Jax and Ash had left the girls to their discussion of gowns for the upcoming event. However, gowns were now the last thing on their minds.
"His ex will be there?" Lola shrieked and grabbed her head.
The pictures in Lola's mind were creating a beautiful woman, strong and brave, just like Jax and much more adapted to this life than Lola was.
"Stop freaking out. It's his ex for a reason, right?" Melissa said in hopes of calming her down.
Lola scoffed and looked dumbfounded at the floor in a blank stare.
"Look at me." Melissa grabbed Lola's shoulder and gave her a light shake.
"It doesn't matter who she is because Jax has chosen to be with you. Now you're gonna find a dress that will put all others to shame, and you're going to hold your head high when you walk in there tomorrow," she said as her eyes glinted with a belief that Lola didn't share.
"Mell, I know nothing about fundraisers or galas or anything else fancy and I mean holy shit-" she said and started swatting her hands in front of her face. "-I'm freaking out."
Melissa winced. "Yes, I can see that," she murmured under her breath.
She doubted there was something she could say to Lola right now to take her out of the dark spiral she was floating in. Instead, she returned to the closet and rummaged through all the new clothes Lola had bought.
Melissa pushed the blouses aside and dug deeper until she found the dress she had nagged Lola into buying. She pulled it out and held it in her hands. The fabric looked like running water in her hands, and the baby blue color sparkled under the light.
The dress was cut low on the back, and a small piece at the bottom was held together by a thin diamond-plated chain.
Melissa smiled and walked back to Lola. She held the dress up in front of her and ordered, "Put this on."
Lola snapped back to the present and looked at the dress.
"Now?" she asked as her brows shot up.
A small twinkle shone in Lola's eyes when she looked at the dress. She remembered saying that it was too much, too revealing, and far too expensive, but Melissa insisted. Jax hadn't seen the dress yet, and Lola made sure to hang it as far back in the closet as possible.
She didn't fight the order and undressed. Melissa helped her with the dress, and it fell like a waterfall down her body. Before she was allowed to see it in the mirror, Melissa insisted she do Lola's hair in a nicer updo to give her a more accurate picture of the final result.
"I've been meaning to ask you," Melissa said and pressed back a giggle. She pulled Lola's hair up to frizz it underneath. "You and Jax, have you guys..." she said, leaving Lola to fill in the blanks.
Lola looked up from the side, and Melissa's mouth widened as her hands froze in Lola's hair.
"Oh my god!" she squealed and started jumping.
Lola laughed and bit on her lip. The images of Jax flashed before her, and her cheeks flushed.
"Was it good?" Melissa asked and took a deep breath to regain her composure.
However, it was obvious that she was still screaming on the inside. Her fingers were moving faster, and she was smiling from ear to ear. Her brown eyes, every time she was happy, looked more golden and warm.
"It was," Lola said.
"Was it better than..."
Lola froze and looked down at her hands. Melissa felt the shift and leaned back while still working on Lola's hair.
"You haven't told Jax, have you?" she said lowly.
Lola looked up. Her eyes were big, much like a puppy, and the blue was a shade darker than usual.
"Should I?" Lola asked. "I don't know who he has been with, but I haven't told him about mine either."
The guilt had been there for a few days, nagging at her.
Melissa turned her head back and forth as she thought about it.
"I don't think you have to. Not unless it comes up somehow, and if it does, just be honest. He can't get mad that you weren't a virgin," Melissa said.
It made sense, and Lola decided to push the thoughts aside and let them be until told otherwise.
Melissa continued to pull and frizz Lola's hair and put pins in it. After fifteen minutes, she smiled and clapped.
"It's done, look!" she squealed. "Oh no, wait."
Melissa ran to the closet just as Lola stood from the chair. She brought out a pair of silver, open-toed heels with a crystal lining on the back of the heel that matched the one on the dress.
"Put these on."
Lola did as told and got into the heels. The height was weird, but that wasn't the problem. The problem was when she took her first step and nearly face-planted on the carpet. Melissa shot out her hand and grabbed Lola's arm.
"You'll get used to it," she laughed.
They walked together to the mirror. Melissa slammed her hands over her mouth and gasped.
"Look at you!" she said, her brown eyes glistening with pride.
Lola saw her reflection and immediately wondered who it was. The light blue gown fell to the floor in a silk-soft heavenly flow, and the color brought out the blue in her eyes. Under the lamp's light, the blue sparkled with a pearl-white gloss.
It was cut down to the middle of her chest and showed a bit of cleavage but 'in a classy way' as Melissa had said when Lola tried it in the store.
She dragged her fingers over the fabric and smiled. Always having been a tomboy, dresses such as this one were new to her. She never had money, so she never owned anything so beautiful, and she was okay with that. Still, seeing herself in this new light was oddly satisfying.
Lola felt, for the first time in her life, beautiful.
A burst of pride swelled in her chest. Something was waking up that had been asleep for as long as she could remember. It started the first time she had kissed Jax and grew after the first time they slept together. Now, standing tall and seeing herself as more than a girl on the run who had done awful things in the past, she could see herself as the woman she wondered if she'd ever become.
Lola rolled her shoulders back and lifted her head.
"There you go," Melissa whispered and smirked.
Lola smiled. A peel of laughter left her lips, and she hugged her arms around her body.
"I look beautiful," she said as her eyes started to water.
"Now you see yourself as I've always seen you," Melissa said and wiped a tear.
Lola turned around and wrapped her arms around her. She pushed the tears back that threatened to fall and hugged Melissa tighter.
"Now we know what I'm wearing," Lola said gleefully.
Melissa looked at the dress on the bed, the one with the maroon-colored fabric that would cling to her body with a beautiful lace skirt and corset-like top.
"I guess we're set," Melissa said and laughed.
Lola took the dress off, and Melissa helped undo the hair updo. She put a robe on and grabbed a towel.
"I'm going to take a quick shower," Lola said.
She walked to the bathroom, all the while thinking about the dress and how she felt in it. She still wasn't very comfortable about the event, but knowing she had confidence in what she wore and that Melissa would be by her side made it bearable.
Lola went into the bathroom and was about to close the door when someone pushed their way through. She stepped back and saw Ash walking in. He closed the door behind himself and locked it.
Her eyes lingered on the lock, and her body shifted uncomfortably against the sink as she created distance between them. She tied the robe tighter and furrowed her brows.
"What are you doing?" Lola asked abruptly.
Her voice had an edge but not one that scared him. Ash sized her up and glared as he walked toward her. Her body was pressed against the sink, and her fingers circled the marble counter.
"Shh," he said and covered her mouth just as a squeal left her lips.
Her eyes widened. The shock turned to anger, and she started pulling at his hand.
"Don't speak, and I'll remove it," he said.
His eyes were anything but playful, and he read her body's sign to his demand. Lola lowered her hands slowly and relaxed as best as she could. Ash's hand gently moved from her mouth, but he remained close enough to press her back.
"I thought I'd give you a fair warning," he said. His lips pressed together in a line. "Lavina left because she and Jax realized that they weren't mates."
Lola's brows furrowed together. Mates. That was the second time she'd heard that word. The first time was when Mrs. Blackwood had mentioned it in the study the day Clay was killed.
"I don't know what that means," she said and realized how hoarse her voice had become.
The air between them thickened as Ash leaned in. He placed his hands on either side of her on the counter and towered over her. He gazed down, making sure that he had her attention.
"You don't have to- it doesn't apply to you. Just know this. She didn't leave because she stopped loving him. She left because she couldn't bear Jax dumping her the day they found out. Lavina packed her things and bailed. She moved to another pack, and nobody has heard from her since. If she's back and knowingly attends an event this close to Wild Cliff, it's because she knows that Jax will be there. If she's back, it's for a reason. Don't underestimate her. She's a conniving, manipulative bitch. Add a broken heart to the mix, and you have yourself someone that even the devil wouldn't want to dance with." His eyes were now darker than Jax's. It looked like the sky when a storm was brewing just before the lightning struck.
Lola's eyes flickered over his face, but she mentally noted everything he said.
"Why are you telling me this?" she asked.
Ash stepped back. His hands moved from the counter and grabbed her face.
"Because no matter his feelings for you, Jax would never tell you this himself, and you deserve a fighting chance. If shit goes down, Lola, don't get in between," he said, his eyes suddenly pleading.
Lola drew a shaky breath. Her eyes wandered to his, and her earlier confidence was slowly chipping away.