say its not so

Ian really hadn't meant to put Lola on the spot, but a few days ago..he spotted her at the grocery store with a baby.

"I..I'm babysitting." She didn't sound so certain of it. Ian just smiled.

"You baby sit?" It just seemed a bit unnatural. Or so he thought. She never mentioned it before, but he could see she was freaked and he hadn't meant too.

"Yeah." Her laugh was a little shallow, possibly fake.

"Well..well, that's great." Ian didn't mean to sound so cynical, but he was pretty sure Josie was being a liar these days about Derrick. Now this. He was sort of shocked.

"Liam's my brother's." She was trying to smile. "Look, look, you should come over. Meet my brother." At that point, Liam was a little fussy and he wanted his animal crackers. She needed to make a quick exit with him. Possibly a diaper change. He'd told her he'd help with the groceries if she liked. He could wait for her. It hadn't exactly turned into a date, but still it was good. He liked that he could help. He wanted to.

But now, here he was all alone with Milo, who was practically in his own little world. He was watching TV or perhaps suffering in his own silence. There were pictures of him, in better times. Ian saw Milo in black and white with Liam's mother.

Ian didn't want to dare go there. Naturally, he rattled off about how he'd been friends with Lola for months now. He was glad to meet him. But Milo avoided eye contact. Ian wished he could say the right thing, but there was possibly no right thing to say.

Finally, Lola returned. Liam was asleep for the night now.

"Lets go to my room." She took his hand. It was as if she'd planned an escape, all along. And she didn't say a word to Milo.

It was there he saw the Christmas lights, and he thought of how she'd decorated Jules and Willow's place. He smiled. It was so enchanting and the low light made her all the romantic sort. Ian looked around. There were shelves of finger nail polish by her dresser. He took her fingers and saw she didn't wear finger nail polish.

"How come you don't ever paint your nails?" He looked at her, up close as if he was finding a whole new girl he didn't quite know, but wanted to.

"Never really have the time." She shook her head.

"Now you do." He smiled and went to find a glitter coat of silver pink in her collection. Honestly, he didn't know what he was doing, but it felt right.