Lola didn't even hear her phone the second time, but had she, she would have sort of cursed over that. She knew she hadn't told Benny exactly why she was feeling under the weather, and she sort of assumed he would know for no real reason since she was sure no one knew about Kenzie's tossing of her besides herself and Kenzie. And all of Kenzie's family. But that was beside the point.
Lola would be relieved to have Benny be on her side of things, when they got to it, and it just surprised her that Kenzie wasn't. He had known she was as she was, and he had defended her, but something had changed. Who knew what, but it had, and so Lola was tossed to the bin without warning. It was a good thing they were at her place when he did it, or else she would have had to crawl home a wreck. He had been thoughtful that way. If one could apply 'thoughtful' to Kenzie at that point. Lola was trying.
She didn't think of Benny as a prospect since she had gotten involved with Kenzie, since she was, as she had said, head over heels for the man. Benny was her friend, a good friend, a dear friend, but a friend. And not one with benefits, either!
She was sipping her iced hot chocolate when Benny arrived and she gave a wave to him in return, taking in a breath and feeling awkward over the wave of emotion that hit her, looking down and trying to casually wipe under each eye. She was not going to cry in Starbucks. Not. No. But seeing Benny smile at her felt so nice after what had happened with Kenzie and-and. She was not going to cry.
Here was hoping he didn't ask if she was alright, though. She knew she'd fall apart if he did. And seeing as her eyes were red, her smile close to a frown, and her hands were a bit shaky, it was more than likely going to be the first thing she as asked. There was the rub about meeting in public. Sure, she wouldn't look like some triumphant slut, getting her lover to come over after her boyfriend finally left (lies, lies!), but she would look like a weepy woman sitting in a Starbucks. Oh well. Her iced hot chocolate was good, at least.