Chapter 32
Rhys walking away from her looking so sad was the worst moment of Lola’s life. Kissing Valentino had been purely to unnerve Jarek and protect Rhys from him and yet it had backfired spectacularly.
Her friends swarmed around her like she was a queen bee needing to be protected, yet despite being enveloped by their love and concern, she felt empty.
Jarek had won. He’d managed once again to make her feel scared, insignificant and unworthy, but worst of all he’d managed to push a wedge between her and Rhys.
It didn’t matter if Rhys and his friends had thrown him out and stood up for her, or that her friends were supporting her, not when he’d messed up the best thing that had happened to her in a very long time.
Someone placed a drink in her hand, and when it was clear that she didn’t want to talk about Jarek, Valentino or Rhys, the conversation was swiftly moved on by Deni about how they must get a picture of them all in the photo booth, with Mirabel too.
Lola listened, chipped in a word or two and sipped her rum and pink grapefruit cocktail.
She caught the concerned glances from her friends so went through the motions of trying to enjoy the evening, yet it felt as if she was looking down on herself rather than fully experiencing everything.
It was only after she’d drained her drink and Deni and Sarah went to the bar for another round of cocktails that Polly led her to the nearest table and made her sit down.
‘I know you’re not okay, so there’s no point pretending that you are,’ she said matter-of-factly. ‘But he’s gone, so you can at least relax tonight.’
‘He may be gone, but he’s not out of my life. He’s a never-ending nightmare.’
‘And you’ll put a stop to it as soon as you get home.
’ She smiled gently. ‘There are enough flipping lawyers here to give you advice and fight your corner. Jarek won’t get away with this behaviour.
His one mistake tonight – of many, I should add – was making himself so public.
Rhys, Valentino and Fabs’s friends are all witnesses. It’ll be okay.’
Lola nodded glumly and focused on the olive tree next to them, its branches threaded with fairy lights.
She needed Polly, her sensible, thoughtful friend, to see the situation from a different viewpoint.
‘I actually couldn’t care less about Jarek right now.
’ Lola twisted back to face Polly, her voice cracking as she said, ‘It’s Rhys I’ve messed things up with. ’
‘ You didn’t mess up anything. Jarek did that.
The way you’re feeling right now is because he forced you into a situation you had no control over.
And Rhys reacted that way because he likes you, Lola,’ Polly said softly.
‘I don’t know Rhys at all, but he had no hesitation in going after Jarek.
His reaction was to protect you and that speaks volumes.
And yes, his anger got the better of him, but that seems to have come from a place of self-doubt, if he thinks either Valentino or Jarek are more worthy of your love.
I’m sure Valentino’s a nice guy and has abs that look like they’ve been chiselled from marble, but Jarek.
’ Polly whistled low. ‘He’s a nasty piece of work who doesn’t deserve one more second of your time.
He’s messed with your head so much and for too long.
Don’t let him destroy a relationship with a hell of a decent guy. ’
Deni and Sarah returned, interrupting their conversation.
Through the trees, Lola could make out the other terrace where the DJ had everyone up and dancing, ruby, cerise and powder-blue dresses catching the light as people moved.
Four cocktail glasses topped with lime and a sprig of thyme were placed on the table.
Polly squeezed Lola’s hand as they turned their attention to their friends.
‘To Fabs and Mirabel, and of course friendship,’ Deni said as they knocked their glasses together.
Lola sipped the lemony gin cocktail as she was embraced by her friends’ merriment. She tried to relax, yet her thoughts still snagged on Rhys. She wondered where he was, and if he was okay.
‘Where on earth have you lot been!’ Mirabel threw herself among them, planting her arms across Deni’s and Polly’s shoulders and cutting Lola’s thoughts short.
‘There’s a dance floor that-a-way with all of your names on it.
’ With her arm still round Deni, she grabbed Lola’s hand and tugged her in the direction of the other terrace.
Lola pushed her worries aside and chose laughter, dancing and her friends.
She lost herself to the music, something that always brought her comfort and ignited joy.
She was surrounded by her friends, and they laughed and twirled, their heels scuffing the red bricks, while the light from the bulbs crisscrossing overhead made necklaces glitter and earrings sparkle.
Mirabel threw her arms around Lola, and she allowed herself to be swept up in the love and happiness that emanated from her newly-wed best friend.
* * *
The evening went by far too quickly in a whirl of joy that had only been marred by the incident with Jarek and which, by some miracle, Mirabel was none the wiser about.
Fabs obviously knew what had happened, if his extra-big hug was anything to go by. ‘Rhys has got your back, Lola,’ he said quietly. ‘Barnaby and the rest of the guys too.’
Tears had already been threatening and she nearly lost it at the look Fabs gave her when he pulled away: one of support, love and understanding. He was an extended part of her family now he’d married the friend she considered to be a sister.
She only managed a nod before he was swept into a hug by someone else. Then Mirabel was in front of her, her hazel eyes damp and sparkling, her cheeks flushed as she pulled her close.
‘Thank you for everything,’ Mirabel whispered as she hugged her tight.
The build-up to the wedding had been long and intense and it was coming to an end, a spectacularly wonderful day that was tinged with sadness.
They’d see each other tomorrow for brunch before Mirabel headed off with Fabs on their month-long honeymoon, but that was it.
Mirabel would return to Sardinia, not London, while Lola would be heading home to face a completely different challenge alone.
No, she wasn’t alone, as Fabs had just told her.
So when Mirabel pulled away, Lola smiled despite her internal battle and they laughed together, their cheeks streaked with tears.
Once Fabs and Mirabel had been waved off to their bridal suite, people began to drift away.
While Sarah, Gareth, Freddie and Zoe were keen to prop up the bar for a little longer, Lola followed Polly, Deni and Mark’s lead and called it a night.
With Rhys and Barnaby joining them, their calls of ‘goodnight’ and ‘see you all in the morning’ echoed into the star-speckled night.
Deni, Mark and Polly chatted non-stop as they strolled through Il Giardino’s honey-lit grounds.
Lola was acutely aware of Rhys and Barnaby walking behind them in silence.
She didn’t know how to ease the tension with Rhys.
She wasn’t even sure if she should, not when they’d be going home in a couple of days and he’d be heading off on his travels. What would be the point?
They reached the entrance to the main hotel building and while her friends headed towards the lift, Rhys and Barnaby turned right. Lola slowed and glanced back. Rhys had stopped. Barnaby squeezed his shoulder and continued walking.
They met each other’s eyes. Rhys opened his mouth, then closed it. Lola waited, hoping he would say something, although perhaps it was for the best to end whatever tentative thing they had before emotions became even more tangled and confused.
The sound of the lift pinging open made the decision for her.
‘Night, Rhys,’ she said quietly.
Without waiting for a reply, she paced the short distance to the lift and joined her friends just as the doors closed, shutting out the sight of Rhys still standing in the hotel’s lobby.
No one said a word on the way up, but she noticed her friends’ concerned glances.
The lift doors opened onto the first floor and Lola led the way along the hallway.
She felt a rush of overwhelming sadness as she paused outside her room.
Time was slipping away, their night at Il Giardino the final flourish to a spectacular stay on Sardinia.
With just a couple of days left before the flight home, tonight was the beginning of the end.
‘Are you sure you’re all right?’ Polly whispered as she gave her a squeeze.
Deni was already outside her room, her call of ‘goodnight’ echoing down the hall as she gave a cheeky wink and pushed her husband inside.
Lola huffed. ‘I’m fine, honestly. I just need to sleep. Tomorrow’s a whole new day, eh?’
Polly nodded, although she didn’t look convinced. ‘I’ll see you at brunch then.’
The second Lola closed the door to her room it was if all the emotions she’d been bottling up and fighting against for months swamped her.
The sense of loss was acute as hot tears fell.
This was the second wedding of the year that she’d cried at, although at the first one when she’d been sitting half submerged in a muddy lake she’d been laughing as hard as she’d been crying.
There was nothing funny about how she was feeling right now.
She swiped the back of her hand over her eyes and stumbled across the room. The spacious sitting area was shrouded in darkness, and through an archway the four-poster bed enveloped by cream curtains looked too large and imposing for one person.
Lola threw open the door to the private terrace and took a breath of sweet mountain air.
The wide-open sky was velvety black and dusted with stars.
Goosebumps prickled her arms, and the feelings of freedom and possibility made Lola’s heart ache with sadness.
London was vibrant and bustling and had its own sort of beauty, yet the idea of returning made her insides clench, not because she didn’t love her job, but because of how claustrophobic it would be trapped in a city without Mirabel and where Jarek would be.
A heaviness settled that wouldn’t be blown away by the herb-scented breeze.
Just the thought of having to deal with all of that terrified her.
But not tonight.
Shivering in her short-sleeved dress, Lola returned inside and shut the door on the breeze. She wandered into the bedroom and switched on the lamp.
And then her heart bottomed out. A cream envelope was propped against the pillow on the side of the bed she slept on, her name written in Jarek’s punchy handwriting.
She wanted to run; she wanted to hide, to scream, to sob, to drag the suffocating knot of fear and worry from deep inside and stomp all over it.
She wanted to be far from his influence, to be utterly rid of him, yet she was still riding the emotional wave of his making.
Running away wasn’t the answer, neither was burying her feelings or wishing she could forget all about him, which as he’d proved many times was futile.
Facing him head on with the intention of removing him from her life rather than wishing things were different was the path she needed to take.
So, despite wanting to flee, Lola reached out and plucked the envelope off the bed.