FIVE

The Man’s Name

“Down to earth, Lolita.”

Lolita blinked severally. Her eyes settled on Jarrod, who was snapping his fingers at her face. When he saw that her vision was balanced, he tucked a few strands of hair behind her ear.

“Can you share your thoughts with me?” he asked with a small smile.

She bit her lips, contemplating whether to tell him or not. This was a sensitive topic for Jarrod; she didn’t understand why but it just was. She then dropped the bomb.

“Will you at least tell me his name?”

Jarrod’s hand dropped from her face. “You didn’t just ask me that, babe.”

“Just tell me his name,” she begged. “Tell me anything. Why won’t you say something about him?”

“Because it’s unimportant!”

“He’s your brother. Jesus, Jarrod, I should be able to know your brother at least.”

Jarrod pushed his hair back from his forehead and angled towards the door. “I’m ready to go. If you’re going to keep asking me questions, I’ll just let you drive out to the birthday party on your own.”

Lolita scoffed. She saw no reason in pushing him for answers except for deep rooted curiosity, but she also saw no reasons as to why he would hold out and not give out any information.

“Let’s leave together,” she told him. “I’ll never mention him again.”

Jarrod smiled warmly, as though his world has just been lit with the sunniest sunshine. She wondered what it was to him and why he was just so stuck up about this.

“I got Sammy a present,” he said to her. “Did you get any or should we present this together?”

“Let’s present it together,” Lolita answered. “I didn’t get her any and it’s too late anyways.”

“Whoa. Good thing I made this custom made bracelet then.”

“Yeah, good thing I guess.”

The ride to the birthday party was silent but comfortable. Lolita’s head was blank. She was beginning to make peace with the fact that she’d never see the man again, and she would never know his name. Tessa seemed to know him. She wondered if she could have just waited it out and just asked Tessa questions. Tessa used to be close friends with Jarrod right before she came into the picture.

“We’re here, babe.”

Lolita inhaled sharply at his voice, then slowed her breathing. She turned to t him and saw that he was looking back at her, worried.

“Are you okay?” he asked. “If you don’t wanna come in, I can just cancel and tell Sammy that something came up.”

She chuckled and grabbed her bag. “Please. She would never actually let it slide. I’m fine, let’s go.”

They entered the hall. Samantha liked to throw a lavish birthday party every year; booking the most expensive and luxurious hall so that she’d have her birthday dinner and party session in there. When they stepped in, someone threw herself at Lolita.

“You came!” Samantha gushed, palming her face. “I mean, you are slightly late—”

“Late? How?”

“You missed dinner, darling.”

Lolita looked around and saw that chefs were taking out the plates. “Oh.”

“That’s my fault,” Jarrod interjected. “I couldn’t decide on a suit color.”

Samantha beamed at him. “Nonsense. I’m sure that you’re innocent in this scheme!” she playfully tugged Lolita’s chin. “Remember to mingle, my cutie pie. I’ll be back soon—I need to make sure that the specific drink I asked for is evenly distributed!”

And with that she took off. Beaming, Lolita turned to Jarrod.

“She’s like a bird even on her own birthday. We should find somewhere to sit and keep the gifts for her…” her voice trailed off.

Jarrod’s gaze was locked on something else, and he was fuming. He was fuming so much that she could even see his hands shaking. When she followed his gaze, the room sort of parted. His brother was in the middle, looking at them.

She forgot to breathe. She may not exactly see his face since he was so far back, but his aura seemed to reach her, drugging her, calling to her.

“Let’s leave here,” Jarrod hissed in her ear. “I hate it already.”

Lolita blinked and looked at him. “What’s the matter? We can’t just leave; we just got here.”

“There is someone I don’t like—”

“Who?”

When they looked at the spot again, he was gone. Jarrod looked around, his jaw locking.

“He was just there!” he said.

“Honey, who is it?”

“Didn’t you see him?”

“See who? What are you talking about? Who don’t you like?”

Jarrod bit his lips, clearly exasperated. He looked around again and then back to Lolita.

“Hang around somewhere; I’m going to seek him out.”

Lolita grabbed his arm. “Babe.”

“It might be nothing. Hopefully I’m hallucinating because I clearly asked him to leave!”

A few people turned their heads their way. Lolita blushed embarrassingly at this.

“Okay, you do your business and don’t keep me waiting for long,” she said.

Jarrod nodded absently at him. When he took off, she stood embarrassed for a minute longer before walking into the crowd. They seemed to swallow her up, and so she didn’t notice the man walking closely behind her until she got to a table.

“Lola,” he whispered at her neck.

She gasped and jerked away, her hackles rising. When she saw who it was, the goose-bumps on her arms sort of increased. He laughed, the tendons in his neck stretching to show his tattoos. Lolita gulped.

“You’re like a scared little cat,” he whispered, his eyes blazing with excitement.

“What are you doing here?” she glanced around for Jarrod. “He’s going to see you and—”

“And what?” the man smiled. “Didn’t you just deny to not seeing me?”

“I—” Lolita folded her arms and tightened her gaze on him. “What is your name?”

“Ouch. He didn’t even tell you that part.”

“Nope, but I’m curious enough to know.”

“My brother is dramatic, but surely, a name is easy for him to be able to provide?” When she said nothing, he nodded to himself with a smile. “I suppose he wouldn’t let that slip either.”

“So are you going to tell me or you’re just going to keep it to yourself?”

The interest in his eyes blazed brighter. “There’s no point in keeping it to myself, Lola. My name is Hayden.”

Hayden, she thought. Hayden.

It was so simple and so hot. It sounded just like him—dark haired with the neck tattoos and the faded blue eyes; eyes that seemed to brighten each time something intrigued him. When he stepped towards her, Lolita stepped back.

“Do you remember me now?” he asked.

She blinked at him. “What?”

Another smile stretched his lips. “You’re quite interesting, Lola. I expected you to have remembered me. It was an eventful night for both of us; I should be easily remembered.”

Lolita looked around at the bystanders before facing him. “What are you talking about?”

“Oh, I’m talking about that night in London. Do you need specifics? Perhaps if I guide you that way, you could remember the details of our time together?”