Miss Lola.

Chapter 39.

"Girl, I'm so happy to see you." Avis wailed, starting to cry and I felt so sorry for her.

My girl had a morose disposition but who can blame her? Shoot, I'd  definitely cry too if I was in her predicament.

"And I'm just as happy to see you." I said, getting a little teary eyed myself and wishing that I could give her a hug but touching wasn't allowed.

"So, how you doing?" I ask.

"Not too great. Jail is horrible and the food could kill a mule, however I brought it on myself for shooting Ronald." She said in a tragic manner.

"Well, he ain't dead and so that's something at least." I remind her. In fact, Ronald was already out of the hospital and parading his horse faced, skanky mistress around like she's America's Next Top Model.

I didn't tell Avis this.

"Could you thank Hollis for sending the lawyer? He's doing a swell job, considering what he has to work with." She said, wiping her eyes on the sleeve of the jumpsuit.

"Sure, I'll let Hollis know and don't you worry about the lawyer's fee either because he's doing it pro bono as a favor to Hollis."

Avis eyes filled up with grateful tears.

"You got a good man, Lola. I hope you recognize that."

Which should have been the moment to let Avis know that Hollis and I were getting married, however I chickened out because it wouldn't have exactly been the best news to lay on Avis right now.

Not while she's locked up, not while her future doesn't look very bright and she's possibly facing a long prison sentence.

It would have been cruel to share my good news with her at this juncture and so I kept the conversation light hearted until the guard said time was up and then I said a sad goodbye to my friend.

She was crying again when I left.

I guess the sadness lingered because my mood was pretty low for the rest of the day and not even Hollis could cheer me up.

He arrived with the anticipation of taking me to dinner but ended up spending the night watching a chick flick and eating a big, bowl of the homemade beef stew and corn bread that I'd whipped up instead.

It was the very first time that Hollis had chilled at my house and I was too emotionally drained to enjoy the moment.

He'd gotten comfy on the sofa and had his arm around me pretending to enjoy some movie starring Sandra Bullock and a bunch of other women who were scheming to rob the Met Gala or something like that.

By the middle of the movie, Hollis eyes were glazed and I realized that he was just watching this movie to make me happy and for some reason him doing that annoyed the heck out of me.

"Hollis?" I said. "If you don't like the movie then you can change it."

"Huh? What?" Even his voice sounded dull and dry.

"I said that you can change the movie." My voice sounded much too loud.

"No, baby. I'm watching this one with you."

"Well, what's the movie about?"

"Hell, I don't know." He said and I punched his shoulder and then moved his arm so that I could stand up.

"Ouch! What was that for?" Hollis asked.

"You know what, Hollis Jeffrey Williams? You're too nice for me." I said, grabbing the remote and turning the D.V.D player off before stalking into the kitchen.

Of course he followed me.

"Lola? What's wrong with you?"

By then I was wildly opening every cabinet above the sink not even sure of what I was looking for and Hollis instantly grabbed my hands and pulled me against his body.

"What's your malfunction, girl?" He asked.

"Don't you dare use my word." I said.

"What? Malfunction? Lola, it's just a word." Hollis said, staring at me like I'd sprouted an extra eyeball in the middle of my forehead

"Yeah, but it's my word and I don't want you using it and stop looking at me like that."

"Okay, cool your jets and tell me what's really bugging you?" Hollis said calmly because he'd obviously realized that there was something deeper going on with me.

"It's Avis. I visited her this morning and have been in a foul mood ever since."

"Why didn't you call me? I would have gone with you." He said.

"I don't want to keep dragging you into my drama, Hollis."

"Oh, I don't mind." He was smiling a little and then he kissed the corner of my lips and I turned my head at the last second and accidentally met his lips with my own and the next thing you

know, Hollis and I were kissing like mad and panting like two randy teenagers.

He backed me against the counter, bent his head to trail hot kisses down my neck and it felt so good that I swear I must have blacked out a little because suddenly everything had gone dark.

"Hollis?" I managed to say his name between gasps. "Is it really dark in here?"

"Hmm." His words were muffled because his lips were currently sucking the tender hollow of my neck.

Blinking my eyes and opening them as wide as they could go, I looked around the kitchen and then it hit me that the room had actually gone black.

"Hollis! The power has gone out." I screeched, pushing him away and frantically flicking the light switch above the counter on and off with nothing to show for it except several dry clicks.

"Well, dang." Hollis groaned.

Later we discovered that all the lights in my neighborhood had shut down for several hours until the power company arrived to fix the problem but by then Hollis ardor had cooled somewhat and so had mine.

We lit a couple of candles and sat on the front porch watching the guys working on the street lights.

It was growing later and later but the stars were out and it was a beautiful night.

Finally Hollis yawned and reminded me that he had an early day at work tomorrow and as much as I hated to see him go, I guess it was for the best.

Otherwise I'd have to really break my three month rule in all kinds of slutty ways tonight of all nights.

"Well, we can finish what we started in two more days." He said, catching my hand in his and softly kissing each finger. "I love you, Lola Simmons."

"And I love you too, Hollis Williams. Goodnight."

11/15/21
Edited 2/20/22.