Chapter Ten
“I think you’ve found us a winner,” Trudy said, two weeks later. She took off her dark-rimmed glasses and regarded Hadley from across the desk in the office they shared. “I was skeptical at first, but Ms. Adair has certainly risen to the occasion with these new samples.”
“So, the order’s been written?” Hadley asked, clasping her hands in front of her face.
“Here you go,” Trudy said, handing over the paperwork. “I’m putting a lot of eggs in this basket, Hadley. I hope this gamble pays off the way you assure me it will.”
“Understood. I assume full responsibility for whatever happens moving forward.”
“Good. This one is your baby. Don’t let me down.” Trudy sashayed her way across the small office and grabbed her Louis Vuitton bag. “I have a lunch. I’ll see you soon. Oh, and take a look at the new arrivals and organize a plan for a cleaner showcase of the Dena Marie dresses. They’re not moving the way they should, and it’s likely our presentation.”
“I’ll get right on it.”
Hadley waited patiently as Trudy exited the office entirely and then broke into a silent scream accompanied by festive spirit fingers. Yes, they’d had the go-ahead from Trudy already, but it was different when the order was in hand. It was a done deal now! Spencer’s line would move into the store just as soon as the manufacturer could ship the order. She fumbled for her phone and placed the call she’d been waiting to place.
“You’re official,” she said as soon as Spencer answered.
“I’m in? You’re sure? You already had the meeting and everything?”
“Trudy just gave me the paperwork. It’s a done deal.”
Silence on the other end of the line. Hadley knew Spencer wasn’t nearly as demonstrative as she was when it came to expressing big emotion, but knew that this kind of news would rock even her. When she did speak again, her voice was laced with emotion. “I can’t believe it,” she said quietly. “We’re there. This is a big moment for me.”
“Enjoy it,” Hadley said, tears pooling in her own eyes at the sound of Spencer’s vulnerability. “You deserve it.”
“I am. I just wish we were together right now, you know. You made this happen just as much as I did.”
“I wouldn’t go that far,” Hadley said. “You put in a little more work, I’d say.”
“I want to see you. Can you come to my mom’s house for dinner tonight?”
The invitation was one she’d been waiting on since they’d first broached the subject two weeks ago. She grinned at the ceiling and turned in a small circle in the office. “I would love that.” Spencer rattled off the address and time as Hadley took notes. “What can I bring? I want to contribute.”
“Absolutely nothing. My mother would never allow it. Just you.”
“Easy enough. I’ll see you tonight, superstar.”
“Hadley.”
“Yep?”
“Thank you. Just…thank you. If you were in front of me right now, there would be kissing, and hugging, and more kissing.”
Warmth hit her chest and spread. “I would hope so. And you’re welcome.” Hadley clicked off the call on a high, looking forward to the night ahead. Heck, the days ahead! The weeks! She floated out of the showroom to adjust the display Trudy had asked about. She didn’t even mind the grunt work. There was nothing that could tear her down from this high.
* * *
Spencer grabbed the strainer and tossed in the asparagus, doing what she could to help with dinner, which smelled amazing.
“You’re not going to overwhelm her, right?” she asked her mother, who came around the corner in a beautiful yellow dress, one Spencer had designed personally the year prior. “Oh, Mama, you look gorgeous. I love that piece on you! Your photo should go on the website.”
“Just a little something to celebrate the last few semi-warm days we’ll have for a while. The cold hits next week and never leaves. Plus, this is a big day! An official order for Rodeo Drive, and I get to meet the new woman in your life who’s been keeping you so busy lately. It felt like the appropriate day to go all out and wear a nice dress.” Her mother grabbed Spencer’s head and kissed the side of it with a smack as she passed.
“Stop the manhandling.”
“I will not. I’m your mama and will manhandle my child whenever I so please,” her mother said calmly, checking on her pot roast.
“She here yet?” her father yelled from the entryway.
Spencer closed her eyes a moment. “What if she had been? You can’t come in here hollering. That’s embarrassing.” She loved her parents to death, but she was now seeing how they might appear to an outsider, and that had her on edge, which was dumb. Hadley loved all people, and that’s why she loved Hadley.
What?
God.
Where had that popped up from? Hadley’s acceptance of everyone was why she liked Hadley so much. Why she was into her. She pinched the bridge of her nose. Better.
“It’s our job as your elders to be embarrassing,” her mother said, with an authoritative stare. “You’ll do it to your kids one day. It’s the cycle of life.”
Her father strolled into the kitchen wearing his work clothes. Slacks, a short-sleeve button-up, and a sweater vest. His standard. “I look okay. Don’t I, Sparky?” He adjusted his vest, and Spencer smiled at how cute he was.
“You look great, Pop.”
That’s when the doorbell sounded. They all three turned in synchronized anticipation. Spencer held up a hand. “Let me.” When she opened the door, Hadley didn’t just smile, she vibrated happiness. She wore an A-line purple dress that Spencer just knew her mother was going to love, and had her hair down and swept all to one side.
“For you,” Hadley said, presenting Spencer with a bottle of Champagne. “Welcome to the Silhouette family.”
“You didn’t have to go to any trouble.” She met Hadley’s eyes and grinned, touched by the gesture. Throwing a glance behind her to make sure they were alone, she stepped out onto the porch. “My parents are lively but loveable. Just know that in case they venture into appearing nosy, which could definitely happen. Did I mention they can be loud?”
Hadley was completely unfazed. “I’m ready.”
Because she couldn’t help herself, she placed an arm around Hadley’s waist and pulled her in. “And they’re going to love you.” They shared a kiss before Spencer took her hand and led her into the house.
“Well, hello!” her mother said, coming around the kitchen counter with her arms open for a hug. “You must be Hadley.”
“That’s me,” Hadley said, hugging her mother. She placed a hand on her chest and looked all around. “Thank you so much for inviting me. I love your house. Oh, hello!” she said to Spencer’s father. “Hadley Cooper.”
“Russell Adair. I’ve heard you’re friendly.”
“I’ve been told so.”
“And I’m Sonora,” her mother said. “Sonny for short. Like the sunshine.”
“Which is perfect for your gorgeous dress.”
“You think so?” Her mother turned to the side to model it more effectively, slimming a hand down her stomach.
“Looking good, Sonny,” her father said, before dashing off to sneak a bite of food, no doubt. Spencer laughed. Okay, this was going well.
Her mother moved to the couch and patted the seat next to her for Hadley to sit. When the two of them were side by side like a couple of best friends, her mother launched in. “Tell me about you.”
“Well, I’m a Gemini and a big believer in all things good in the world.”
Spencer laughed at what was probably the whitest sentence she’d ever heard. Didn’t matter. It was all Hadley.
“I was raised in Calabasas but have come to love living in Venice. It’s my home.”
“It’s beautiful out that way!” her mama remarked. Hadley continued to impart her life story as her mother nodded and oohed and ahhed in all the right places. Her pop hadn’t been seen recently, which meant he was still in the midst of raiding the oven. She prayed silently he’d leave enough for dinner. Yet somewhere in the middle of that moment, she felt herself relax. Things felt…natural, as if they would all be just fine without her. She didn’t have to direct the conversation or monitor the flow. Hadley was taking care of herself. She could just kick back and enjoy it all. What an odd and wonderful relief that was. “Two dads!” she heard her mother say, pulling her attention back to the conversation. “Oh, I bet they doted on you.”
“You have no idea. I was dressed to the nines just to go out for ice cream. I credit them with my fashion ability, which led me to Spencer.”
“Then we might just owe them by the end of all this. Tell me what you think of her.”
“Mama!” Spencer said. But she was easily waved off as the two new peas in a pod continued to dish. If they continued at this pace, her mother would like Hadley more than her. Not that she would blame her. She listened as Hadley described her as smart, ambitious, talented, and a knockout.
“Oh, I think you have her pegged nicely,” her mother said. “But you forget stubborn, pigheaded, and stubborn again.”
“Maybe I should be taking notes. Then again, I’m sensing a theme.”
Her mother nodded. “A very noticeable theme.”
“You realize I’m sitting directly across from you, right?” Spencer asked.
Her mother scoffed. “As if you didn’t know yourself. Hadley, if you ever need a house, you just let me know. I’ll drop my commission.”
Hadley lit up. “That’s a very generous offer. When the time comes, I’ll be calling you.”
“We’ll have such fun when we set out to look. We can build in some time for lunch at this new Thai food spot that’s getting lots of buzz.”
“I love Thai food.”
Spencer shook her head. “You’re planning a fictitious house-hunting venture in the long distant future. You two just met.”
“But we get on!” her mother crowed.
“We get on nicely!” Hadley crowed along with her. Spencer wasn’t sure how she felt about their united force but suspected it to be a very positive thing once she’d had a chance to wrap her mind around it.
Her mama popped Hadley on the knee. “The three of us have to stop gabbing now. We have a dinner to eat. Russell! Your fat fingers better not be infiltrating my pot roast.” But they weren’t. When they came around the table to sit, they found her father finishing up a batch of freshly squeezed lemonade. The kind he used to make for Spencer and Kendra when they were kids.
“Give this a try,” he said proudly, and handed a glass to Hadley as if it were his masterpiece he was now vulnerably releasing to the world.
She sipped the iced lemonade as he leaned in. “Oh, goodness. That’s amazing! What’s in that?”
“Can’t give away all my secrets,” he said warmly, and patted her arm.
“Now you’re just showing off,” Spencer said. In response, he handed her her own glass and set out one for himself and Sonny, who’d brought the dinner to the table.
They gathered around, took their seats, and joined hands. “There are lots of gods people pray to, Hadley, but we find it’s best to pray to just one of them. Feel free to join us.”
Hadley smiled and bowed her head as Spencer’s mother led them in a short prayer of thanksgiving for the food. What followed was a delicious parade of homemade pot roast, new potatoes, mixed vegetables, and fresh salad (with homemade dressing, of course).
“I can’t tell you how long it’s been since I’ve had a meal this wonderful,” Hadley said, placing her hand on top of Sonny’s. “You’ve really made me feel special tonight. Thank you.”
“Well, if you’re special to my Spencer, then you’re special to me.” They seemed to share a moment before Russell intervened out of discomfort or jealousy. Hard to say which.
“Where’s the pie, Sonora? I’ll get it.”
“Let me help,” Hadley said, setting her napkin neatly on the table. She followed Russell to the stove where her mother had left the chocolate strawberry pie to cool. They shuffled about with plates and forks.
Alone at the table, Spencer turned to her mother. “Well?” she asked quietly.
“I don’t know why we didn’t meet this woman sooner. She’s well-mannered, and cheerful, and more likable than anyone I’ve met in five years.”
“So, you’re in?” Spencer laughed.
“I see what you see in her, Spencer,” her mother said, with warm eyes. “This one is a catch.”
“That’s what I think, too.”
“Don’t you get spooked.”
“Me?” she asked, knowing full well it was exactly like her. Her mama knew, too.
“You,” her mother said, pointedly.
“Am I too late?” an out-of-breath voice called from the entryway. “Is she still here? Traffic killed me.” Kendra dashed into the living room still wearing her Snoopy scrubs.
“She’s here,” her mother said happily.
Hadley returned with the pie and placed it on the center of the table. “Hi,” she said brightly when she saw Kendra standing there. “I’m Hadley.” She moved toward Kendra with an extended hand. “And I happen to be a big fan of Snoopy.”
“Me, too! I’m Kendra. The best friend.”
Hadley pointed at her. “Who knows all about lighting and music.”
“That’s me!” A pause. “You look so familiar, though. Have we met somewhere?”
“Well…Rodeo Drive?” Hadley offered.
“Unlikely.”
“Venice Beach.”
“No, again. Any reason to have been in labor and delivery at any point?”
Hadley’s eyes went wide and her mouth fell open. “You’re Nurse Kendra from Autumn’s delivery. She had twins a couple of months ago! A boy and a girl. Ring any bells?”
“Caroline and William!” Kendra exclaimed in adoration. “Two royal names! With the crocheted matching hats.”
“Yes! Those were a gift from me. A woman I know makes them. This is amazing.” Hadley turned. “Spencer, your best friend helped deliver the twins. She was so supportive and wonderful to Autumn and Kate that day.”
“That’s Kendra,” Spencer said, smiling on. It really was quite a coincidence.
Kendra squinted. “Wait. Were you the one who was humming Brahms for hours after the babies were born?”
“That was me!” Hadley said. “Catchy tune. I still return to it every now and again.”
“I hum it every day. It’s my work theme song.”
A lightbulb seemed to pop on above Hadley’s head. “Hey, you should come to theme night next week. I do them once a month at the apartment complex where I live. Just fun reasons to get together and celebrate something festive. This month, I’m doing Winnie-the-Pooh in honor of the twins. Their nursery décor inspired the whole thing. Snacks, music, and anything you want to wear inspired by the Hundred Acre Wood, of course. Not that you have to dress up to attend. You don’t.”
“I’d love to,” Kendra said. “Just have to check my schedule at work, but I could always trade if there’s a conflict. It would be great to see the little ones again now that they’re older.”
“Oh! Can I come, too?” Sonny asked. “I love Winnie, but Kanga and Roo are my favorite. They’re so cuddly and sweet to each other.”
“I’d like nothing more!” Hadley said, looking like she’d just won the friend lottery. “Spencer, you can make it, right? Tuesday after work. You don’t have to dress up. I promise.”
Spencer’s heart was overflowing watching Hadley’s excitement grow. There was honestly nothing better, and it was becoming her very welcome drug of choice. “How could I possibly miss a nod to the Hundred Acre Wood? Winnie’s my guy.”
Hadley clapped. “Perfect! It’s all decided.”
“Now, let’s try some of that pie!” her pop said, steering them back to the topic he found most important in all this: food.
Hadley went home with Spencer that night the way she had multiple nights that week and the ones prior. They had gotten good enough to predict their evenings and at whose place they might land based on geography, prompting Hadley to stash an overnight bag in the car just in case.
“You were amazing tonight,” Spencer said, once they’d let themselves inside. She was still on a high from how fabulously the introduction had gone, how effortlessly Hadley had fit into her world. “Everyone loved you. I knew they would, but now we have confirmation.”
“I hope so,” Hadley said sincerely. “They’re really fantastic people, Spence. You’re so lucky.”
“In more ways than one,” Spencer said, taking Hadley’s hand and kissing it.
“Oh.” A pause. “That was really romantic,” Hadley said. “That gave me goose bumps.”
“Me kissing your hand?”
Hadley nodded. “Like a fairy tale. Is it odd that that’s how I feel when we’re together?”
“No. We’re unexpected, in the way a fairy tale is. I don’t think either of us planned on this. On an us.” They collapsed onto the sofa and she pulled Hadley’s feet into her lap. Hadley did love her heels, and sexy as they were, Spencer wasn’t one to complain. She removed one at a time.
“An us,” Hadley said with a smile, and dropped her head back onto the couch cushion as Spencer went to work on each and every pressure point. It had become a thing they did together, a ritual that she looked forward to. Spencer also fondly remembered that first PG-13 massage on their third date when she’d made dinner for them both. How things had changed. She inched her hands up Hadley’s legs to her calves, working out the tension as Hadley once again rewarded her with wonderful sounds of satisfaction. Her thighs came next. Hadley raised her head and met Spencer’s gaze. She watched as Hadley’s expression shifted from relaxation to full-on arousal over the course of just a minute or two. Spencer slid her thumbs up the inside of her thighs and watched as she bit her bottom lip, and her eyes fluttered closed. She knew all of Hadley’s signals now, knew what turned her on the most. There would be no PG-13 foot rub tonight. Thank God. Hadley’s hips began to move slowly in a sultry dance against the sides of her thumbs. Spencer pulled her from the couch onto her lap, where she’d have better access. Hadley’s lips parted as Spencer touched her fully, her dress pushed up around her hips. A few well-placed strokes and Hadley was gasping for air.
“Take me to bed now, so I can have my way with your body.” Hadley followed that sentence up with a finger down Spencer’s chest to the dip in her cleavage.
Spencer took in air at the command and shivered at the intimacy of the touch. She craved more. Her body screamed for it, twisting and turning inside. Hadley leaned down and kissed her neck from her collarbone up to her ear. “Are you wet right now?” she whispered. “Does touching me do that to you?”
Spencer nodded, not finding the right words in the haze of lust. She ran her hands up Hadley’s thighs again. The movement of her hips earlier had taken Spencer to the brink and left her there. “It won’t take much, will it?” Hadley whispered. She was enjoying this. That’s what one didn’t suspect about happy-go-lucky Hadley. Beneath her easygoing exterior, she liked being in charge, and it was hot as hell.
“Nope,” Spencer said, with a shaky smile.
She was true to her word. Once Hadley had her in bed, undressed, and writhing beneath her, all it took was the feel of Hadley’s hair across her stomach and the briefest of touches from her tongue before Spencer skyrocketed into a wonderful oblivion. The orgasm tore from her fast and hard.
“Every damn time,” she said, in recovery mode. “I’m like this lightweight when you’re around. You undo me,” she said, hauling Hadley on top. “How do you do it? Tell me every last secret.”
“You inspire me. That’s all there is to it.” Hadley tucked a strand of hair behind Spencer’s ear. “Plus, you’re sexy for days when you’re turned on and pushing against me, desperate and eager. I will never tire of that.”
Spencer covered her eyes. “I’d be embarrassed, if I didn’t love it so damn much.”
“We’re good together,” Hadley said. “I knew I was attracted to you the second I saw you, but I couldn’t have predicted this.”
“Who could have? I was just minding my own business, being a kick-ass designer in a rough world, and then there, out of nowhere, you appeared in my life.” Spencer smiled and tickled Hadley’s back softly. “Did you ever make those cookies for Elle?”
“Only like eight batches.”
“I’m going to buy her a boat. A yacht. I am surprised to find out that the overly peppy girl from English class would one day change my life so drastically.”
Hadley stared at her. “Don’t underestimate the power of peppy people. Have I taught you nothing?”
Spencer crossed her heart. “Never again. Trust me.”
Hadley kissed the underside of her jaw. “Tell me again about you being the kick-ass designer in the rough world.”
Spencer laughed. “You’re making fun of me. You’re supposed to be the nice one.” Hadley laughed as Spencer flipped their positions.
“Tomorrow we need to talk about the order and timing. Remind me.”
“I can’t believe you’re thinking about work right now.”
Hadley slid her hands between their bodies and cupped Spencer’s breasts. “I’m a multitasker,” she murmured. “Oh! And don’t forget about theme night next week.”
Spencer opened her mouth to answer but was caught in a wave of pleasure that silenced every part of her. Better to just enjoy the ride.
* * *
Hadley woke first the next morning and slipped out of bed, careful not to disrupt Spencer. That wasn’t a tall order because Spencer, she’d come to learn, slept like the dead, especially after sex. She hopped in the shower and went about getting herself ready for the day as Minnie Mouse looked on. “You’re a very social cat. I admire that about you,” Hadley told her. Minnie seemed to accept the compliment and leapt onto the bathroom counter. “That’s even better. I can see you easily now and your cute black ears.” Hadley glanced around at the same travel case she’d been lugging back and forth between Spencer’s place and hers for the past few weeks. They hadn’t shown any signs of slowing down, so maybe she’d just leave a few of the more essential items at Spencer’s place for convenience and duplicate them back home.
Once she was dressed and ready to take on the day, her next task was an easy decision: French toast before she headed into Silhouette. She checked in on Spencer, who smiled up at her groggily from bed. “Good morning,” she said, in her raspy, sleepy voice.
“Hey, you,” Hadley said, kissing her softly. “Feel like sleeping some more? You can.”
“Not after I’ve seen what’s waiting for me.” She sat up and buried her face in Hadley’s neck, wrapping her arms around her waist. “You smell so good.”
Hadley grinned. “It’s that hibiscus shampoo you love.”
“I identify it entirely with you now.”
“Good. Gonna start some French toast if you think you have the ingredients. Thoughts?”
“It’s likely. Can I help? I suck at it, but will try.”
“No need. I make killer French toast and am planning to dazzle you. I got this,” Hadley said, proudly. “Plus, making breakfast always gets my day started right. Drives my motivation forward.”
“Then I’ll hop in the shower and meet you in the kitchen soon. Hey, I meant to ask you, want to do dinner tonight? I know a fly little place I’ve been meaning to show you. Sangria to die for.”
“You had me at fly and sangria and you.”
“It’s a date.” They shared a final kiss and Spencer hopped out of bed.
Hadley got to work, humming a tune as she prepped the toast and located the syrup and powdered sugar. As she waited for the pan to heat, she registered that Spencer had been out of the shower for several minutes, and would likely be able to tell her whether she wanted orange juice or apple. She rounded the corner to the bathroom, and saw Spencer standing there in her towel, taking in all of Hadley’s belongings on the counter. The drawer she’d stashed some of the more important things in stood open with Spencer looking down into it. Concern and unease was written all over her face.
Hadley felt her face heat. “I’m sorry. I thought since I was here so often lately, that maybe I could just leave a few things. That was stupid.”
“Oh.” A pause. “It’s not stupid,” Spencer said, attempting to recover and failing. Hadley had already seen the concerned look on her face and that overt discomfort still lingered. She could see and feel it in every essence of Spencer’s being, no matter how hard she tried to shove it aside. Spencer was officially freaked out.
“I shouldn’t have been presumptuous,” Hadley said, humiliated now. “I’ll just…here.” She went about organizing her things, as a hot blush spread, making her feel ridiculous. She reached across Spencer, accidentally knocking over the small bottle of perfume, which then knocked over her hairspray, which she clumsily snatched and shoved into her bag.
“I don’t need you to do that. It just caught me off guard.”
“No, no. I get it. Why wouldn’t it? It’s not like it’s something we talked about. I made the leap and that was overzealous. I see that now.” The embarrassment was upon Hadley in full force, and she just wanted to gather her belongings and remove them from Spencer’s space. She was dumb to have taken that kind of liberty.
Spencer reached for her wrist and stopped her progress. “Stop it. I don’t want you to pack it all up. I just needed a minute to adjust and I have. I’m all good now. See?” She pointed at the forced smile on her face. Didn’t matter. The damage was done. Spencer’s reaction had pretty much slashed her to bits, but in the spirit of harmony, Hadley propelled herself beyond it. She was capable of rising to any occasion and this one was no different.
“Yeah, I see.” It was all she had in her. “No big deal.”
“We’re fine,” Spencer said, kissing her cheek.
“Yep. Fine,” Hadley said back. “French toast should be ready in ten.”
“Thank God. I can’t wait.”
But the damage was done. They never did regain their easy give and take, and when it was time to head out for work, Hadley did something she never ever did. She lied. “Hey, about that dinner tonight? I just remembered, I promised Isabel we could get together. It slipped my mind entirely. Can we raincheck?”
“Oh. Okay, cool. Then we’ll do it another night this week.”
“Great. I’ll call you or—”
“You can call me.”
“Perfect.”
“Yeah.” A pause. “Hey, have a good day at work.” Spencer kissed her lightly on the mouth and searched her eyes as if trying to ascertain their current status, which is the opposite of what Hadley wanted. She didn’t need Spencer to feel sorry for her or go out of her way to make Hadley feel comfortable. She was a big girl and would take care of herself. Always had.
When she reached her car, she fumbled blindly for her phone. Anybody free tonight for a chat? she typed into her friends’ four-way group text. It was her own version of mayday, and she hoped her friends would be there for her. It wasn’t until later that day when Isabel texted back that she’d be working late, and Gia apologized but had a date night planned with Elle, and Autumn didn’t respond at all that Hadley burst into tears alone in her office, wondering how she’d gotten herself and her heart so far entrenched, feeling things for someone who may never be able to reciprocate the way she wanted her to. Not only that, but she felt very alone in the world, with no one to confide in.
“Had, you okay?” Daisy asked, peering at her around the corner.
“Oh, yeah.” She straightened automatically and pretended to lean down for something in her bottom drawer, wiping her eyes as she went. “It’s just that my allergies have been unbearable lately, you know. Fall is brutal when it creeps in.”
Daisy reached for a tissue and carried it over to Hadley. “Here you go. For the allergies.”
“Thanks, Daisy.”
“Hey, I know you’re my boss, but you’re honestly the best boss I’ve ever had. If there’s anything on your mind, or if there’s anything I can do to make your day better, just say the word, okay?”
The kindness generated a small light in the center of Hadley’s chest that spread out slowly. She’d needed that. “Thanks, Daze. I’m okay, really. Now even better.”
Daisy nodded. “Good. We’re all closed up and set for the night. I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“You most certainly will.” She stood and gathered her belongings. “I plan to have fewer allergies.” She slung her arm around Daisy and they walked out together to greet dusk in LA. This time of day, Rodeo was a little slower, with cars headed home and shops closing for the day. Some people would return to their families and start dinner. Others would head out to meet for drinks or a date. Hadley headed home quietly alone. She hadn’t heard from Spencer all day, which was rare for them. Maybe she was every bit as off-kilter as Hadley was. Maybe she was reconsidering everything. Who really knew?
With her spirits low, Hadley quietly got out of her work clothes and slipped into yoga pants and her old threadbare Dodgers sweatshirt. She ate in silence at her kitchen table and then slipped off to bed early, feeling more lonesome than she could ever remember. She let her thoughts turn to Spencer as she drifted off, her smile, her dry wit, and her kind heart. She was everything Hadley wanted, and apparently, exactly what Hadley couldn’t have.
She’d have to learn to reconcile that. Settle for less or run screaming for the hills. The weight of her eyelids and the stress of the day whisked her away from all of it. At least temporarily.