Chapter Nine

“I’m not one to blow my own vertubenflugen.”

-Rose Nylund

Best. Week. Ever.

Lola couldn’t stop smiling. Even her coworkers had noticed. Of course, she didn’t want to admit the source of her happiness was a handsome hottie sharing her bed almost every night this week. Instead, she’d explained that she was simply happy it was Friday.

Unfortunately, she wouldn’t be able to see Luke tonight. She and Frankie were at Olivia’s house for a girls’ night featuring wine, cheese, and some old Disney movies. They liked to do this once a month or so. Tonight’s double feature was Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin.

Lola looked at the DVD cover for Aladdin. Seems she didn’t need a genie. She was fulfilling lots of wishes this week all on her own.

Well, Luke was helping with that.

He’d joined them for bocce again on Monday night. They’d hung out with Frankie on Tuesday and watched a movie at their apartment. Wednesday and Thursday she’d gone to his place. They’d ordered food and stayed in. She could feel herself blushing as she thought about what “staying in” meant for them.

She should be tired. But Lola felt great, energized, excited about, well, everything. She was especially looking forward to seeing Luke’s family again tomorrow at their barbeque. A huge difference from the week before when she’d been anxious and dreading attending their family reunion.

She put the DVD back on Olivia’s TV stand. Olivia shared a small town house with Summer in Old Town Alexandria. Unfortunately, the whole bocce team couldn’t make it tonight, but it was unusual for all eight of them to be free for a girls’ night at the same time.

Since they were still waiting for Lanette and Hannah to arrive, Lola snagged a carrot stick and dipped it in Summer’s homemade hummus that they all loved. As she was chewing, Frankie sidled up to her.

“Hm, what?” Lola asked. She’d been thinking about Luke again.

Frankie frowned. “I asked what you were thinking about.”

“Oh nothing.” She took her cell out of her pocket and shot Luke a quick text.

Thinking of you. What are you doing tonight?

He wasted no time replying.

I know what I wish I was doing…

Be good, she replied.

My sister is coming over to watch a movie, aka, torment me.

Lola smiled. Tell her I said hi.

As she put her phone away, she noticed that Frankie was staring at her, her brows drawn together.

“What’s with the look?” Lola asked.

Frankie’s answer was a long sigh.

Frankie had been acting strange about her and Luke for a couple days now. She would have thought Frankie would be happy about the two of them since she was the one who basically got them together. Not to mention that if Lola hadn’t taken her Golden Girls advice in the first place, she would have never met Luke. So what was her problem?

She silently chastised herself. Frankie was her best friend. She’d been there for Lola through breakups and different jobs and pretty much every issue that had come up in her life. Not to mention she’d been Lola’s rock during her mom’s death. Without Frankie, Lola had no idea how she would have gotten out of bed during that time. Her best friend deserved more patience than she was giving her right now.

“Is everything okay?” Lola asked.

“You’ve spent a ton of time with Luke this week,” Frankie said bluntly.

Lola felt her defenses go up. “So what?”

Frankie’s face fell. “I’m just saying.”

Lola felt like a jerk. Maybe she’d been spending a little too much time with Luke. Maybe Frankie felt left out. Oh no. She didn’t want to alienate her best friend. After all, she’d watched plenty of friends fall fast and hard into relationships, leaving their other friends behind in the dust. That never felt good.

Olivia breezed through the living room then carrying paper plates and plastic cups.

“Do you guys need any help?” Frankie asked Olivia.

Olivia shook her head. “Nope, all good. Celeste is fixing drinks, Summer ran out for more ice, and I’m gonna order the pizza now.”

“Great. Lo and I are gonna chat on your lanai.”

Olivia laughed. “Most people call it a patio, you know.”

“At Blanche’s house, it’s a lanai,” Frankie said knowingly.

Lola had to stifle an eye roll. More Golden Girls. Frankie was ridiculous. She called every outdoor space a lanai.

Frankie grabbed Lola’s hand and drew her outside onto the tiny brick-covered patio off the dining room. As soon as they stepped out into the summer heat, the sounds of Old Town surrounded them. Traffic and car horns mixed with laughter as people made their way toward the plethora of restaurants and bars in Alexandria’s trendy neighborhood.

Lola shook Frankie’s firm grasp. “What gives?” she asked as Frankie closed the door and faced her with worried eyes.

“You stayed at Luke’s last night.”

Lola didn’t know how to respond. It wasn’t a question, but Frankie was waiting for her to say something. “Yeah, I told you that’s where I would be.”

Frankie crossed her arms over her chest. “You stayed there the whole night.”

She hadn’t meant to, but they’d been kind of busy, and when they realized the time, Luke suggested she just stay.

Frankie was waiting again, her expression morphing into something that was borderline mad.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Why are you spending the entire night with a guy you’ve only known a couple weeks? Hooking up is one thing but actually sleeping over? That’s kind of intense.”

Lola ran her hands through her hair. “I thought you liked Luke.”

“I do. It’s just that…” Frankie trailed off, twisting her hands together.

“What?”

“You really like him.”

“Yeah?” Lola wanted to scratch her head. Frankie wasn’t making any sense.

Lola took a moment. She wasn’t sure where this conversation was going or what it was even about. Stalling for time, she paced the small patio, checking out the almost-dead plant in a pot on the small table. Olivia couldn’t keep a plant alive to save her life.

“I’m worried about you, Lo.”

“Why? Because I’m seeing a guy? You see guys all the time.”

Frankie remained silent, her face set tightly, giving away nothing.

“I mean, didn’t you have a date last night, too?”

Nodding, Frankie remained quiet. The silent treatment was killing Lola.

“Plus, you have a ton of guy friends, and you’re always talking to someone or texting with some hottie.”

Frankie sighed. The first sound she’d made. “Lola, I have a ton of guy friends, because I work with all men.”

It was true. Frankie was a computer programmer and one of the few women in her company. Not to mention that she was also incredibly outgoing, and people just naturally wanted to be around her.

“And I go out with a lot of different people because that’s my personality. I’m extroverted and I put myself out there. Plus, I enjoy being social and hanging with different people.” She pointed at Lola. “You’re not like that.”

“Are you saying something’s wrong with me?” Lola asked.

Frankie rushed to her side and took her hand. “No, of course not. I’m just worried,” she repeated.

“There’s nothing to be concerned over. Everything’s going great. I’m heading over to Luke’s mom’s house tomorrow for a barbeque.”

Frankie pointed at her. “See, right there. Your face is glowing.”

“Is that a bad thing?”

“I date a lot of different guys because I enjoy dating. But it’s rarely serious. I’m okay with that.” She paused and bit her lip before continuing. “Luke is awesome, but he doesn’t want a relationship, Lola. He’s told you that.”

“Well, I know he said that, but—”

“But nothing. You don’t want to be one of those girls.”

“What girls?” Lola asked.

“You know.” Frankie sighed. “Those girls who go into a relationship with their eyes wide open. But it doesn’t matter. They think they can change their partner.”

Lola wanted to groan. What was Frankie talking about? She offered a blank stare.

“Like, if you got married knowing your husband didn’t want to have kids. But you think that you can wear him down. Change him.”

“Um, Luke and I are not getting married or talking about kids.”

“I know, I know. You’re missing the point.”

Lola nodded emphatically. “I’m totally missing it.”

“From what you’ve told me, Luke has some legitimate intimacy issues from his dad leaving the family. That’s understandable. And you want a family. A husband and kids and the whole white picket fence.”

“That’s not a crazy thing to want,” Lola mumbled.

Frankie moved closer. “No, of course it’s not.”

“And you were the one who pushed me to go out. Pushed me to meet someone new. Pushed me toward Luke.”

Frankie shook her head ferociously. “No, I didn’t. I pushed you toward a no-strings-attached one-night stand. Or a quick fling. Just a little rebound guy.” She frowned. “I messed up. Because you are not the type of girl who can do that.”

“Frankie—”

“No, this is all my fault. I only wanted you to get over the hurt of stupid Mark dumping you. Now you’re going to get hurt all over again. Probably worse than with Mark.”

“What are you talking about?”

“This whole thing between the two of you was supposed to be pretend. You were supposed to be his fake girlfriend for his family reunion.”

“So what?”

“The reunion was last weekend. Why are you still pretending?”

“Well, uh, his mom invited me to the barbeque while we were at the reunion last week.”

“You could have said no.”

“That would have been rude.”

Frankie bit her lip. Then she hugged Lola tightly. “You’re not pretending anymore, Lola. That’s the problem. You’ve developed feelings for Luke, and they aren’t fake.”

“Maybe Luke has developed feelings for me, too. Have you ever thought of that?”

She nodded. “Sure. He’d be crazy not to.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“I know Luke’s type. I kind of am Luke’s type, in female form,” she mumbled. “I don’t want him to use you.”

Lola felt like Frankie had slapped her. “Use me? For what?”

“Oh, Lola.” Frankie paced a couple steps away. “For sex.”

Olivia stuck her head out the door then. “Hey, you guys ready for some vino and Disney? Lanette and Hannah just got here.”

“We’ll be there in a sec.” Frankie turned back to Lola, reaching for her hand and squeezing. “I’m so sorry, Lola.”

She wanted to be mad but she couldn’t, especially when she saw the earnestness in Frankie’s eyes. “You’re looking out for me. I’d do the same for you.”

“I know you would.” She started to walk inside. “Coming?”

“I’ll be there in a sec. I’m fine, Frankie,” she said when Frankie paused with her hand on the doorknob. “Really.”

Lola’s head was spinning. She heard what her best friend said. Loud and clear. Her brain took in all that information. The problem was that her heart didn’t.

Her phone went off in her pocket. She pulled it out and saw a text from Luke.

Can’t wait to see you tomorrow.

She crossed to the table, sat down, and put her head in her hands. Frankie was right. Luke had told her he didn’t want a relationship. Their pretend relationship was only supposed to last for one day and that day happened last week. But she couldn’t ignore this week. All the time spent with Luke.

Frankie was wrong.

It hadn’t been just sex. They talked. A lot. They ate together. He came to their rogue bocce game, for God’s sake. If he wanted a hookup, he would do what all the other guys did. She’d get a text message late at night asking what she was up to. She wouldn’t sleep over at his place. He wouldn’t buy her favorite beer for her and have it waiting at his house. They wouldn’t exchange texts and snaps throughout the day.

They wouldn’t be okay with you joining their family at a damn barbeque.

Then there was everything they’d shared with each other. Besides Frankie, Luke was the only other person she’d ever told about her mom keeping the cancer from her. And Luke had confided in her about his dad. How he left Luke’s family and never looked back.

What kind of guy would reveal such a personal detail? Certainly not one who was only in it for sex.

Lola really wanted to see his mom and sisters again. She’d enjoyed spending time with them so much. Spending time with a real family who laughed and fought and teased each other.

She loved the way his mom would hug her snugly. It had felt great to have his sisters include her in their jokes and stories. The entire family had embraced her as if she really was a part of it. But she wasn’t part of it. She didn’t have a family. The words Luke had spoken to her after his family reunion came back to her. She did have a family. Frankie and her friends were there for her.

At least, for now. Most of her friends were still single. What happened as they started finding people of their own? Serious relationships that led to marriage and kids? What was she supposed to do then?

Her stomach sank. Even though she hadn’t had any food in her stomach since lunch, she felt like she was going to be sick. The prospect of a long, lonely life was enough to have a headache start brewing.

The door opened, and Summer stuck her head out. “Everything okay, Lola?”

She jumped up. “Yeah, sorry. I was checking a text message.”

“Then get in here. Frankie is going to eat all the chips and guac. Just like she did last time.”

“I heard that,” Frankie yelled from inside the house. “I did not eat all of it last time.”

“She totally did,” Summer whispered as Lola joined her and walked into the house.

“Totes,” she agreed.

As her friends enjoyed the wine and cheese, Lola tried to have fun, but her heart wasn’t in it. All that yummy food tasted stale in her mouth. She’d lost her appetite.

While she tried to laugh at her friends’ jokes and keep up with a conversation about the latest episode of The Bachelorette, her mind kept drifting. Right over to Luke Erickson.

She really didn’t want to admit it but Frankie was right. Luke didn’t want a girlfriend or a relationship. She’d known that going into this. Yet here she was about to get hurt.

As they settled in to watch a little Disney magic, her spirits couldn’t help but be lifted. Maybe this was her princess moment. Maybe she’d found her prince like Belle and Jasmine.

She decided to stop wallowing. Everything would turn out all right in the end.

Now if she could only believe her own words.

…

“Lola’s here.”

Lola smiled as she entered Luke’s mother’s house hand in hand with him the next morning.

“I’m here, too,” Luke said indignantly.

“Who cares about you?” Gwen said as she rounded the corner and punched him in the shoulder. “Hey, Lola.”

“Hi, Gwen.”

Winnie came bouncing out of the kitchen. “Lola!” she exclaimed. She stopped and tilted her head as she took in their joined hands. “Awww, I don’t think I’ve ever seen Luke hold hands with a girl before.”

“I’ve seen him hold hands with a guy.” Mia joined them from another room. “Remember how scared you and Oliver were when we watched The Blair Witch Project?” she said in a childlike voice.

Luke rolled his eyes. “We were ten. Can you please get over that?”

Mia snorted. “No way.”

“I’ve got pictures of it,” Gwen said, returning. “Wanna see, Lola?” She smirked.

“You’re dead.” Luke released Lola’s hand and ran after his sister.

“What is with all this yelling? Oh, Lola, sweetheart, you’re here.” Lorraine came down the stairs and embraced Lola in one of those great hugs.

“I brought some wine for you. Luke said this is your favorite.” Lola held out the bottle of white wine and the Tupperware she’d borrowed the week before.

“You don’t need to bring something every time I see you. But thank you. It is my favorite. Come on into the kitchen. Or the zoo as I like to call it.”

Lola followed her through a hallway lined with what were surely family pictures. She wanted to get a closer look later. The house was beautiful. It sat on a tree-lined street in North Arlington, at the end of a cul-de-sac. It was painted white with green shutters and a matching front door. Plants and flowers decorated the brick walkway and hydrangea sat under the front windows.

From what she’d seen so far, the inside was just as welcoming. It looked like there was a living room on one side of the foyer and a dining room on the other. The end of the hallway she was walking down opened up into a large kitchen, done all in white with blue and gray granite counters and back splash. It reminded Lola of her mother’s kitchen. Only this one had a large counter that separated it from a cozy family room with a fireplace and lots of windows and French doors. She saw a pool outside, the blue water sparkling in the warm summer sun. Luke had told her to bring her bathing suit. There was a well-kept patio, large grill, tables, chairs, and more flowers.

She did a little turn. What a great house.

“What do you think?” Luke asked, even as he had Gwen in a loose headlock.

“It’s wonderful. So this is your childhood home?”

“The one and only,” Mia said. “By the way, I ran into Oliver in Clarendon last night. He’s coming over.”

Again, Lola noticed Winnie’s face pale. She promptly grabbed a basket with paper plates, utensils, and napkins and went out to the patio. Interesting.

“Great,” Lorraine said. “Luke, why don’t you give Lola a tour of the house?” The doorbell rang. “That’s probably your aunt now. Mia, take these out to Winnie.” She handed something over.

“I’ll get it,” Gwen yelled and ran for the door.

“Welcome to Grand Central,” Luke said, taking Lola’s hand again. “It tends to be chaotic twenty-four-seven around these parts, especially when we’re all home. You should see it at Christmas.”

Her heart clenched. How she would love to see it at the holidays. She could imagine that Lorraine would have every inch of the house decorated with twinkly lights and decorations that had been in the family for ages. Luke and his sisters probably rushed around yelling at each other and snagging food, just as they were now. Homey aromas of cinnamon and spices probably emanated from the kitchen.

Yes, she’d very much like to witness that.

“Come on.” Luke tugged on her hand and pulled her out of her thoughts.

He showed her the backyard and pool area. When they walked back down the hallway, she made him stop and explain each of the framed photos on the wall. They had a pretty killer game room set up in the finished basement with an enormous television, a pool table, air hockey, and a bar in one corner.

“This is amazing. I bet you guys had so much fun down here when you were in high school.”

“Oh, we did,” Luke said. “I think my mom had the basement refinished for the specific purpose of getting us out of her hair. We’d all gather down here with our friends, and mom would stay upstairs with her book and enjoy some peace and quiet.”

They walked up to the second floor. Luke pointed out his mom’s room and the large bedroom his sisters had shared. She peeked in and saw three twin beds were still positioned around the room. Above each bed where posters and other decorations. Funny how each of his sisters had a completely different personality. Winnie was the sweet, girly-girl while Gwen was her polar opposite and definitely the most badass of the three. Mia sat somewhere in between with a touch of practicality.

“And this is my room. Well, it was my room.” Luke ushered her inside.

Lola walked around, getting a feel for the place. It was much smaller than his sister’s room. But he had a double bed, a dresser, desk, closet. All the usual stuff.

“Nice bean bag chair,” she noted with a grin.

“It’s a necessity for game playing.”

“Your room is very…masculine.” The furniture was a dark wood, and his bedding and curtains were navy blue.

“My mom keeps saying she’s going to turn our bedrooms into different things like a scrapbooking room and a gym, but she never does. Every time we come home, our stuff is still exactly where we left it.”

Must be nice, she thought. A lot of her stuff from high school and most of the furniture and belongings from her parents’ house was now in storage. Someday she would have a house of her own and get everything back out.

Luke’s arms came around her from behind, snaking around her waist. He moved her hair to the side, his mouth nuzzling her neck.

“Mmm,” she moaned. “That feels…wrong!”

Luke’s head snapped up. “What?”

“You can’t do that to me. Not here.”

He spun her around. “Why not?”

Was he crazy? “We’re in your mother’s house.” She over exaggerated each word, speaking very slowly.

“So?” He closed the door, flicking the lock. Then he crossed back to her, backing her up until her legs bumped the edge of his bed.

“Luke, what are you doing?”

He ran his fingertips up her arm, grazing her breasts as he did. Then he placed a kiss at the left edge of her mouth, then the right. Finally, he took her lips in a sultry kiss that had her legs buckling.

“What do you think I’m doing?” he said against her lips.

She pushed back. “Oh, I think I can figure it out. But you have to stop.”

He covered one breast with his large hand. Through the thin material of the red tank top she wore, she could feel the heat from his hand. He caressed her. Her nipples hardened, and he pinched one.

“You really want me to stop?” he asked with a cocky grin.

He knew damn well she didn’t, especially when he began feasting on her neck and her head fell back. “But…but…your mother, your sisters…downstairs.” She closed her eyes and moaned.

He took advantage of the opportunity to gently push her back onto his bed.

“Luke, we can’t,” she said as she tumbled backward.

He covered her body with his. “Yes, we can.”

His lips were on hers again, teasing, taunting, daring her to protest. How could she when her own traitorous hands had made their way under his shirt and were happily roaming over the taut, ripped muscles of his back?

He smelled so good. That scent that she thought of as purely Luke surrounded her, taking over her senses. It was a combination of clean soap and whatever amazing cologne he wore. She had to remember to ask him. Then his hand had undone the snap of her shorts and was inside her panties, and she couldn’t remember anything.

Luke wasted no time inserting a finger inside her. She sighed loudly and deeply. He covered her mouth again with his, even as his finger was working its magic. She helpfully spread her legs for him, and he added a second finger. He knew just the right speed, just the right rhythm to drive her crazy.

She felt her body responding, could hear her breathing picking up, knew what was about to happen. Then Luke surprised her by backing off. He withdrew his hand and rose, standing over her at the bottom of the bed.

“Wh-what?” Her mind was hazy with the sudden loss of his touch.

“Don’t worry, baby. I’m right here. Since we are in my mom’s house, I thought this might not be the best opportunity to take our time.” He reached into his back pocket, removing a condom.

He quickly shed his shorts and underwear, sheathed himself, and returned to her. Lola was still reeling and couldn’t get herself to move from the bed. That didn’t seem to be a problem for Luke. He simply removed her shorts and panties. Then he put his arms around her legs and gave one good tug, yanking her to the bottom of the bed.

“This is a much better angle.” With that, Luke buried himself inside of her to the hilt.

The pressure was amazing. She loved the way he filled her so completely. She wanted to yell out, but Luke covered her mouth with his hand.

“Not this time, baby. We have to be quiet.”

It was such a sexy feeling to be lying on his childhood bed, still completely clothed on the top but joined with him in such a primal way. His family was right downstairs as Luke began to move in and out of her. He was standing at the bottom of the bed, still holding her legs, anchoring her right where he wanted her.

He had the perfect leverage to thrust into her, each time going even deeper until she could feel his balls banging against her. He was pumping his hips quickly now, intensifying their mating, upping the ante.

She couldn’t scream, couldn’t yell. She desperately wanted a release. She began to move her hips so she could meet him thrust for thrust. Using her muscles to tighten around his thick shaft, she stifled a laugh when he ground out an oath. Looks like he wanted to make noise as much as she did.

“Shh,” she whispered with a twinkle in her eye as he continued to rock into her. “They’ll hear us downstairs.”

Her words seemed to ignite something inside of him. His hips moved at a greater speed; his fingers gripped her legs even tighter as he pushed into her. His grip would have hurt her if she wasn’t experiencing such divine pleasure everywhere else.

Luke’s eyes never left hers. Light streamed into the room, illuminating his face. He was so intense, so serious, as he brought her up the mountain of desire.

“Yes, that’s it. Come for me, Lola.”

“Yes, yes, Luke, just like that.”

He was playing her just right, hitting all the right spots. He’d paid attention this last week, learning exactly what she liked. She hoped she could say the same about herself.

Her breasts felt heavy, and she was starting to sweat. A sensation began in her lower belly as Luke brought her exactly where she wanted to be. She came hard and fast, and Luke offered a triumphant smile. Then he thrust three more times and fell off his own cliff. As he did, she tightened around him as hard as she could.

“Oh fuck, Lola.” He shuddered severely before collapsing on top of her.

“Wow,” she cooed into his neck, taking a moment to lick the salty perspiration that had beaded there.

“Wow is right. How is it possible for it to get better every time?”

She had no clue. All she did know was that it was going to be difficult to put her clothes back on and walk downstairs like everything was normal, pretend Luke hadn’t just rocked her world and devoured her body.

“Luke, Lola,” Gwen yelled up the stairs. “What are you guys doing?”

“Nothing,” they both answered at the same time. Their bodies were still joined, their voices still raspy.

“Food’s on. Burgers have been placed on the grill. Although, I think you guys may have already started with dessert.”

Lola groaned and Luke grinned. He placed a chaste kiss on her lips. “Welcome to the family.”