Lola

 

Once she had answered a few concerned texts from Butch and Brittany, Lola let Bishop give her a ride back to town. She didn’t want to. It would have been so much easier to just stay out there in the woods all day, or even just to head straight to the airport and go back west. But she had to face this and get it over with.

 

“Are you sure you don’t want me to come in with you?” Bishop asked when he pulled his bike to a stop in front of the hospital entry doors. “I don’t mind.”

 

It was a very tempting offer, and one that she would have liked to take him up on. Lola knew she would need a shoulder to lean on or a supportive hand on her back, but she had to do this on her own. “That’s okay. They’re going to freak out enough just that I’m here, and seeing you at my side might just send him into another heart attack.” Lola dropped a quick kiss on his lips. “I’ll call you later.”

 

He zoomed off and Lola turned for the automatic doors. They opened with a soft rushing sound, spewing antiseptic-scented air. Pausing for a moment to make sure her outfit was straight, she stopped at the desk in the lobby. “I’m looking for George Dodson’s room, please.”

 

The attendant was a woman in her thirties with her auburn hair resting in a long plain braid down her back. She automatically nodded and began typing away on a computer, but she paused and looked up at Lola. Her eyes widened but she kept her voice low and her body calm. “You’re her, aren’t you?”

 

“Her who?” Lola asked dumbly. If this woman or anyone else figured out that she was her father’s daughter, then the media would be at her parents’ door 24/7. In a way, it seemed fitting revenge from the daughter they no longer accepted as their own. But they were still her parents, and she couldn’t do that to them.

 

“Lola. Lola Lennox. I heard you were in town, but what are you doing here?” The attendant fiddled her fingers over the keyboard, no longer typing or trying to find the correct room.

 

Shaking her head and flipping her fingers in the air, Lola took on the southern accent she had done such a good job of ditching at the advice of her manager. “Oh, honey! You’ve just got celebrity fever! I’m not anybody important at all, but you certainly flatter me by thinking so. I just wanted to stop in and see my uncle.”

 

The woman looked at her skeptically but finally nodded. She consulted the computer but her hands shook as she manipulated the keys. “Okay. He’s in room 405. If he’s not in there, then just ask at the nurses’ station. He might be out of his room for testing.”

 

Lola hoped not. She didn’t want to hang around here any longer than she had to. Her baggy shirt and jeans wouldn’t fool people for long, not if they really looked at her. She smiled to herself as she realized what an awful outfit she had been wearing when Bishop had swooped her out of the airport and made love to her in the woods. Clearly, he hadn’t minded her dressing like a housewife on her way to buy groceries.

 

Making her way up the elevator and around the corner, Lola took a deep breath and knocked on the door for room 405. Her mother’s voice responded, “Come in.”

 

She pushed open the door. It was a private room with a large window, and several vases of flowers had been delivered for her father. He lay in a hospital bed with numerous wires and monitors hooked up to him, staring tiredly at a wall-mounted television. Mrs. Dodson sat in a nearby chair, flipping through a magazine. She lifted her head to address the newcomer, her face almost pleasant, but her visage fell into a sour one as soon as she realized who had come in the door. “Oh. It’s you.”

 

Clearly, the ratty clothes weren’t enough to fool them. Lola ignored her mother and crossed the room until she stood at her father’s feet. “Are you feeling all right?”

 

He gave her a worn-out look that could almost have been a smile. “I’m hanging on.”

 

“Do they know anything yet?”

 

“They’ve been doing tests all day,” her mother responded, slapping the magazine down onto a nearby table and glaring at Lola. “He’s going to be fine, but I already told you that.”

 

She stared at her mother for a moment. “I just wanted to come and see him.”

 

“Oh, of course you did. And you wanted to drag half the country with you just so you could make a show of being a good daughter. Well, your publicity tactics won’t work on us. We’ve already informed the hospital security that we might have unwanted visitors, and they’ve promised to remove anyone we don’t want in here.” She stuck her sharp chin in the air, daring Lola to push her further.

 

Was her own mother really threatening to have her kicked out of her father’s hospital room? This had already gone too far. “I didn’t let anyone know I was coming. Someone else did. That’s the way things are for me these days. Is it so wrong to want to come and visit my own dad in the hospital?”

 

“When you’re the one who caused his heart attack, then yes!” Mrs. Dodson was on her feet now. “Didn’t you think you’d done enough by being such a disappointment to us? And then you came back to town last month and stirred up all that ruckus? Why, your dad was convinced that the paparazzi would be trying to take pictures of us in the shower after that!”

 

“Angela …” Mr. Dodson said softly from the bed.

 

“No, George. I’m going to have my say. Laura, you have no respect for anyone but yourself. You never have, and I don’t imagine you ever will. You’ve caused enough trouble here. I suggest you remove yourself from this room right now, or I’ll have a man in a uniform do it for you.”

 

Lola opened her mouth to argue, but she could see there was no use. Her mother didn’t want her here. If her father did, then he wasn’t fighting very hard for it. She wasn’t welcome. You could never go home again, no matter how shitty of a home it had been in the first place. “Fine.” She turned on her heel and yanked the door open, blinking back tears as she headed for the elevator.

 

* * *

 

Brittany was waiting for her at the hotel room, so Lola headed straight there after she left the hospital. She had planned for this to be a short trip, and she was grateful that she only had one more day before she could get on a plane and leave Rolling Hills permanently. This would be her last visit, no matter what.

 

Chris was waiting for her outside the hotel room door. “The prodigal celebrity returns,” he said with a smirk. “That was some move, ditching us at the airport.”

 

She glared at him but didn’t reward him with a reply. It had been a shitty enough day, and she was just going to continue with that theme for the moment. “Just let me in. I don’t have time for this.”

 

“All right, but we’re going to talk sooner or later,” he promised, holding the door open.

 

Brittany sat on the bed, filing her nails, but she jumped up as soon as Lola walked in and wrapped her arms around the singer. “Holy shit! You can’t scare me like that again! When you disappeared at the airport, I assumed you had found Butch. But he came back from the security office without you and we had no idea where you’d gone. Where have you been?”

 

Lola wanted to tell her friend all about her tryst with Bishop, but the girl talk would have to come later. “I went to see my parents at the hospital, but that didn’t go very well.”

 

“I’m sorry.”

 

“I knew it wouldn’t,” Lola said with a shrug. “There’s no use in being disappointed. Did you go to the pharmacy for me?”

 

A wicked smile took over Brittany’s face, and she tossed her ponytail. “I did. It’s waiting for you on the bathroom counter.”

 

“Good. I’ve already had a horrible day, and I have a feeling I’m about to go make it worse.” She stepped into the bathroom and shut the door, staring at herself in the mirror for a moment. Lola had made far too many mistakes in her life. She had plenty of money, and everyone in the media wanted to interview her or snag pictures of her, but that didn’t necessarily make her life a good one. Now, she knew exactly what the pregnancy test was going to say even before she took it out of the wrapper. Lola could feel the difference in herself, and it was more than just the argument with her parents or the attraction she had for Bishop. She wasn’t just one person anymore.

 

A minute later, she sat on the little bench in the bathroom, holding the plastic stick and watching as two lines slowly appeared in the result window. Positive. Lola’s hand slid unconsciously to her still-flat abdomen, silently apologizing to the life she was bringing into this world. It was a harsh place, where people couldn’t enjoy being themselves.

 

A soft knock came on the door. “Lola? Are you doing all right in there?” It was Brittany.

 

Lola reached over and opened the door, holding up the pregnancy test for her friend to see.

 

Brittany looked at it for a moment, her jaw dropping open and her eyes widening. She jumped up and down before scooping Lola into a hug. “Oh, my God! This is so exciting! Who’s the father?”

 

Lola frowned. There was a chance this child wouldn’t even have a father. Bishop was fun, but he was a biker. “Just a guy.”

 

“Just a guy?” Brittany repeated. “Oh, come on! There’s no such thing as ‘just a guy’ when you’re a celebrity! Even some random dude you sleep with becomes a celebrity in his own right just because he’s been with you. Who was it?”

 

But Lola didn’t feel like talking. It was all weighing too heavily on her shoulders. In her mind, she fantasized how the conversation with Bishop would go. She would tell him it was his, and he would shrug and take off on his bike. He wouldn’t want to be tied down with some brat. Still, she had to tell him. “I should go talk to him first.” Lola left the bathroom and picked up her cell. She sent a text to Bishop.

 

Where are you?

 

“Fine,” Brittany said with a pout, following her into the room. “I guess your best friend doesn’t deserve to know anything?”

 

“We’ll talk later,” Lola promised. She felt a little dizzy at having her suspicions confirmed, and she would rather go to bed than head out into public again, but she had to find Bishop. “I promise.”

 

Lola grabbed her purse and headed to the door.

 

“Don’t you want to change first?” Brittany asked, pointing at the oversized T-shirt.

 

Glancing down at herself, Lola shrugged. Bishop wasn’t going to like what she had to say no matter how good or bad she looked. “It doesn’t matter. I’ll be back later.”

 

Chris turned around when she opened the door. She didn’t say anything to him and headed down the hall, but she heard his footsteps behind her. Lola turned sharply. “What are you doing?”

 

“My job, the last time I checked. Despite your little stunt earlier, I’m supposed to be your bodyguard, remember?”

 

“I don’t need you right now. You should be guarding the room.” Lola took a few more steps toward the elevator.

 

“No, I’m supposed to be with you. I was only at the room because we had no idea where the hell you were. Butch is out right now trying to get extra help for when we have to go back to the airport tomorrow, and you and I both know he’ll slaughter me if I’m not with you.”

 

She pressed her lips together. “Fine. I’ll just stay here for now and maybe take a nap. Lead the way.”

 

As soon as Chris rounded the corner in front of her, Lola ran back to the elevator. She pushed the buttons on the panel next to it, then went around the next corner to the stairwell. The elevator doors opened and shut before Chris got to them, just as she had hoped. She could hear Chris shouting and banging on the elevator buttons as she pounded down the stairs, but she didn’t need his assistance to tell Bishop the news.

 

Just as she reached the lobby, her phone beeped. It was Bishop.

 

I’m at The Dive. Are you okay?

 

Not really, but that didn’t matter right now. A hopeful taxi waited near the curb for a fare, and she dove into the backseat. “The Dive, as fast as you can.”

 

The cabbie complied, grinning at her in the rearview despite the speed at which he was driving. “You know, they have much better drinks at the hotel bar than they do at The Dive. You’re really missing out by going to a little hole in the wall like that.”

 

“It’s okay. Just get me there quick.” Her breath was finally starting to slow down, and she wondered if Chris had seen her get into the taxi. She glanced out the rear windshield but saw no evidence that they were being followed, and she sagged into the seat.

 

Bishop swiveled on his stool as soon as she walked in the door. He got up and took her by the arm, leading her to a booth in the back corner. Fortunately, it wasn’t the same booth they had been sitting in when someone had opened fire on her. It was a little darker back here, and nobody had seemed to notice her just yet. “What are you doing here?” he asked, looking around as though he, too, was waiting for the crowds to arrive. “And without any security?”

 

“I left them behind,” she explained. “I need to talk to you.”

 

“I’ll get us a drink.” He headed toward the bar.

 

She caught his arm. “No, no drinks. I just want to talk.” His muscles flexed under her hand, and she instantly remembered how they felt around her. Lola wanted to have them around her once again, and she felt a spark of hope that he might not be upset about the baby. After all, Bishop had been the realest, most reliable person she’d known in a long time. He might put his arm around her, tell her everything was all right, and then take her off somewhere for yet another session of hot and heavy lovemaking.

 

“Is everything okay? Do we need to get out of here?”

 

It would be nice, but she didn’t want to wait any longer. “No, let’s just sit.”

 

But the door to the bar opened, and Lola felt the hairs on the back of her neck prickle. She turned, seeing Chris’s form filling the doorway. He stormed in, his head flinging from side to side until his dark eyes locked on her. His rage was palpable as he marched up to her. “Lola,” he said in a low voice, “I’ve got the car outside. Get in. Now.”

 

“No,” she replied, planting her feet to the floor. “I’m not going anywhere. I told you I don’t need you, and you wouldn’t listen.”

 

“Yeah?” The bodyguard’s eyes darted from her to Bishop and back again. “What are you doing with this guy?”

 

“It’s none of your business. Now go away!”

 

“Stop being such a spoiled little bitch and get into the car!”

 

“Hey!” Bishop stepped between the two of them, his chest puffed and his arms wide. “You have no right to talk to her like that.”

 

“I’m trying to keep her away from local yokels like you,” Chris snarled. “Now get out of the way, before I get the police involved.”

 

Bishop’s voice was quiet, yet it held more threats than if he had yelled. “You go right ahead. I can promise you’ll regret it.”

 

Chris hauled back and swung, but Bishop blocked the blow. His right fist went flying into the bodyguard’s side, but Chris had a grip on him now. They tumbled to the floor, a tangle of flying fists and kicks. Lola yelled at them to stop, but if they heard her they showed now sign. The other few patrons in the bar gathered to watch but made no move to interfere.

 

“Holy shit.” Lola grabbed her phone and called Butch. He was the only person she knew who could break the two of them up. “You’ve got to get down to the bar. Chris is causing trouble,” she said quickly.

 

“I was just on my way back to the hotel. What’s going on?”

 

Lola held out the phone for a second, then pressed it back to her ear. “You catch that?”

 

“Enough. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

 

Bishop was on top of Chris now. He had him pinned down between his legs. His arms ratcheted back before shooting forward, pounding the other man in the face. Blood spurted from Chris’s nose, but he showed no sign of giving up. He was on the losing end, but instead of blocking the punches from Bishop he was struggling to land a few strikes of his own. His fist glanced off Bishop’s jaw but had little effect.

 

Lola stepped backward, wanting to stay out of the fray just as much as she wanted to dive into it. She wished she could yank the two of them apart, but it would have been impossible. They were deadlocked together and determined.

 

It seemed to take forever for Butch to get there, but in reality it was only a few minutes. He stomped into the bar, pushed through the small crowd of bar patrons, put his hands under Chris’s armpits, and dragged him to his feet.

 

Bishop stopped swinging and jumped up, but his stance said he was ready to continue the fight if need be.

 

“Get him,” Chris commanded, his voice slurred as he pointed at the biker. “He won’t leave Lola alone.”

 

“I came here because I wanted to talk to him,” she retorted. “If you would have listened to me, none of this would have happened.”

 

Butch was watching the situation closely. “You’re all right with this guy?”

 

Her patience was running thin, but none of this was Butch’s fault. “Yes.”

 

The big man nodded. “We’ll be in the car when you’re ready.” He dragged Chris out of the bar, still protesting. The other patrons went back to their seats, and things were mostly normal. A few people were still glancing her way, but they had seen what Bishop had done to Chris. They weren’t going to mess with her.

 

Lola sank into the booth and Bishop sat down across from her. “What the hell was that all about?”

 

She shook her head. “He’s just trying to do his job. I came here, like I said, because I wanted to talk to you.”

 

“What about?” His eyebrows inched toward each other.

 

She took a deep breath. This was where her life changed, but it would all be all right. Bishop cared about her; the fact that he had pummeled Chris like that proved it. He didn’t have to get involved, but he had chosen to. Now he was involved all the way. “I’m pregnant.”

 

Bishop stared at her for a long moment. “I see.”

 

This wasn’t at all what she had been hoping for. “I thought you might be happy. I mean, it’s yours.”

 

“How do I know that?” His face was suddenly twisted with hurt, an expression she hadn’t seen on him before. Bishop had always been more arrogant than anything else, but it was clear he was pulling away from her now.

 

“Excuse me?” Lola couldn’t believe her ears. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

 

“Come on, Lola. You’re a star. I’m not dumb enough to believe I’m the only guy you’re sleeping with.”

 

Anger washed away any last traces of hope she’d had. “Don’t you dare say such things about me!”

 

“Why not? I saw the way Chris was on television, sitting right next to you and practically fucking you with his eyes right in front of the entire country. You might have denied the rumors, but he certainly didn’t. And then the way he looked at me when he came in here and saw us together? That wasn’t a professional relationship, Lola. He was jealous as hell.”

 

“Of course he was, because he wants me to be with him. But I’m not, and I never have been.” There had been so many ways Lola could have imagined this conversation would go, but this wasn’t one of them.

 

The ice in Bishop’s stare was painful. “I’d like to believe you, Lola. But I saw the way he looked at you. I saw the possessiveness in his body when he saw the two of us together. There’s a lot more going on there than you’re letting on.”

 

“I see.” And she did. Lola thought she had meant something to Bishop, but if that had been the case he would have believed her. There wouldn’t have been a question about whose baby was growing inside her. A void opened up in the floor underneath her, and she fell through. She had been desperately hoping for Bishop’s support. He didn’t have to love her or agree to be with her, and she didn’t even expect any child support from him, but now she had nothing. “If that’s the way you want it to be, then fine.”

 

Lola headed outside and got in the back of the waiting car. Butch was behind the driver’s seat and Chris was in the passenger seat next to him, holding a tissue against his bloody nose. “Did you and your boyfriend kiss and make up?” Chris asked. Butch punched him in the arm.

 

“Just take me back to the hotel.” She watched The Dive slip by out the window as they headed downtown. Things had taken a seriously wrong turn somewhere. “Chris?”

 

“Yeah?”

 

“You’re fired.”

 

“I know.”