Chapter 2: Lola

My heart rate picks up when River Patton walks through the door. 

“You came!” Maisy exclaims, enveloping him in a hug.

My dad’s jawline tightens, and I try not to laugh.

Dad meets my gaze and gives me a look. I smile back and he sighs, gripping the back of his neck in frustration.

My father adores his fiancée, Maisy. I do too. She’s a blessing in both of our lives and family. But he can’t stand that she has a genuine friendship with the player on his team that irks him the most: River Patton.

Thank God he doesn’t know that I also harbor a soft spot for the right-winger. Except my soft spot isn’t wrapped in a maternal nurturing like Maisy. 

I have a massive crush on River that is as mortifying as it is thrilling. Right now, I’m flustered and delighted that he’s attending the Bolts Christmas gathering Dad and Maisy are hosting before I leave for Seattle.

“What can I get you to drink?” Maisy asks River after taking his coat. 

“Don’t worry about me, Mais,” he says easily. He’s comfortable with Maisy in a way that he isn’t with most of the team. Less closed off. “I’ll grab a beer.” He gestures toward the kitchen. 

“Damien and Devon haven’t left the kitchen island,” Maisy points out, glancing toward the two men who are standing by the food in the open concept kitchen. 

River snickers. “You got ribs, didn’t you?”

“The Rib Shack,” Maisy confirms. 

River approaches my dad and sticks out a hand, his eyes cutting to me for a flash before they focus on my father. “How’s it going, Axel?”

“Fine,” Dad replies. At Maisy’s look, he sighs. “You?”

A smirk plays around River’s mouth as his eyes find mine again. “All right.”

Dad nods. River heads into the kitchen. Maisy pulls Dad into a conversation with Cole and Bea. 

I try to get a handle on my erratic emotions. It’s stupid; River Patton doesn’t see me as anything but a kid, the way all my dad’s teammates do.

The thought rings false. There’s something with River; I just can’t put my finger on it. Is it because we’re nearly the same age? Or because we’re the only two single people at the Bolts events these days? But whenever we talk, there’s a spark. There’s a lick of desire and a thrill of excitement that doesn’t exist when Devon asks me about moving to California or Cole inquires if I need extra hockey tickets for my sorority sisters. 

Things with River are just different. 

I roll my lips together. My phone buzzes in the back pocket of my jeans and I pull it out. 

Jas

Sorry, babe. I got called into work so I can’t make today’s soiree. See you tonight? X

Damn. If Jasmine can’t come, that means I’ll end up sleeping at Dad’s tonight since I’m planning to drink some wine. It also means River and I are the only unattached people at the party. Not that it’s out of the norm, but I always feel unsure of myself around him. It would be nice to have my best friend as a buffer between me and my dad’s world. Namely, his growly, pissed off, and hot-as-hell teammate.

I force myself to relocate to the kitchen so I can grab a glass of spiced wine. I’m not going to listen in on what River’s saying because that would be pathetic. Even though I blush and giggle in his presence, I still retain enough composure not to throw myself at his feet. 

As I fill a glass with spiced wine, Devon and Damien are called into the living room by their beautiful girlfriends, Mila and Harper. 

“You have to settle this debate,” Mila says. 

Harper’s laughter is uncontrollable. 

Devon and Damien look half intrigued and half scared as they pull themselves away from the ribs.

“I didn’t think you’d be here,” River comments, leaning against the kitchen island. He studies me as I take a sip of the spiced wine.

I blush at his words. Does he think I don’t have a social life outside of my dad’s? “My dad made me come,” I admit, smacking my lips together. “And Jasmine’s working today so our apartment is quiet.”

“Ouch.” He places a hand over his heart. “You don’t want to hang with the Bolts?”

I shrug.

He smirks. “With me?”

I blush harder this time. I know River recognizes it because his eyes soften the tiniest bit. They’re nearly as dark as mine but significantly harder, edged in a steel I don’t possess. 

He tilts his head and shows me some mercy. “When do you fly out?”

“Tomorrow night.”

He nods, takes a swig of his beer. “You staying in Seattle for the entire break?”

“No. I’ll be back in time for New Year’s.”

River narrows his eyes, silently asking why. 

“My sorority is having a huge New Year’s mixer with this frat so…”

“I forgot you’re in a sorority.”

I duck my head, glance down at my plain T-shirt and jeans. “Yeah.”

“I didn’t mean—” 

“Jasmine made me rush,” I admit. When I meet his gaze, he’s staring at me intently, a little line forming between his brows. “It’s been good for me. There’s only six other women in my computer science program so…” I trail off again. My palms tingle and I hold my glass tighter. Take another sip.

Why am I so nervous around River? Why does he keep talking to me when our conversations are always these awkward, confusing exchanges?

“They’re lucky to have you,” he replies, his tone serious. 

I shift back, surprised by the certainty in his voice. “I don’t really offer much.”

“I’m sure you bring up the entire sorority’s GPA.” He chuckles lightly. “Hell, all of Greek life.”

I grin. He has me there. “That must be why they keep me around.”

He shakes his head and grips the back of his neck. Then, his eyes cut to mine again. They’re dark and unreadable, two deep pools of black. “That’s not why, Lola.”

I draw an inhale at the intensity in his gaze. At the sound of my name on his lips. Before I can ask what he means, he changes the subject again. “You have a lot of friends in Seattle?” 

“Yeah.” I smile, thinking of my childhood and high-school friends. “It will be nice to see them. The whole group is coming home for Christmas so, I’m looking forward to it.”

“A lot of parties?”

“Some.”

“Old boyfriends?” His tone is teasing but his eyes still hold mine with a watchfulness that makes my blood rush to the surface. 

I clear my throat. I think of the two guys I dated in high school. They were both quiet, respectful, nice guys. They were nothing like River, with his tattooed knuckles and raspy voice. “They’re still part of my friend group.”

He nods, as if I’ve confirmed something for him. His jaw tightens, not unlike Dad’s when I piss him off. 

“What about you?” I blurt out, wanting to shift the attention away from myself. 

“What about me?” River mutters. 

“Are you seeing someone?” I wince the second I say it because, desperate much?

“Several someones,” he admits. 

He doesn’t say anything I don’t know and yet, his words cut. I look away again, not wanting him to witness the hurt that flashes through my eyes. I clear my throat. “Why not bring someone?” I lift my chin toward the living room, where my dad and Maisy are surrounded by their friends.

Harper is holding Maisy’s left hand and by the way Mila is gushing, I know they’re discussing wedding plans.

“Because none of them matter.”

I look at River again. My breath freezes in my throat. I wish I understood half the riddles he speaks. I can never tell if he’s being serious or teasing me, the same way the fraternity brothers like to mess around.

“So you just come and are forced to hang out with me?” I summarize. “By default, since we’re the only two unattached people at these things.”

He shrugs. “I don’t mind.”

I finish my wine. “Me neither.”

River smirks. “Don’t kiss any ex-boyfriends over Christmas break.” His tone is teasing, his eyes unfathomable. 

I snort. “Whatever.”

He passes me a dish and we both make plates to pick on. 

“Patton! Stop hogging Lola,” Damien calls out, waving me over. 

“Yeah, Lola, I wanna hear about California,” Devon tacks on.

My dad groans loudly and Maisy wraps an arm around his waist. It’s no secret my dad would prefer I remain in Tennessee. But, for someone interested in computer science and software development, Silicon Valley holds an allure that Knoxville doesn’t offer. 

I give River a small smile before I join the group in the living room. As I’m swept up in conversation, the afternoon slips away. Soon, the team is leaving, and I realize I won’t see River again until after the holidays. 

I wish I knew more about his holiday plans. Does his family have a big gathering, with grandparents and cousins? Even though I usually exchange conversation with River at these events, I know almost nothing about him. 

He’s hardly forthcoming with his past or personal life and while I regularly stalk the shit out of his social media profiles, he doesn’t post often enough for me to deduce anything with certainty.

“I’m heading out.” River hugs Maisy goodbye. “Thanks for having me, Mais.”

“Of course. Pass by over the holidays. Axe and I will be here.”

“Yeah,” he agrees, noncommittally. 

Even though it’s the lamest thing I’ve ever done, I scurry into the kitchen and pull out the tin of Christmas cookies I made River. I’ve already given tins to the Bolts women. It doesn’t feel right to exclude him just because he doesn’t have a significant other. 

Or has too many. 

Whatever. 

I swallow back my nervousness and wait until Dad is saying goodbye to Beau Turner and his girlfriend, Celine, before I slip outside. 

“River!” I call. 

He’s nearly to his car but he pauses when I say his name. Slowly, he turns toward me. 

“Where’s your coat?” he scolds. 

I shiver against the cold wind as I approach him, holding out the tin. 

“What’s this?” His eyebrows knit together. 

“I, they’re cookies. Christmas cookies,” I stammer. 

He frowns. “You made them?”

I nod. 

His eyes pin me in place. “For me?”

“I, yeah. Yes.”

A devastating sadness sweeps River’s expression for one heartbeat before his jawline tightens. “You shouldn’t have.”

“I hope you enjoy them,” I forge ahead. 

He dips his head. 

I turn back toward the house.

“Lola.” He reaches out and grasps my arm. 

I freeze, his touch hot on my skin. He drops his hold and immediately, I miss his touch. 

“Thank you,” River’s voice is gruff, underlined with emotion he rarely shows. 

I smile. “Merry Christmas, River.”

He scoffs, looking at the ground before meeting my gaze again. “Have a safe trip home.”

“See you in the new year,” I say.

“Get inside before you get sick.”

Grinning, I scurry inside and close the door behind me. When I do, Dad looks over, his brows drawing together in confusion. 

Maisy sighs, her expression knowing while Celine tosses me a wink. I roll my lips together to keep from laughing. 

River Patton may have a long list of someones but I know he won’t throw out the cookies I baked. I bet he eats every single one. 

The thought warms me up more than the two glasses of spiced wine I nervously consumed.