Everyone was waiting for an explanation. Lavina stood as stiff as stone watching Justin's love-drunk expression. The lamp was positioned back on the table and Melissa was curled up on the couch, looking newly awake with an early hangover.
Jax and Ash stood prepared in their stance watching the interaction that swallowed time as they knew it and though they wanted to look away, none of them could tear their eyes away.
"Justin," Lavina said. She visibly gulped, the ring on her finger kept being twisted around and around and Justin was slowly making his way across the room.
Lola stepped aside, unsure of what was about to happen but it didn't seem to be anything she wanted to be a part of.
"It's been years," he said and smiled.
Lavina's worried glances shot at Jax and it seemed that more was about to be unearthed.
"I know it has but now is not a good time to catch up-"
"You said you loved me and then you left, I can't think of a better time." He said, cutting her off.
Melissa and Lola gasping was the only sound that was heard throughout the mansion and when they had pulled in as much air as they could, the silence fell over them.
One minute passed and then two without anybody saying a word. Some moments in life will feel longer than others and Lola chewed on her lip, feeling like the minute of silence was two hours of her life.
"I want to look away but I can't," Melissa wheezed from the couch with her hands cupping her face.
Lavina groaned and rolled her eyes.
"Now might not be the best time. We have a lot to do with the Winter Whimsy coming up and truthfully I'm a mess right now."
Justin leaned in and smiled.
"Take your time, when you're ready I'll be here." He said.
It was like an oil painting that they just sat and stared at, waiting for it to dry.
The pain of the awkward moment made Lola cringe and eventually, she had to turn her head and look elsewhere.
"Lavina?" Jax said, dragging out her name.
She gulped and turned her head.
Looking around the room at everyone she realized she would have to explain herself sooner or later, so stepped back from Justin's touch and straightened her back.
"It was after you broke up with me that I was upset and a little drunk and in need of validation. I met Justin at the lakeside grill and we-"
"Fell in love," Justin finished.
"Well...I don't know about that. But we had fun before I left and then it was over." She said. Though it seemed far from it considering the soft look in Justin's eyes and the way he leaned in. Lavina tried to pull back but she seemed to melt against his gaze when their eyes locked.
Standing in her heels they were the same height and Justin smiled with his eyes.
"He's like a lovesick puppy...what is happening to him?" Melissa whispered from the couch.
Justin stepped aside and took in the room, his eyes glanced over every face that was watching him, and the more he looked the more he noticed the narrowed eyes, wrinkled noses, and tense lips on all of them. Jax sighed, he closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Nash!" He called.
Melissa and Lola jumped from the startle and Nash came fumbling into the living room with a beer can in his hand.
"I told you to sober up," Jax seethed.
"I did," he hiccuped, "this is a small can, the others-ones were big cans," he slurred. Nash's lips parted and a burp rumbled from his gut, the beer-filled cloud of gas filled the room and they swatted their hands to keep the smell away.
Jax waved to Justin with a twisted grimace.
"Just pull his memories would you," he ordered.
Nash shrugged and put the can down. He fought to keep the balance and stepped over to Justin who raised a brow and looked down at him.
Nash stepped around him, what he was watching for was unknown to the spectators but he seemed to have found it when a grin spread on his lips and he raised two fingers to touch Justin's temple. Before he had a chance to do so, however, Justin slapped his hand away and furrowed his brows as his face turned a bright red.
"What the hell is your problem!" Justin spat.
Nash tried again, he didn't speak a word but lifted his fingers to touch Justin's temple only to have his hand slapped away again- he retorted by slapping Justin's hand and there they stood in a slap fight where neither would allow the other to touch them.
Nash slapped his hand, held it down, and pressed the tip of his fingers to Justin's temple- before he could make a sound he collapsed down on the floor next to Lavina's feet.
She gasped, fell beside him, and looked up at Nash with a grim look.
"He had to sleep," Nash said and pulled his fingers to his lips and blew on them like one would the Smokey barrel of a gun.
"Good. Now finish the job." Jax ordered before he walked towards the hall with determined steps.
The door to the mansion opened up as the guys were about to leave and they heard booming laughter with a dark rustily voice echo in the hallway.
Nash looked up from his squared position next to Justin, his eyes were bulging out of their sockets and his lips turned to an O.
"Uh-oh, daddy's home." He said and looked at Ash.
Jax turned as well, noticeably stiff and he and Ash shared a look worth a thousand words. Lola turned with a questionable expression and shook her head, thinking that somebody would explain what was happening. But instead of letting her in on their secrets, Jax turned to her and Melissa.
"Maybe it's better if you stay at Melissa's,"
She was thrown off by the worry in his tone and she watched as Ash's exterior shifted immensely.
His fingers coiled into fists, his jaw clicked roughly and his eyes darkened as an invisible armor went up and covered his face.
"Nonsense-" he said and they all turned to the hallway to meet him. Two meters tall and has broader shoulders than Ash. Thick grey hair with a few strands of black and a trimmed beard that accentuated his rough features.
"-let me meet my new family member that I have heard so much about! She's made quite the fuss, I'm eager to learn why," His eyes lit up, something unreadable in the center of them as he gazed over Lola.
"Lola Graves, you have no idea how glad I am to finally meet you." He kissed the back of her hand and turned to Mrs. Blackwood who had escorted him inside.
"Quite a looker you found for your son," he turned back and grinned, "maybe the boys can share." He cooed.