fueled by brewing anger.

It took Lola longer than it probably should have to register what happened, her emerald-green eyes following River's form as it rose from the table and vehemently stormed off, out of the restaurant. She was irritated and annoyed, that he abandoned her in his fit of rage. But, more than that ― he left her to personally apologize to both of his parents on their behalves. Even if River didn't feel sorry himself, Lola had been forced to carry out the charade of that emotion all on her own, or so, long enough to hopefully salvage a shred of dignity prior to bidding the Kartals a proper goodbye. Being that she was in heels, Lola took longer to catch up with him. She managed to eventually ― ankle free of sprain ― while pulling the door to River's passenger side, open. It was obvious the whole ride home that, they both had a lot of explaining to do, tensions and displeasures to unleash. Lola braced herself for the worst, judging by River's silence, that it was coming. A storm was brewing underneath the surface of his visage. And she knew it'd be brutal and deadly. One wrong turn and a bomb would go off. Thus, she kept quiet. Refusing to break the silence until after they arrived at his place, the door clicking shut behind them. Every part of her wanted to scream and shout, demand that he finally speak up and tell her precisely what his problem was but, she knew better than to set the trigger alight this early. She could visibly see the tension compressing in his shoulders,  feel the ruthless choler rolling off of his back. It'd be vicious and unforgiving when it finally boiled to a head and based on what Lola knew of his past, not something she entirely wanted to mess with. Or she may just find herself in the same position, many of his victims had succumbed to once upon a time. "Okay, enough of the silence." It was beginning to worry her and make her feel uncomfortable. And Lola rarely worried about anyone. She wasn't so much afraid of what River would do to himself but, what he would do to her. Just when she thought she knew him, he flipped a switch. Now would be no different. "Let's just forget about the last hour. I may have something that will cheer you up." In an attempt to broker peace, Lola retrieved a vial of coke from her clutch and held it up between their faces. It wasn't entirely for River's benefit. She knew he liked to get high. So did she. Maybe not as much but, she wasn't against it. And besides, she thought that by buttering him up, she'd momentarily distract him from questioning her motives at dinner or punishing her for what trap she set for him. She didn't want to address the matter right now. And would rather, he simmer down first.

While most situations in Remy’s life had left her feeling out of place and uncomfortable, this moment in time sure took the cake on being in the top five. Her desire to see Lola again was easily through the roof, there was no denying that. Since the night in the back of the car, Lola had been living in her mind, free of rent. She had also figured that was all that would come of it. Lola would simply be another what if in her life, of course, this time it would be unlike all the rest. However, she was left completely jaw-dropped and wide-eyed when the woman had asked her to meet for dinner. Now to start off, Remy didn’t want to go ahead and assume anything. She didn’t want to read any signals wrong or overstep, so when she first agreed, Remy told herself this wasn’t a date. Not that it stopped her from dressing up to look her absolute best or even prevent her cheeks from overheating throughout the night. Which they inevitably did as she sat across from her. Remy truly did her best to not let her normal nerves get the best of her. Sure, she stumbled on her words here and there but was able to laugh things off. And when dinner was done and over with and Lola was inviting her back to her place, Remy had to think that things were going well. She wasn’t going to deny the fact that her fingers were crossed either. As intimidating as Lola was, Remy really did try to push beside the parts of herself that normally would’ve left her running. Luckily, with a little liquid courage, Remy was able to loosen up just a tad and it was enough to land in her right across from Lola, on the couch back at her place. She tried to down as much wine as she could, using that as a clutch to feel less anxious. Of course, when the conversation then took a turn, Remy was left defenseless and in a matter of seconds, she was left there paralyzed almost. Surely it was a conversation to be had, but not one she expected. What was she supposed to say back anyway? Admit that yes, Lola Paz was her first? There had always been an attraction to the other gender. Remy had never openly talked about it with anyone, but growing up she knew early on that it wasn’t just men that caught her attention. All throughout high school, there was even someone she had caught herself falling for. A woman who really changed the game for her. It wasn’t until her night with Lola, however, did she actually get to taste the lips of another woman. 

Because of such, Remy was left feeling even more out of place than before. Her heart stopping for half a second as she processed through what Lola was asking. She remained still. Her head still resting on the palm of her hand, while her arm propped her up from the headrest of the couch. It took a moment before she could say anything too. A prolonged, deep inhale as her blue hues shifted away from Lola and moved down to her almost empty wine glass. She contemplated just downing the whole thing before talking, but that would’ve been far too obvious that this was all new territory for her. Not that she was going to hide it considering the conversation now. “I was wondering if that was going to be a topic of discussion tonight or not.” The blonde let out as she exhaled sharply. “I’ll admit, because of my own insecurities I was kind of crossing my fingers that it wasn’t gonna be, but…” pausing, Remy looked up toward Lola again. This time her full focus given to the other, as she certainly deserved it right now. “But um, no. To answer your question. I’ve never kissed another girl before. Not that I haven’t wanted to, though. It’s just…it’s never really been, I don’t know.” Her words were all over the place and her mind was worse. There was no guidebook out there to help her in a situation like this one. And Remy wasn’t even good with words, to begin with, so add all this to the mix made it even more difficult. And it wasn’t to say she was embarrassed about admitting this. She had no qualms with her sexuality. But that was the thing, she didn’t know what she defined as—if she defined as anything at all. It was confusing to her, but she was okay with it—with this, specifically. “I’ve never…uh, really talked to anyone about this. I probably sound like an idiot now too. Guess I’m not really good when it comes to uncharted territory and well, that’s pretty much what you are. And I don’t want you to think that I, like, regret any of it either, I’m just…not really good with words, I suppose. I don’t know how I felt about it, but, like I said, I do know I don’t regret it. At all.”

It was hard for Lola to picture Remy as an insecure person. As far as she could tell, the other woman had nothing to be insecure about. She was gorgeous, funny, brilliant, and an all around a great catch. Not to mention, a marvelous kisser. As hard as Lola tried not to picture those soft lips pressed against hers in the moment, she couldn’t help it. She was only human. With one taste, Remy had lit a spark and not even Lola, the queen of ice, had been able to put it out. It radiated with as much heat and intensity as it did when the moment first happened. 

“Neither do I.” Her response was swift, in hopes that the lack of hesitancy would ease Remy’s mind and further convince her of the truth. Lola would’ve offered her nothing less. Besides, she understood where Remy was coming from. She, too, had fallen hard for a girl at her high school. She was ostracized for it, among other things. Lola’s suffered the blunt end of her peers’ ridicule on more than one occasion. All at the expense of being bisexual. Not, that she was assuming Remy’s sexual orientation. Being bisexual was not unlike being an outcast. There’s really no group they’d ever fit in. For straight people, they weren’t straight enough and for queers, it was much of the same. For a long time, after coming to terms with her own sexuality, Lola had never bothered to advertise it. She liked what she liked, kissed whoever she wanted to kiss and that was the end of it. It wasn’t anyone’s business, really what she chose to do or who she chose to do it with. If she was better at giving advice, she would’ve articulated all of these things to Remy. Unfortunately, Lola wasn’t good with words either. But, maybe it wasn’t words that the other blonde needed. It was something else. 

Thus, Lola set aside her wine glass without a moment’s hesitation and scooted closer. The couch shifted to accommodate her its new weight, meanwhile Lola closed the gap between hers and Remy’s lips. Knowing that neither one of them regretted it, Lola assumed, or rather hoped, that her next move wouldn’t be considered unwelcome. Either way, her lips moved and parted ever so slightly against the other blonde’s as she waited for Remy to return the kiss. “We can always keep practicing, you know. Figure it out as we go along.” 

at some fancy restaurant downtown, with @lolapaz

If his memory still served him right, it had been over a year since River last met his parents in person, if not more; River certainly wasn’t one to keep count. The visit was sudden and out of the blue, but even so, he was in no way turning down a chance to get another feel for his standing within the family. Despite his acting, River did want his place back in the Kartal family. Lola had helped him get his money back, once upon a time — it was ironic almost, how she might help him get back his standing too, in the present. Although she hadn’t willingly accepted, River knew that the blonde would never have been able to turn his offer down in the end. Deciding to meet up at the restaurant, the two of them hadn’t seen each other since the call itself happened; and back then, Lola had still been annoyed with him. His hopes had been that the time apart would wash those feelings away, but as his gaze drew up and the blonde walked through the entrance, it only took him one look to see that it hadn’t, not entirely. River had deemed her trustworthy enough to be able to put on something appropriate on her own, but with her burning red, silky outfit, there was no doubt that she was trying to make a statement — basically, she was telling him to fuck the hell off.

Surprisingly enough (but perhaps thankfully), they were the first ones to arrive. Holding off on a proper greeting, they were instead shown to their reserved table, River making sure to walk behind the blonde to take in the full sight of her. At least he had to compliment her for having been thorough in her choice. Taking a seat next to Lola, allowing his arm to rest on the back of her chair behind her, his other hand quickly landed on her thigh, slipping underneath the soft fabric to grasp firmly at her skin, leaning in close to her ear to finally get a word in. “Bold choice.” The words were bitter, almost. And while far worse things wanted to roll off his tongue, he intentionally held them back; despite how inappropriate he deemed her outfit, making her even more vengeful wouldn’t work in his favor. He needed her to cooperate, if only for a night — it was funny how the thought of spending the night with his father was the only thing that managed to make River tie himself down for once. Out of respect, even if that respect was sometimes close to non-existent. “You look like you’re begging for someone to fuck you.” Which, was a far nicer comment than telling her she looked like an expensive hooker, which had been his initial trail of thought. His grip on her thigh tightened then, his tone morphing into something far more serious. “Don’t make me regret bringing you here, or we’re going to have a problem.” The threat weighed heavy on his tone, and there was no doubt he meant it. Then, just a few seconds later, his grip suddenly softened, much like his gaze and tone did, adding, “You look incredibly hot, though.” And despite the fact that she had already managed to get his heart to pick up its pace a bit because of her rebellious act, he couldn’t deny that the dress suited her — in a far different setting, he would have been a lot more appreciative.

By the time he heard steps approaching their table, River slowly pulled back, his gaze lifting to land on the sight of his parents. Demir Kartal, a tall, proud, dark-haired man, and Sophia Kartal, a somewhat shorter, slender, beautiful brunette. The woman’s look was softer, but they both gave an impression of confidence and wealth; much like River did, in a sense. “Zeki.” Getting back up on his feet, his mother approached him, bringing him into a quick, but strong hug. “Mother.” After nearly two decades, River had since long given up the discussion of getting his parents to call him River instead, making them just about the only two people who went with his birth name. “It’s good to see you.” She commented then, a genuine smile facing him as they finally pulled apart. As Sophia moved on to Lola instead, River wondered if his father would be able to say the same, the two men settling with a curt nod for greeting instead of something more personal. “Lola — you look…” For a moment, it was as if she was trying to find the right words. “… as stunning as always.” His mother’s words drew his gaze back to the two women in time to see Sophia pull the blonde in for a lighter hug as well. “I’m so glad you could join us.” Funnily enough, Demir seemed more inclined to greet Lola than his own son, steeping forward to offer her a handshake along with a crooked smile. “It’s been too long. I was surprised to hear you were in town as well — your aunt, was it?” Apparently, they had all done their research, or maybe their memory served them far better than River’s had back when he first ran into Lola again, having completely forgotten about said aunt himself.

Getting the greetings out of the way, they all started to settle down around the table instead, River between both women, with his father on the other side of the table — as much distance as possible seemed like the safest bet in this scenario. “So — champagne?” The question was thrown out by Demir to everyone around the table, rhetorical more than anything. “Didn’t know we were celebrating something.” The dry comment was perhaps unnecessary, but voiced nonetheless, River’s eyes steering up to meet with his father’s. “Since when do we need a reason for champagne?” His mother had and always would be the peacemaker between the two males, steering them both to reason, or at least trying to. She was right, though — River was just trying to act defiant. And while he didn’t respond to her statement, he made one of his own instead by the time the waitress came to take their drink orders, making sure to add a glass of whiskey to that list for himself — if only to point out that he would drink whatever he wanted to. The air between the two males was already tense, and for anyone who knew River (which certainly included Lola at this point), it wasn’t hard to tell that he was tense too, perhaps even on edge. And generally speaking, River being on edge never seemed to end well. “So, tell me — how did you two find your way back to each other?” It didn’t come as a surprise that his mother would start with approaching that subject; both to lighten the mood a bit, but more so to satiate her own curiosity.

There had always been a method to her madness, she was sure of that, as she strolled through the doors of the restaurant leading her to her dinner date with the Kartals. River was standing there, impatiently waiting for her. And while, she couldn’t help noticing how handsome he looked upon first glance, she refrained from saying so out of stubbornness. Reminding herself that he doesn’t deserve to be showered with compliments right now. Not after their last conversation and the way it unfolded. It didn’t end on the best note and there had been little to no resolve since. When Lola kicked him out, she had given River an ultimatum. To which, she was hoping he would have an answer for by the end of the night. He’d had days to think it over, and she refused to give him any more. Besides, it wasn’t like it was a complicated question to answer. It was either yes he wanted to claim her, or no he didn’t.

At the initial comment about her dress, Lola peered down at herself once they were seated. He was right. It was a bold choice. She was thrilled he at least, took notice and the sentiment behind her attire had been properly conveyed. She was signifying that she meant business. After all, that’s all she was to him, right? Maybe the reason she looked like an expensive hooker was because that’s how River treated her. She may as well, play her part. Give into what was expected of her. If that’s not what this was, or not what she was to him, then perhaps River should’ve been more clearer about his intentions. She wasn’t his girlfriend, thus she wasn’t going to dress like she was. “Easy,” she hissed. The grip he had on her thigh was firm and unwavering,  she recognized it as a show of force. Had she not of, his threat thereafter would’ve vividly painted that picture. Lola, of all people, didn’t respond kindly to his threats. It made her more defiant against him and basically set her previous plans for him in motion. Once again, there was always going to be a method to her madness and River would see that madness play out tonight. But first, Lola traced the outline of his jaw with her fingertip, softly caressing the tanned skin with meager tenderness. “Oh baby, you know I don’t beg.” As her fingers then found his lips, she carried on -- “Least of all, I won’t be begging tonight. However, you’re right. Someone else will. And that someone may just take me home and make me theirs. So, be a gentleman now, will you? And don’t bruise me. I want to look good for that someone. Whoever that lucky man or woman, shall be.” With the added force of a shrug, Lola reached under the table to peel River’s fingers off her thigh. She was warning him with a single look to keep his hands to himself or he’ll regret it. At the same time, she smirked to herself once he finally seemed to soften up. She was thrilled all the same, that he also took notice of how hot she looked. It was further proof that her efforts weren’t entirely in vain.

Her appreciation, much like his though, didn’t last. It was intercepted however, by Sophia who approached their table first, with Demir trailing closely behind. River’s mother was just as elegant and as graceful as Lola remembered her to be, maybe even a little more so -- as she bestowed the young couple with equaled hugs. Meanwhile, Demir himself, was a little more stiff in his approach. He’d at least, greeted Lola though. River had been snuffed by his father yet, didn’t seem entirely put off by it. The edginess he was feeling and had been visibly caught up in, was the product of his own, impending apprehension. He didn’t know what to expect from this dinner any more than Lola did. “Yes, my aunt. She sends her love. Had she not left us this morning on business, she would’ve certainly loved to have you both over for tea. Maybe, next time you’re in town, though.” Not to say that Lola was expecting there would be a next time. Although, maybe? With the bomb she had strapped to her sleeve and was preparing to set off -- who knows? There was a good chance, there could be depending on how River chose to react to it all himself.

For now, Lola decided to broach the subject matter carefully. She was biding her time, of course, waiting for the right moment to strike. She knew with a glass of champagne, that moment would come a lot sooner. She’d have the liquid courage to back her, as an added stimulant to her festering defiance. Something, River himself, could relate to right now. He was looking and feeling pretty defiant himself, neglecting general pleasantries with his parents with an added layer of irritation. Lola, though she felt he was undeserving of it, had extended an arm out underneath the table, to give River’s thigh a reassuring, calming squeeze. It was too early in the night for him to pop off. Lola was hoping he could stave off his tantrum for a little bit longer, until after they’d successfully managed the first course. “It’s a long story,” Lola explained. She looked to River expectantly, as if it were some form of silent assessment before carrying on, “Needless to say, we’re back together and better than ever.” Or not quite. That wasn’t entirely true. They weren’t back together, nor were they better than ever. But, neither of River’s parents needed to know that. And besides, the devil was in the details. Who may the devil be, you ask? Well, it was Lola, obviously. She had her own set of horns to prove it. Not only that but, she was gearing up to dig the hole of River’s grave, even deeper. After all, this whole evening was his idea. Maybe not the dinner itself but using her as his buffer. He might’ve blamed her attendance on the fact that she couldn’t keep her mouth shut while he was on the phone with his mother but, the truth was -- he was too chicken to admit he didn’t want to come out here alone. And out of everyone he could’ve brought along with him, Lola was the best option.  The only option, really. His parents adored her and that’s because Lola spent many occasions winning them over. She had to, if she ever wanted to brand herself as being irreplaceable in River’s eyes. She succeeded of course, because without her, River wouldn’t have gotten his money back. Just as he wouldn’t have gotten his impending good standing with them, too. Lola was preparing to help him out. Of course, that good standing didn’t come without a price, or a catch. One that, Lola had planned all along. River truly underestimated her and the damage she could do should she be given a reason. 

“Actually, since you mentioned it. We do have a reason to celebrate. Your son is just being modest.” Here it goes. The moment, Lola has been waiting for all week. While, she ran over the many possibilities of how this conversation could unfold, nothing would truly compare to the real thing. No form of fantasy she concocted in her head, would ever be able to live up to the reality set to amass on each of the surrounding faces. Particularly, River’s. Before, Lola could properly spit it out though, Sophia had noticed that despite the offer for champagne, Lola had hardly touched her glass. This had led her to use her woman’s intuition, only to suspect something wicked and dastardly. At least, it would be considered dastard to someone like Lola. “Are you two pregnant?” It wouldn’t come as a shock to her, much less to anyone else at the table, if Lola had been. She wasn’t, of course. And it took a great level of strength for Lola to hold back her scoff, along with the look of true horror that threatened to stretch across her face at the mere thought. “No no, oh gosh, sorry no! We’re not... or well, I’m not--” Lola could only speak for herself. Not necessarily for River or the countless other women she wouldn’t put it past him to fuck. “But, we do have big news to share. Other news. And we wanted you both, to be the first ones to hear it.” Lola turned in her seat, to steal a quick glance at River’s face, wondering if he might’ve suspected or caught on to where she was going with this. The only other thing that would make his parents happier (aside from being given grandchildren) was, to be given: a daughter in law. And who better suited for that role than Lola? Instead of blurting it out at that moment though, Lola was giving River a chance to stop her. Although, by now it was too late even if he had tried. Lola had already twisted their gears. And now they were just waiting for one of them to spit it out. “Do you want to tell them the good news now or shall I?” In a mock attempt at being sweet and loving, Lola reached out to grab ahold of River’s hand. She gave it a silent squeeze. And then, when it took him too long to spell it out himself -- Lola did so for him. “We’re getting engaged!” The shriek that left Sophia’s mouth was imminent, and loud enough to pierce the ears of everyone at the table and a few surrounding eavesdroppers. Lola knew she’d be ecstatic, just as she knew Demir would be pleased to see that perhaps, his son really was changing and making strides. While, it might’ve seemed like Lola was strengthening the view of River in their eyes, what she really was doing was setting him up for failure. She knew, he wouldn’t go through with it. And the moment he realized that, or he was forced to break the news later that it didn’t pan out -- Lola would’ve won. She helped paint a brighter portrait of River in their eyes and just as easily, proven to him that she could rip it away if she wanted to. Should he cross her, or betray her, she wouldn’t hesitate to ruin his life by walking out on him, forcing him to break the news of their failed engagement to his parents. Who took this kind of commitment seriously. Especially, his father. Sure, he could try to ruin her life back or do so first but, Lola had already gotten her headstart. He’d have to catch up. 

Ever since their lips first locked in the backseat of that Uber, Lola couldn’t manage to get the blue-eyed, blonde-haired Remy out of her head. Those soft, baby pink lips and that sweet, sultry perfume that lingered in the air long after she left it, still haunted her. To the point where Lola had no choice but to try and shake the ghost of them free. Yet, to no avail, of course. It was concluded earlier that morning, that most of her efforts had been futile and thus, she’d chosen to reach out to Remy herself. If not to finish what they started by making the first move, then to be hit with a clearer conscious or some form of closure. Seeing as Lola had been born bold and was unafraid of putting herself out there, she managed to convince Remy to join her for dinner and drinks. But with dinner out of the way, all that was left was the drinks. Although, instead of transitioning from the restaurant to another bar, Lola suggested they take the date (or whatever it was) back to her place where they could intimately, and privately share a nightcap. It’s there where, Lola found herself sitting across from Remy on the sofa in the theater room, with a bottle of aged red wine and two glasses wedged between them. “So, I just gotta ask--” Not one for sugarcoating things, or beating around the bush typically, Lola decided to simply plunge right in “--That kiss. I certainly know how I felt about it. But, what’s your take? Have you kissed many women before? Or is it just some sort of experimental thing?”

The protests soon following from Lola should have been expected, were expected. River was allowing a phone call to interrupt a moment that could have been enjoyed between them far longer, yet, as an entrepreneur, he didn’t have as many options to turn down work even when he wanted to. Not if he wanted to be able to keep standing on his own two legs without too much support from others — which he did. He had so much to prove still, perhaps not to others, but certainly to himself. Goals to achieve. And as far as business went, River had alway been a sharp mind. And so, her objections had little effect on him, because as much as he relished in the taste of her lips, the kiss had been given on his terms, and he was more than able to take it away from her again whenever he felt like it. That’s always how it was with him; everything should be considered a gift, and in return, gratitude was always to be expected. Not everyone had the luxury of being in the position that Lola was right now — very few, in fact — and she should be thankful for each moment that she got. But she had always been a little needy (much like himself, only he wouldn’t admit it), and when she was, she was excellent at stroking his ego to get what she wanted. Or stroking whatever else she needed to get his attention. One way or another, Lola always got to him in the end.

By the time it dawned on him that his mother was on the other end, River had since long stopped caring about what Lola thought about him being on the phone. Had it been work, he would have probably waved it off as something to deal with in an hour or two — but this was entirely different. “You’re coming through town?” Repeating his mother’s words, wanting to confirm that he heard it right, the information itself didn’t surprise him, but rather the fact that he was told about it at all; surely, living in New York, it wasn’t the first time his parents had been to Wilmington for the past three years. With eyes still drifting off elsewhere in the room, River never saw the movement, but he certainly felt it, his body instantly tensing at the touch of her hand, his gaze steering back towards her. For now, it was innocent. It didn’t take a genius to try to figure out what game she wanted to play, and instead of pushing her away, he let her roam freely — River had enough self-control to manage, after all. Besides, Lola was displeased. If he hadn’t already gathered as much from her actions, he certainly was able to see it in her eyes. She wanted to be the only one on his mind, much like she always did.

Simply humming in response to his mother’s words, his gaze remained on Lola’s, locking with hers, admittedly a little more distracted now. However, the conversation soon called for more attention, letting out a sudden huff at a, to him, rather ridiculous statement. “And he wants that too?” It was no secret that his father currently wasn’t very pleased with his son, refusing to get in contact before River got his life together. With his mother, it was different — she didn’t care so much about his lifestyle, because she didn’t have the same cultural aspect to take into account. Had he been in touch with his parents for the past few years, it had always been with his mother. Perhaps Sophia worried about her son a little more than her father did, and there had been times when River contemplated telling her about his heart condition, only to conclude that it wasn’t worth the effort. The last thing he wanted was to give his father a reason to make him look weak, on top of the childish, reckless behavior Demir Kartal already thought his son spent too much time on. Sucking in a breath, feeling his body starting to really respond to the teasing treatment Lola was giving him, it morphed into what resembled more of a moan, unable to keep the noise contained. Apparently, she was a little better than he had been counting on. “Are you with someone ri—” For that brief moment, River could easily her the judgment in her tone. Perhaps not judgement — disappointment. Because while his mother cared little about his lifestyle, she still hoped he would do better. Wished that he had changed, if only just a little. The reality was that River hadn’t changed in the slightest — not even a bit. And the last thing he wanted was to listen to another lecture from someone whose expectations he had failed to live up to — he had lost count of how often that had happened in the past. 

The silence that followed on the line was pressing, and perhaps that’s what made Lola’s words so much clearer when she suddenly moved past simple actions. I need you now. While the words were practically music to his ears, River still leaned to the side, lips soon crashing into hers to, quite frankly, shut her up. It didn’t matter, though. Sophia had already picked up on most of it, if not all. It wasn’t so much about River caring about her words being dirty remarks, but more so about wanting to hide the fact that it was Lola voicing them. “Was that—? Is that Lola?” He knew it had been too late, and it was almost funny how the disappointment was so quickly swapped with positive surprise. After all, his parents had always liked Lola, perhaps his father the most because she made such a good match on paper — she had the looks, the wealth, the right background… Even Sophia had been convinced the two of them made a great couple back in the day. But looks could easily deceive, and maybe they hadn’t realized how much of a challenge their son could be to live with. Nothing was ever easy with him. And he certainly made things far more complicated between them now. “Yes.” There was no point in denying it, and he didn’t see why he would anymore. “Yes, it is.” From there on, curiosity quickly blossomed. “Are you two back together?” Surely, the list of questions were endless. “We’re… involved.” It wasn’t really a lie, but rather just a very poor definition. One that he knew his mother would eat up.

From there on, a mention of how happy the news would make his father made him aware of the seed that had accidentally been planted, pushing himself up on his elbows, one hand reaching down to finally push the blonde away. It was about time to wrap up all of this — both things. “Yeah alright, you say he wants to have dinner, so let’s have a fucking dinner. Let him speak for himself and we’ll see how much things have really changed.” For the past few years, it didn’t seem like much. “Text me the details when you have them.” The greeting was brief, if not non-existent, finally hanging up to toss the phone to the side, a mildly frustrated sigh slipping through his lips. Eyes staring straight ahead for a few seconds, he then pushed himself further up, shifting to crawl on top of the blonde beside him. As always, she was a piece of art ready to be admired — and River was nothing but insatiable when it came to staring her down. “Congratulations—” Lowering himself above her, one hand reaching down to push her legs apart, making sure to position himself just right between her legs for her to get a feeling of what she had managed to awaken during his call. “You’re now my date to the Kartal family dinner next weekend.” Irony laced his tone, fingers reaching up to brush back her hair, then firmly holding it back down, helping to better expose her neck. Leaning in, lips pressed against her soft skin, soon giving it a light nibble. “And I want you to go there wearing a nice, cute dress, be on your best behavior and put on your biggest smile for them.” It was simple demands, really — and while said somewhat jokingly, he was in fact fully serious. “You do that…” Lips trailing slowly up her neck, softly pecking her skin as hips ground against her, he finally stopped by the shell of her ear. “And I’ll make it worth your while.”

"Why me?” The question restoked her anger and gave way to mild irritations. Lola was still perturbed over last night, even though she failed to address the matter to River directly. Granted, the idea of being his date to another formal event only reminded her of the fire she was so hellbent on releasing herself from. On the outside, Prom may have seemed like it had gone off without a hitch, because ultimately River landed in her bed -- but, Lola knew, like River did, that she wasn’t the only one who had captured his attention that night. Flashes of River and Cesar exiting the dance together permeated her mind, preventing her from flat out saying yes to his demands. The promise to make it worth her while, hadn’t been clear nor straight forward and promising enough to persuade her into giving in either. She didn’t even know what those words meant. But, if she had to guess -- he was propositioning her with sex. Which yes, she knew, felt great. Lola thoroughly enjoyed her tastes of River. Every time he parted ways with her, she only seemed to crave him more in his absence. But, it wasn’t just his body or what he could do to hers, that did her in. There were a lot of other things she enjoyed about him, too. Many of which made her feel special at times and yet, she suspected they were all just part of some big game. A way for River to have his cake and eat it too. 

While Lola pretended not to have a heart most of the time, River making it race in the moment, was further proof that she did, in fact possess one, and he knew precisely how to get to it. He was doing so now, as he used her physical weaknesses against her. Every part of her was consumed with the desire to give in. She knew she shouldn’t, but it was almost as if her body had a mind of it’s own. It was fueled by River’s touch and ignited by any simple gesture of his lips to her skin. Lola had to practically hold on, just to keep herself upright and together or refrain from coming apart as his teeth sank into her neck. Her fingers even, clasped around the hairs along the back of his nape, pulling, while her own craned to grant him more access. The hypnotic feel of his lips coating her skin caused a shudder to ripple down her back and as a result, sent her body into an arch above the bed. Lola was practically molded against him now, savoring the heat of his warmth trapped tightly between their chests.

“Isn’t there someone else you can rope into being your date?” Like River, Lola refused to share what was hers, unless she otherwise warranted it. And last night, she hadn’t. Yet, River did as River wanted, with no regards to what it would cost her or himself in the process. “Like that guy from last night...” His name echoed on the tip of her tongue but, Lola refused to voice it. Besides, River would know exactly who she was talking about, with no distinctions necessary. Alas, that didn’t stop her from elaborating, in case he needed the refreshing reminder. “The one you fucked when you left to go get air.” Lola was just being crass now as she ripped her head away from the pull of his lips and leaned it off to the side, breaking the connection between River’s teeth and her neck. “I have no doubts you found it, of course. In his lungs. Where, I hope you enjoyed yourself.” The bitterness she felt towards his sloppy affair was obvious. There was really no use in denying it. Nor did she attempt to for his sake. “Is that what I have to look forward to by being your date again? It seems you have issues following your own set of rules, don’t you?” By that, Lola meant -- River wouldn’t allow her to go home with anyone else without his consent but River could fuck someone not even ten feet away from her. How was that fair or just? Really, it only made her realize that their history together was on the brink of repeating itself. Where Lola would be forced to barely survive walking in on him again, buried between the legs of another, just as she had the first time. She was not about to go there again. River could either have her or he could have someone else. But, not both. Not unless they agreed on that and they haven’t. Besides, she wasn’t an accessory he could swap out whenever the event called for it. 

“I need more commitment from you than the promise to make it worth my while. Preferably an equal set of ground rules. Or perhaps, better clarity. What am I to tell the Mr. and Mrs. when they ask us questions about our relationship? Or lack thereof. Should I tell them the truth? Because really, what’s to stop me from doing that?” What ever, would Sophia and Demir have to say about River’s transgressions now and the fact that he hasn’t learned a thing from past mistakes? He was just as volatile and fickle as he’s ever been. If not more. “I’ll go,” Lola agreed. Though not without conditions of her own. “But, I expect you to chose where you wish to go from there once it’s all over. You can have me, no feelings attached, out of your control or you can claim me and make me yours. But, you can’t have me both ways. Not anymore.” To show that she was being serious, Lola pushed on River’s chest until enough space existed for her to roll out of bed between them and back onto her feet. She was no longer in the mood to cater to his morning wood. He could take care of that himself, or perhaps, bury it in the soul of another. It wasn’t like he was against it less than twelve hours ago. “I’m going to go take a shower. I trust you can see yourself out.” After pivoting on her heel, Lola echoed the same words he clapped back to his mother over the phone, “Text me the details when you have them. I’ll see you at dinner.”

@wilmingtonstarters​

“I’ve got a proposal,” Isobel said with a laugh as she looked over the other individual she’d been drinking with. The alert on her phone had notified her of the dreaded dinner with her parents tomorrow where they were sure to bring up her lack of future goals. As the black sheep of the family, she’d long since embraced the notion that she would forever be the disappointment. Now, she looked forward and often did everything to continue down that route. Last time she’d seen them, she’d mentioned potentially being pregnant after a one night stand. The horror on her fathers face as she continued throughout the night mentioning how sick she felt was priceless. With limited time to come up with a plan, she decided to bring along another individual in on her scheming. “What if I pay you to be my date at a dinner with my parents? I need them horrified. So much so that they’ll wait another year before asking me out with them again. I’ll pay for your meal and add on some few extra bucks. Come on — you literally have nothing to lose.” 

“Pay me?” Little could be done to thwart the scoff that managed to bypass the blonde’s lips. Little did Isobel know (or perhaps she did?) no one aside from Lola, was more suited for this type of scheme. Lola had mastered the fine art of deception until she completely stripped it down, turning it into a second skin. One she could easily slip into when warranted. To be honest, she was so good at playing pretend, she even had similar plans lined up with an ex of hers. Though granted, that wasn’t all pretend. The only difference between this and that was that, River requested her best behavior while Isobel yearned for the exact opposite. Thus, essentially bribing Lola to be herself. In that respect, she was right. Lola certainly had nothing to lose. “Fine,” her agreeance came out clipped but wasn’t free of its own conditions. “Consider this me paying it forward. So,  the next time I need a date for something or merely just an accomplice, you’ll still owe me. Deal?” Better to align favor with favor, rather than monetary payment. Which, to be frank, Lola didn’t really need. She was pretty well off herself and was prone to splurging on less when the action required it. “How horrified are we talking though? Like you’ve slept with my husband, ruined my marriage but now you’ve awakened a long lost lesbian desire in me and now we’re lovers instead? Should I cut my hair and show up with fake tattoos?” Lola was totally kidding about that last part. She could alter her appearance slightly for the job but not enough to where it would have complete long term, lasting effects. She wanted to traumatize Isobel’s parents not herself.

        Once the mysterious woman’s permission was accepted by Logan, it didn’t take him long to feel a huge rush of arousal hit once her fingers made contact with his toned core. His face stayed cool, calm, and collected, but what he was feeling everywhere else was a whole other story. He was heavily tipsy, but he was also turned on, felt the obvious lust between the two, and currently gripping his glass slightly harder. Still wanting to see where this was going to go, his jumbled mind halted when she spoke of his nudes. If he thought the first round of arousal hit hard, the second round hit him straight in the gut. Trying his best to stay calm as her fingers were still dancing around him, he cleared his throat before answering. “I’ve taken nude photoshoots in the past,” He responded in full honesty. “I haven’t done one in a while, but some of my nude shots are in my portfolio. If you ever want to see those specific shots, let me know.” At this point, his flirtatious smirk was back on his face. Since she’s touched him, it was his turn to do the same. Slowly but surely, he followed her lead by asking permission before resting his hand at the top of her side. Inch by inch, he slid his hand down her side and once he reached her hip, he froze it there while feeling his fingertips graze a part of her ass. “Just by looking at your incredible figure in this dress, I already know you’d make an outstanding model. I’d be the first in line to take a nude photoshoot with you, that’s for damn sure.”

BESPOKE COFFEE & DRY GOODS - OPEN @wilmingtonstarters​

Nadia sat at the table, her eyes resting on the piece of paper in front of her. Basically, the woman spent her whole life working for Dryden Co and now she was looking at starting over at the age of thirty-three. It was surreal, there were a few retail jobs in there but she didn’t know how she could go from office work to something like that. She exhaled as she glanced over her shoulder, noticing someone heading in her direction. “Hey –” she made a face slightly at herself. “Would you mind lookin’ this over and seeing if there is something I need to change?”

It wasn’t everyday that Lola allowed herself to get this stressed. She was just passing through, hoping the double shot of espresso on her way to work would suffice long enough or hold up for at least, the next several hours. She’d been unhappily gifted with the task of finding someone to uphold basic bookkeeping duties at her aunt’s brokerage. Their recent OA falling short, and thus needing to be terminated and replaced. Upon becoming a newly licensed agent, Lola quickly discovered that, she had a lot to prove. Even more so now that, all eyes were essentially on her to deliver. Then, as if fate had swooped in and invited her to tango with it -- the distressed woman’s voice cut through the noise of the coffee shop and jaunted her ears. With the presumed resume offered up, Lola swept her eyes over the neatly printed ink. What peeked her interest more than anything, was the woman’s -- Nadia’s, (at least according to the name printed at the top of the page) -- list of previous experiences. “I could offer you something better,” feeling bold and brash, Lola set the resume back down and looked intently into the other woman’s eyes. “If it’s a job you need, I have one that may interest you. It beats serving drinks to caffeine addicts or drunk men in bars. And with your list of previous experiences, a transition from desk work to retail will be an utter nightmare. My only question is, do you have any knowledge or practices in bookkeeping? It pays well, it’s full time and best of all, -- while, I may be bias because we’re related, -- you’d be graced with the best boss ever.”

Claire couldn’t help but smirk when the other took her words and assumed something that was much more beautiful than the reality that she’d lived. She could have easily nodded her head and said that she travelled, but she liked to make people aware. Especially those who had more wealth than others. “Not necessarily. I went in foster care at the age of seven after my parents died. They were both recent immigrants to I don’t have any other family left. Therefore, I was placed in the system and bounced around that way.” Her shoulder rose and shrugged then as she peered over at the other. “I think there’s something about home being where your close friends and family are.” The brunette begun as she pushed a strand from her face. “My parents are buried here and it’s where I was born and raised so it always made sense to stick around here.” It was where she’d become homeless and where she went to rehab, where she came back after she got herself through school. “I guess you can say that I’ve made my own home. I didn’t have much a choice but it feels more like it now that I’m helping out those around me. I’m a social worker so I kinda stick around to make sure the kids who’re in the system now don’t have to go through what I did.” And she worked damn hard at it. Ensured they always had a roof and that they could keep their belongings as she’d left the home of her deceased parents with nothing that was hers. “But what do you think would make you feel like home? Is it the ambiance of a town or the people in there?” She asked with a tilt of her head. “You’re young, you can bounce around and figure it out. Some people don’t have homes or find it later in life and have very fulfilling lives.”

It was moments like these where Lola realized, she’d all but put a giant foot in her mouth. It just went to show that everyone was a stranger and tip toeing the line of historyless until proven otherwise. Or until they, chose to divulge the secrets of their past. Which is precisely what Claire had done. Looking back at her hospitality now in the washroom, or rather her initiative to help someone in need, the details of her life made perfect sense. She’s experienced loss, struggle, and grief, making her empathetic. Not to mention, the absence of a home. Until she ultimately decided to build one herself. In some strange way, Claire’s rise from the ashes gave Lola hope. That her home existed somewhere. And if she couldn’t find it then, surely she could build it. Claire was living proof that such a feat was possible and thus, Lola looked up to her. Who would’ve thought that a random, mishap in the bathroom would bring this much unseen clarity? Then again, it’s always the ones you least expect who surprise you. -- Instead of offering Claire her apologies, (presuming sympathy is not what most people bargain for when they share something so personal) Lola bestowed her with a smile instead. One that was soft enough to express light sensitivity to the subject but also highlight the respect she felt towards the other woman. Claire was graceful, intellectual and based on her history, resilient. All traits someone like Lola admired and wished to possess in her daily life. Sometimes she was successful, and other days... not so much. 

“I don’t know, actually...” Claire’s question made her ponder. “I don’t suppose I’ve ever given much thought to it. I always assumed home is where you come from. Or where you were born. Believe it or not,” her lips twitched in an effort to suppress the frown that threatened to take hold of her mouth, inevitably seizing it. “I don’t have many friends. And I’ve been avoiding mi familia.” Because Claire was so easy to talk to, Lola found herself effortlessly explaining away the reasons why. “They want me to settle down. Find stability. But, if you ask me, I prefer my world a little bit more chaotic. To me, stability sounds boring. I wouldn’t know what to do with it. You can’t explore the world, or meet new people if you’re stuck at home playing wife, or worse mothering a child. That’s not to say mothers can’t do it all. Just certainly, not me. I’m selfish. The complete opposite of you, I feel. But, I don’t know?” Her shoulders lifted in a shrug. “Call me crazy but, I’m starting to like that about you. You fascinate me Claire and now, I want nothing more than to buy you that dinner. That is, if you’ll still allow me to?” Was she asking Claire out on a date? Who knows? She wasn’t entirely certain Claire swung that way but, it didn’t matter. Even if all that transpired was a friendship, (Lola’s first ever) then she’d happily and willingly accept all the same. “What do you say? We can definitely make plans for another night. When my dress isn’t sticking uncomfortably to my ribcage.” 

As his mission always was whenever River went somewhere, it had been a wild night. Before they even reached the event itself, both him and the blonde had been intoxicated by more than one drug in their systems, and perhaps that was why they had both managed to have as much fun as they did. The night had started with Lola and ended with Lola — a trend he hadn’t revisited for a while now. They weren’t dating (at least not by definition) and as two people who occasionally shared a bed, there was nothing saying they weren’t allowed to taste others. And tasted others River did, whether she picked up on it or not. But he had also provided her outfit from top to bottom, and for that night, Lola had been his prize. Granted, he had intentionally put her up for display for the whole night, seemingly unbothered by whoever else would give her attention when he wasn’t around, wanting everyone else as well as Lola to think that she was fair game, only to make the game itself a little more fun. And yet, every time someone else got too close to the finish line, River was always there, reclaiming her once more. Because for the night, Lola was his. His to enjoy. His to pleasure. His alone. River wasn’t always the possessive type, but then again, Lola differed a lot from his usual partners.

Perhaps in the way she could always wear him out, for one. He wasn’t sure how long they had been going, how hard, how passionately, but judging by how sound asleep he was, it had been a lot. Despite the fact that the blonde was moving around him, despite the continuous buzzing of his phone, River still did not wake. It managed to ruffle his slumber slightly, though — enough to slowly bring him back to the present by the time words were murmured into the shell of his ear. It was only at her nibble that he started to shift his weight slightly, a dragged out, heavy sigh slipping through parted lips as he turned his head to the side to face her. Forcing his eyelids open, squinting at her soft features, he only grunted out the same in return. “Buenos días.” Repeating her words, he wasn’t entirely unfamiliar with the language himself, even more so after first meeting Lola. “What time is it?” Only then did he start to register the buzzing a bit more, his head soon turning to the other side, one hand reaching for the phone after spotting it beside him. Fingers wrapping around the item itself, his gaze turned back to Lola, drowsiness still evident in his eyes. Yet, she was so close that he could feel the heat radiating from her skin, smell her as well as the last remnants of last night’s adventures between the sheets. He really couldn’t help himself — leaning in closer to kill the last few inches between them, lips pressing against hers far more softly than they normally did to have an initial taste. It could easily be interpreted as a show of affection, and perhaps in his newly-awakened state, River didn’t even realize as much himself. After all, it was no lie that he liked Lola. Just how far that went though, was a bit harder to define.

Just barely pulling away from her plump lips, his own still brushing against hers, River lifted the phone to his ear, swiping the screen to answer without even looking at the display beforehand. “Yeah?” It was far too early (at least to River) to be polite, and hence, no proper greeting came out of him. Instead, he let it be heard exactly how little time he had to talk, and how he would much rather pay attention to the blonde beside him — or let her pay attention to him. However, when a voice responded on the other side, his stance quickly changed. No longer lingering by her lips, River’s head turned back away, his gaze settling on the ceiling instead, eyebrows furrowing slightly at the realization of who it was. His mother. He couldn’t even remember when the last time he had received a call from her was. “No, it’s fine. I’m up.” Or at least he had been for the past minute or so, but this was probably not the time to announce to his parents that he was currently in bed naked with yet another woman — even if it was one they happened to know, for once.

Time seemed to stand still in rare moments like these. Rare moments, where the unspoken connection between them resurfaced. Like a dead body, they both tried to bury. Though, some things, only triggered the reminder. That no matter how much time had passed between them, or how far they strayed from each other, something always pulled them back. Lola was well aware of the connection as it existed. Though, she preferred to ignore it most of the time. Mainly for her own sake. Because rekindling things with River had never been truly wise on her end. In fact, they only reminded her of how much fun they could get into and how no one else had ever seemed to compare. The longer she avoided their past issues, the less she convinced herself she had to worry about in terms of catching feelings again. Most of the time, she had to practically teach herself to adapt, just in order to keep her cool around him. And right now, it was too early, both; in the literal sense and just in general -- to bring up matters that would only make things more tense. Such as; River’s obvious—- trail of messy lovers and sordid hookups. To which, Lola caught him with one last night. She didn’t say anything, of course, as she noticed him stumble back into the gym after, no doubt fornicating with Cesar outside. The mysterious, handsome guy she met by the bar and who she had conversed with (and perhaps, made a fool of herself in front of). Lola had no claims on River, she knew that. And likewise, she wasn’t his either. Hasn’t been for a very long time. That didn’t mean, it didn’t bother her though. After all, despite the front or facade she put on, she still was human. She desired love, even when she didn’t know what to do with it when it eventually landed in her lap. Most of the time, she freaked out, shook it off like it was a disease and went on about her day. Other times, she savored it for a few seconds, found herself overwhelmed by it, and then completely abandoned it in pursuit of something entirely less serious. Thus, these opposite extremes were her ever-changing, eternal struggle. 

Commitment, for Lola, wasn’t something she had ever mastered. Her longest relationship lasted six months. Her one with River, a little less than that. Yet strangely enough, the one with River, she actually put the most effort in. Go figure. Or as much effort as someone of her caliber could, in that particular time of her life. The reasons for that being —- she, evidently liked him more than others. He didn’t annoy her to the same degree that many other men have. River drew her in enough to keep her interest, while also balancing that out with a little mystery. No one else, (sadly) had been able to maintain such a perfect balance. Thus, Lola was frustrated because she didn’t want to fall down the rabbit hole with him again. And yet —-here she was, nestled between the sheets, with River beside her, his lips pressed to hers in an infrequent display of affection. While her head demanded she be smart and back away, her heart craved more of him. More of his lips, more of his touch, more of whatever pleasure he aimed to provide her.

“Nooooo, don’t answer it—-” Lola could long feel the tearing of their lips before it even happened, when his finger moved over the accepted call button. Part of Lola was offended he’d even choose whoever was on the other line over her. She assumed though, that it was only work, which surely could’ve waited a few more minutes until they were both finished, and thus she decided not to behave while he rudely took the call. If there was one thing Lola despised most —- it was being ignored. And River of all people knew this firsthand. Therefore, she took it as a personal slight towards her and ultimately decided to make his concentration difficult, while he tended to business. Perhaps in the future, he’d think twice about abandoning her for some boring call, lest he be forced to deal with the same consequences.