Chapter Fifteen
Autumn held up Hadley’s black and white plaid coat. “This one is definitely going.”
Hadley squinted. “You think? I already packed the red plaid. I don’t want to be known as the girl with all the plaid once I’m in Paris.”
“There can never be too many plaid coats,” Autumn said, emphatically. “What are you even thinking right now?”
“I know. I know. You’re right. Toss it in the suitcase.”
Autumn did as Hadley asked, using her super-specific, space-saving packing technique that involved rolling the clothes into tiny clothing-burritos. She straightened with a hand on her hip. “We’re running out of space.”
Hadley waved her off. “It’s just a preliminary trip. If things go well, I’ll hire a company and send for the rest. I don’t need it all in one go-round. Have to see what she says first, right?”
“Yeah, but she asked you to go with her.”
“True. But it’s been a while since then. We haven’t communicated. I don’t know where her head’s at.”
Autumn sighed. She took a seat on the bed and ran her hand across the suitcase fondly. “What am I going to do without my Hadley if you move to Paris?”
It felt like a gut punch, because what would she do without her Autumn? She joined Autumn on the bed and snagged her hand. “We’re gonna FaceTime like crazy, for one.”
Autumn laughed through her melancholy. “We are. Thank God for technology.”
“And I’ll be back for the important holidays. Gotta get my Pajamas fix somehow, right?”
“I don’t know how you’ll survive each morning without it. Well, except for all of those amazing Parisian cafés. They know how to roast a good cup there. You heard it here.”
“Nothing will hold a candle to Pajamas coffee, you hear me?”
“Bless you for saying that.” Autumn gave her hand a squeeze. “And now I should probably check on Kate and the twins. She might have them running drills by now. Will’s obsessed with her turnout gear’s suspenders.”
Hadley laughed. “Well, who isn’t? Thank you for the help. I’ll stop by later to say, you know…goodbye.” She said that last word delicately and with less volume. It was a hard one. Her flight was far too early the next morning to disrupt any of her friends. She’d see them each that evening for a brief farewell. Nothing too drawn out. She wasn’t sure she could take it. Plus, it wasn’t goodbye forever. Just for right now.
“I’ll be around,” Autumn said quietly.
She let herself out and Hadley got back to the last of her packing. It wasn’t long before there was a knock at her door. She expected Autumn, who’d likely forgotten something, but found Larry Herman staring at her in shock from her doorstep.
“Hi, Larry,” she said, smiling up at him.
“Is it true?” he asked, solemnly. He wore his traditional brown pants, blue shirt, and striped tie. “You’re leaving?” The guy looked like a kicked puppy. She deflated. She hated seeing him so dejected.
“It’s true. I’m heading to Paris tomorrow. I’m not sure if I’ll be back. Don’t worry about the rest of my lease. If I can’t sublet, I’ll pay it out.”
He studied his shoe. “She’s that important to you. Ms. Adair?”
“She is.”
The admission seemed to make him shrink further behind his tie. “What is it about her that you like so vehemently?” he asked.
And there they were. Hadley had known for some time that Larry had certain feelings for her. She’d hoped they were superficial, but maybe it was time to be a little more straightforward with him, for his own sake. She took a deep breath. “I’m in love with her.”
“Oh.” A long pause. “Love.”
“You’ve always been a good friend to me, Larry, and I value our friendship, but I’m afraid that’s all we can have.”
He raised his gaze to hers. “I understand that. Just…do me a favor. Be happy, okay?”
“Thanks, Larry. I’m trying.”
“She doesn’t know how lucky she is,” he said, and turned to go, head hung low.
“Larry, wait. How about a hug goodbye?”
His cheeks colored, and after a moment he nodded and extended one arm. Ignoring that, she put her arms around his neck and gave him a firm squeeze. “You’re a good guy, Larry. Be nice to these people around here, okay? Do it for me. They’re your friends.”
He seemed conflicted. His brow creased dramatically, as if an internal battle waged. “Even Ms. Chase? Because that one is just out of—”
“Even Ms. Chase,” she said slowly.
“Very well.” He nodded hesitantly and headed down the stairs. She’d miss that quirky guy, as frustrating as he could be. Alone now, she stepped onto the second-story sidewalk and stared out over the railing to the courtyard below. She would miss Seven Shores, too, so very much. She watched the waves crash just above the roof, dusted with the colors of the setting sun. The courtyard stood empty, which allowed her to envision all the great times they’d had out there, from theme nights to late night talks and water balloon fights in the summer. She placed a hand over her heart in honor of the friendship she’d found there that she’d never let go. She might be leaving, but these women would travel with her in her heart.
“Gonna miss this place,” she said, and stood there for one final, long-lasting look. She blew a kiss to the buildings that were so much more than that to her and headed inside. She had a big trip ahead of her.
* * *
“No, no. I don’t think we can make that work.” Claudette leaned back in her elegant desk chair and stared at Spencer like she’d just asked for her own personal elephant.
“I had a feeling you would say that,” Spencer said. “You want me here in Paris to learn the company culture, to work under the mentorship of someone like Gerhard, and truly live the brand.”
“All very important. Now you understand.”
“I understand entirely, and I’m more than grateful for the chance to work under the Bertrand label,” she said, as respectfully as possible.
“Then why are you asking to return to California?”
She took a deep breath and prepared to state the rest of her case as the sounds of incoming emails pinged like an electronic symphony on the computer behind Claudette. All a reminder of a successful business running itself as they sat in those very chairs. Somehow that only added to the pressure. She swallowed, and began. “I can do all of those things if I design from Los Angeles, and I’m more than willing to travel to Paris whenever you need me for face-to-face time, to go over samples, sketches, all of it. I don’t mind the travel. I welcome it.”
Claudette eyed her. “This is the kind of opportunity that most young designers would kill for. Yet you are unhappy.”
“I’m not unhappy with the job, but I guarantee that you’ll get better work from me back home, in my element.”
Claudette sat forward, incredulous. “You’re homesick? This is homesickness?” She said the word like it was the most offensive of weaknesses.
“It’s more than just that. I left a lot unfinished, and—”
“Then you should see to it,” Claudette said, head held high. “Bertrand will release you from your contract.”
It was a blow. Spencer’s eyes fluttered closed. Those were not the words she was hoping to hear. “Isn’t there some sort of compromise we could come to? I was hoping that after we talked—”
“You either want to be here or you don’t,” Claudette said, icily. “There are too many others waiting for your job for me to hesitate. This is an insult.”
Silence hit and stretched. Spencer shifted uncomfortably at the decision in front of her. The ramifications of throwing it all away would be huge. But what she had waiting behind door number two felt so much more important. It had taken her a lot to fully understand as much, but she had.
“In that case, I’m sorry. I’ll turn in my badge and keys to the front desk.”
Claudette didn’t say anything as Spencer excused herself from the office with an uncomfortable feeling in the pit in her stomach. In fact, she felt more than a little nauseous. As she walked the length of the hallway, however, something interesting happened. With each step she took, that sickening feeling gradually fell away until all she was left with was an overwhelming sense of relief and excitement for what was to come. She closed her eyes and took a deep, fortifying breath. It was time to be honest about her feelings and reclaim what she so desperately missed. She just hoped Hadley would be open to what she had to say.
If not, then what? God, she couldn’t think about that. Not now. She had to pack.
* * *
It was ten that night when the friends gathered at the now-closed Cat’s Pajamas one last time together. Hadley had made a point of saying her personal goodbyes to Kate and the twins earlier that night. That had been hard. She couldn’t imagine months going by before she saw the little kiddos. Would they be crawling by then? Talking? Would they forget all about her? She tried not to dwell on all she’d miss. Next, she’d caught Elle in the parking lot on her way back to her house, and Taylor had been nice enough to stop by personally with a going-away gift for Hadley, a journal with a photo of the Eiffel Tower on the cover—extra thoughtful as always. She’d miss them all no end. Thank God for technology and social media that would hopefully keep her plugged into their lives.
However, standing there in the dimly lit coffee shop with Isabel, Autumn, and Gia brought with it a new kind of sadness. These three, she couldn’t imagine life without.
“Do you have snacks for the flight?” Autumn asked, nervously moving toward the storeroom for baked goods in case Hadley said no.
“I do. I packed a very detailed and varied bag of snacks just like you told me to.”
“And your book?” Gia asked. She always paid attention to what installment Hadley was on.
Hadley smiled. “Yes. The new Captain Janika is prepped and ready to accompany me overseas.”
“And you’re sure about this?” Isabel asked. “As in big bang times a thousand?”
Hadley smiled. “You have no idea how sure.”
“Where’s your connecting flight?”
“Newark,” Hadley told them. “I have a two-hour layover and then it’s straight on to where all the magic happens.”
They stared at each other in silence, recognizing the importance of this moment. Isabel shifted uncomfortably and Hadley’s eyes crowded with tears. “Well, I don’t want to hear about too many wild nights without me.”
Gia shoved her hands into the pockets of her jeans. “Wouldn’t be the same anyway.”
“We won’t let theme nights die, either!” Autumn said. “I already have several ideas for the months ahead. Gonna make you proud.”
Hadley grinned through her tears. “Thanks, Autumn. I’ll need photos.”
“Pshhh,” Isabel said. “You will not. You’ll be there with us. We’re gonna FaceTime you in.”
“I would love that. Oh!” She reached in her bag. “I almost forgot. I have a card for each of you. Nothing major and you can read them later. Just a few words from my heart about what you each mean to me. What this group does.” The tears were falling freely down her face now. Looking at her three best friends, she could see that she wasn’t alone in that department.
“I look like such a loser when I cry,” Isabel said, accepting her card.
Gia elbowed her. “Shut up. I’m the idiot.”
“Well, yeah,” Isabel said, followed by another elbow. “No one is disputing that.”
“And I look amazing tear-streaked,” Autumn said, with an angelic grin. She waved like the queen through her tears. That earned a laugh, which helped break the tension.
“Well…I guess this is it.” Hadley smiled, opened her arms wide, and her best friends came together in one big hug. “You guys look out for each other,” she said, in the midst of the giant group squeeze. “No one let Autumn work too hard. If Gia beats herself up about how she finishes in a tournament, you guys remind her how amazing she is. Keep an eye on Izzy. She gets in her own head and self-doubt creeps in and that’s stupid. Pull her out of it at every chance.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Got it.”
“We won’t let you down.”
She released them and wiped her tears quickly. “Okay, no more of that,” she said forcefully. She pointed at them. “Fast is better, so I will just say that I will see you all very soon. You hear me? Only a handful of weeks until I visit at Christmas.”
“Safe travels, Had,” Autumn said.
She nodded, blew the three of them kisses and, with focused determination, made herself walk out of the shop. She glanced back up at the logo, that crazy cat playing his guitar, and smiled fondly at what felt like the end of an important era.
In the midst of it all, she was so very grateful.
* * *
Spencer strolled the concourse of Newark Liberty International Airport, perusing the windows of the various shops and wondering if she should eat a full meal before boarding the plane that would whisk her back across the country to Los Angeles. Just the thought gave her a twinge of nervous energy in her stomach. She’d stick with a snack and bottle of water.
Waiting in line to pay, she smiled as she was overcome with the familiar scent of Hadley’s hibiscus shampoo that used to drive her wild. Someone in the store must also be a fan. She smiled at the reminder and took that as a sign from the universe that she was on the right path. Took her long enough, but she’d made it. The Hadley kismet didn’t stop there. As she walked to her gate, she spotted a woman from behind who reminded her so much of Hadley, even down to the way she walked. She laughed. Okay, she got it, cosmos! She had Hadley on the brain and shook her head at the series of signs directing her path.
She checked her watch. With another half hour to boarding, she placed a quick call to her mother, who’d be waiting on a status update.
“You almost here?” her mama asked, as soon as she clicked on to the call.
Spencer laughed. “You know I have another few hours. Just letting you know I’m on time.”
She heard a rustling and then her pop’s voice. He must have grabbed the phone. “I’ll be picking you up in the blue SUV. Not gonna bring your mama’s car because it’s cramped and it smells like flowers all the time.”
Spencer smiled. “Yes, sir. That makes total sense. I’ll look for the SUV.”
“Here’s your mama.”
“My car doesn’t smell like flowers,” she said forcefully. “That’s a baked cookie air freshener, and he knows it. He’s just trying to make trouble because he’s old and bored.”
“Doesn’t smell like any cookies you’ve ever made before,” she heard him say in the background.
“Would you be quiet? I’m talking to our daughter. Hush now.”
“Fine. I’ll just work my puzzle and let you two gab away.”
“Praise Jesus at last.”
Spencer sat there and let the two of them bicker as they always did, no longer freaked out by their reunion, but rather, enjoying it very much. So much of life was about perception. Simply in changing hers, Spencer saw so much of the world differently, including her parents and their relationship. They really were meant to be together. She was lighter with this new outlook, happier, and ready to explore the world with new eyes.
Waiting in line to board her flight, she stared across the concourse at a similar line of people at the gate diagonal from hers. They were headed to Paris, just like she had been, weeks prior, when everything in her had been so focused on the wrong things. She smiled at them, mentally wished them well on their journey ahead, and handed her boarding pass to the gate agent. She was LA bound and couldn’t be more excited.
* * *
As Hadley waited patiently in line for a cab, she took a deep inhale. That was Paris air in her lungs. Did she mention she was in Paris? Because she was. This was Paris. With her in it. Hadley Cooper in Paris! Not caring who noticed, she twirled a few times as she stood in line because she felt like it. “I’m in Paris,” she said, by way of explanation, to the man in front of her. The best part of all of this was not Paris, however. It was that she was on her way to see Spencer, who she missed more than she could wrap her mind around, and who she hoped would be happy to see her. That trumped everything, even the monumental day when she met her favorite city in person.
She got to try out her rudimentary French in the cab as she asked to be taken to the address she had for Spencer. Luckily, the driver also spoke English, which helped their navigation and small talk. She was small talking with French people! This was big!
“I am Victor,” he said, as they drove.
“Oh, nice to meet you. Hadley Cooper. I’m from the United States. Los Angeles.”
“Hollywood!”
“Yes,” she said. “Lots of movies made there.”
“You like my city?” he asked.
“I love it! It’s every bit as beautiful and as busy as I was expecting. Fast paced.”
“Yes, very, very busy. You need a bicycle.”
“I can see that!” She marveled at how many people chose biking as their method of transportation. Definitely energy efficient. She’d be looking into that.
“You like bread?” he asked.
A little random, but Hadley went with it. “Yes, I love bread!”
“Right there,” he said, pointing out a quaint little bakery as they drove past. “Best bread in Paris. Warm croissants with chocolate.”
Hadley’s mouth watered because croissants were her weakness in life. She started to thank him for the spot-on recommendation, but stopped. As they turned the corner, there it was. The symbol of the city she’d dreamt about since she was a child, the Eiffel Tower itself! She couldn’t quite believe this was real. She glanced down at her lap to the Eiffel Tower journal Taylor had given her, then back up at the real thing right in front of her, looming large and beautiful. The best welcome she could imagine.
“Come back for a photo with your love, yes?”
Her heart grew. “I will definitely be getting a photo,” she told him. “At least, I hope.”
“And here we go,” Victor said. “That one. There.”
She stared up at the tall structure. Spencer’s apartment building, it turned out, was right in the heart of everything, which had to be so exciting for her. She could walk to the outdoor market, the florist, and even to the tower itself. Bertrand was treating Spencer right.
“Au revoir, Victor.” Hadley handed him the fare with a smile. “Thank you for the recommendations.”
“Anytime, my sweet. Enjoy my city. Au revoir.”
Hadley watched the cab drive away, then turned to the building in front of her. Her nerves flew into overdrive at what these next few minutes might bring. Nope. No time to entertain her worst fear, that Spencer would tell her that they were probably best as they were and to go home. Maybe she’d even met someone in Paris, which was entirely possible. Someone exotic and sexy and way more sophisticated than Hadley could ever be. Sigh. Why did she have to go there? Hadley gave her head a shake to rid it of the awful idea, though it wasn’t the first time it had occurred to her. It was possible she’d waited too long, but there was no turning back now. She’d come here for one reason, and one reason only, and she planned to follow through. All she could do was speak from her heart and hope that Spencer’s offer still stood. She made her way into the building and located the door on the second floor that belonged to Spencer. Here goes nothing. She knocked. And waited. And knocked again. It seemed no one was home. She’d considered calling first, but somehow the idea of just showing up felt like part of the grand gesture she’d imagined.
The Bertrand offices weren’t far away. In fact, a quick search on her phone showed they were walkable. Couldn’t hurt to see if Spencer was available. The workday had to be coming to a close, given that it was approaching dusk in Paris. Surely, designers came up for air at some point. After quickly orienting herself with a map on her phone, she decided to set off for the Bertrand building. You know, just in case.
She hadn’t traveled more than two blocks when her phone buzzed with an incoming text from Autumn.
Um, Had? I think we have a problem.
Moments later a photo arrived. She squinted, trying to understand what she was seeing. Yep, that was a photo of Spencer waiting in line for coffee at Pajamas.
What? No.
Hadley stared.
Mayday!
What in the world was going on?
She scrutinized the photo to be sure it was Spencer. It was. Right there in Autumn’s coffee line, which meant she wasn’t in Paris at all. She was in Venice? Hadley blinked as her world ran off the rails. A minute later, her phone rang. Autumn.
“What’s going on?” Hadley asked. “I don’t understand.”
“Let me pass the phone to someone who might be able to explain.”
“Hadley.”
She closed her eyes when she heard the velvety voice she’d know anywhere. “Spencer, what are you doing in Venice?” she asked, mystified.
“The question is what are you doing in Paris?”
“I’m here for you,” she said quietly. “I should have been here all along.”
Spencer laughed. “Well, that’s perfect because I’m here for you, where I never should have left.”
Hadley stared up at the darkening Paris sky. “We’re ridiculous.”
“I’m ridiculously in love with you, is what I am.”
Hadley turned it around. “You are? No. You don’t have to say that. We can pick up where we left off. Open minds, remember?”
“I don’t have an open mind anymore. Mine’s decided. I love you, and I flew all this way to tell you so.”
Hadley couldn’t keep up. With the utterance of the three words, her mind regressed to a jumble of information while her insides turned to wonderful mush. She’d dreamt of the right person saying those words to her and it had just happened. While she stood on the streets of Paris no less! Okay, she was alone, but this was still Paris, darn it!
“Victor drove me to your apartment, which is so close to the Eiffel Tower that I couldn’t believe it, and then I went to find you at Bertrand, but you’re apparently drinking coffee with Autumn instead, and I love you, too!” It all came out in a joyful, euphoric run-on sentence that she hoped made at least a little bit of sense to Spencer, who she swore she could hear smile through the phone.
A pause. “Sounds like we’re a couple of kids in love,” Spencer said, and it felt like Hadley’s heart took flight. “We should really be in the same city for this moment. We have to plan better.”
“I promise to try if you do,” Hadley said, laughing. “What now?”
“I parted ways with Bertrand. I don’t work for them anymore.”
“Oh, no.”
“No, it’s good. I’m moving back to LA. In fact, I already have. The brand was taking off before I left, and I want to see what I can do with it on my own. Maybe you can help me with that. You offer great advice.”
“You’re going to kill it!” Hadley ran a hand through her hair in happy disbelief. “This is the most amazing news I’ve ever heard.”
“She’s back for good!” Autumn yelled in the background. “Come home already! I have a mocha with your name on it.”
Hadley grinned. “I’ll find a flight.”
“No,” Spencer said. “Stay there. Please. You’ve always wanted to see Paris. I’ll come to you. We can make it our first real vacation.”
“No. You don’t have to do that. Really? You would want to travel all the way back?”
“I would do anything to see Paris with you. We can hold hands, stroll the streets.”
“And take a photo with the Eiffel Tower?”
“Are you kidding? We’ll take ten.”
* * *
Spencer sat in the back of her cab as it wound through the downright cold streets of Paris, wondering why in the hell she wasn’t feeling the fatigue she should be after back-to-back international flights. There was only one reason. She was about to lay eyes on Hadley for the first time in weeks and was close to leaping out of her skin from the pure exhilaration. She smiled at the pedestrians who snuggled further into their jackets as the wind whipped around them, tousling their hair and making one gentleman lose his cap entirely and chase it down the sidewalk as his friends laughed. She made a mental note: no hats tonight.
Twenty minutes later, she arrived at the Shangri-La where, at her encouragement, Hadley had reserved a full-on suite with Spencer’s credit card, complete with a terrace and an Eiffel Tower view. Hadley deserved that and more. She wanted this trip to be a memorable one and would go out of her way to see that happen. She planned to pamper Hadley and show her Paris in style. If there was a time to splurge, this was most definitely it.
Who was she kidding? Spencer would find a way to rope the moon in everyday life if Hadley asked her to. Everything felt different now that she’d been honest with herself about who she was and what she wanted. The sky was the limit for the two of them.
With luggage in hand, she knocked and waited. The door opened and there she was, like a long-needed drink of ice water: Hadley, in person, at long last. Spencer took a moment to absorb the sight and enjoy every second of their reunion. Hadley wore jeans and a navy sweater which highlighted the blue of her gorgeous eyes. Her hair was down and she looked more radiant than Spencer remembered. She skipped right over the shy part where they would chat and smile and get used to each other again. Nope, none of that damn getting reacquainted nonsense. She moved to Hadley and had her by the waist in seconds, walking her into the room as Hadley laughed.
“Oh, my dear goodness. Hi,” Hadley said, as she was virtually carried inside. “You’re finally here.” She took Spencer’s face and kissed her and kissed her again and again. “I thought you’d never get here.” Kiss. “Time was moving too slow. Like a turtle in peanut butter.”
“Same. Trip took”—kiss—“too”—kiss—“long.” Spencer released her. “You don’t know how happy I am to see you. A turtle in peanut butter?”
“Yes, that’s a thing. And I do, too, know, because I’m just as happy.” Hadley pressed her forehead to Spencer’s. “Let’s neither of us move away again.”
“Ever,” Spencer said. “You heard it here.”
Hadley smiled. “Sounds permanent.”
“Because it is very permanent. You were right. Happily ever after is real, and I’m staring at her.”
Hadley paused. “Do you mean it? We don’t have to leap fully if you’re not ready. We can go slow.”
“I’ve never meant anything more in my life. There will be no more slow. Where you go, I will follow.”
Hadley shook her head in surprise. “I don’t understand. What’s changed?”
“Are you kidding? What’s changed?” Spencer laughed, glanced at the ceiling and back to Hadley again. “You. The second I met you everything changed. Everything down to the damn sidewalk seemed brighter and more exciting. Things are now infinitely possible that I didn’t think were before. All from you. I just needed a smack in my head to understand that.”
The words seemed to carry a large amount of weight for Hadley. Spencer watched as she sifted and sorted through them. After a pause, a smile started slowly on Hadley’s lips and blossomed into the most beautiful beam Spencer had ever enjoyed.
“I love you,” Hadley said quietly.
Hearing the words sent Spencer on a high. Would they ever sound normal, or mundane, or casual rolling off the tongue? She couldn’t imagine that. Hearing “I love you” from Hadley would always undo her, and she looked forward to each and every time. She was up for future dismantling.
“I love you, too,” Spencer said, and let the words float in the air, delicate and important. She stared at the woman who was lit up brightly from the inside out. Hadley glowed in every possible way as she leaned in, kissing Spencer unhurriedly and communicating so much in the process.
“Come onto the balcony. It’s freezing, but you have to see this.”
Spencer followed, holding Hadley’s hand. Her breath caught as she saw the tower, lit up for all the city to see in the encroaching darkness. She’d seen the tower at night many times now, but tonight was different. She didn’t just see its beauty, she felt it. Standing there with Hadley, knowing how much she loved the city, it meant so much more. A surge of emotion hit and she pulled Hadley’s lips to hers. Right then and there, they kissed with the lights of Paris twinkling behind them. The wind, the cold, none of it mattered.
“That might have been the best kiss of my life,” Hadley said, finally. “No, it was.”
“Was there toe-curling?” Spencer asked. “I like it when that happens.”
Hadley nodded. “Ten toes a-curling.”
Spencer’s entire heart turned over in her chest. “Please tell me we can order room service and see what other things we can make curl? I love a challenge.”
Hadley blushed and followed her back inside. In moments, she was on the phone ordering strawberries, chocolate, and Champagne. While she spoke in the best French she could, Spencer looked on, removing one piece of clothing at a time, while Hadley watched in captivation. By the time she hung up, Spencer was in lingerie on the bed waiting for her.
Hadley sat next to her and placed one finger on her cheek. “There’s a sexy woman, who I happen to be in love with, waiting for me in bed in the center of Paris.” She tapped her cheek.
“What would Captain Janika do?” Spencer asked, sweetly. She ran a hand from her breast to her stomach and watched as Hadley swallowed noticeably.
She closed her eyes and opened them. “Captain who?”
Spencer laughed. “Kiss me. You own my heart, now own the rest of me.”
Hadley didn’t hesitate.
They came up for air only briefly when the room service arrived. Hadley answered after hastily stepping into her robe, which she quickly dropped as she returned to bed.
“Disneyland on fire,” Spencer murmured.
The chocolate and strawberries made a nice addition to their fun. Spencer dipped a strawberry and ran it down Hadley’s body, chasing the results with her tongue as Hadley moaned quietly, moving her hips. Tasting Hadley herself was much sweeter, and she relished taking her to the brink only to pull her right back in.
“You are torturing me, and it’s wonderful,” Hadley said, back arched in their now-darkened hotel room. The outline of the Eiffel Tower was still visible through their window and offered the small amount of illumination which Spencer used to navigate. She took her time and worked slowly, touching, caressing, and making love to every inch of Hadley Cooper.
When they were happy and tired, Hadley pulled her into her arms where they lay as sleep hovered. “What do you think we’ll do tomorrow?”
“I want to walk the streets with you. Explore. Find a café and do nothing but watch the world go by.”
She felt Hadley smile up against her cheek. “That sounds like one of the best days of my life.” She paused and looked down at Spencer in her arms. “I’m starting to imagine a lot of those ahead.”
Spencer crawled up the bed until she lay face-to-face with Hadley. “It’s not imagination anymore. It’s our life, and it’s only just getting started.” She reached across Hadley. “Chocolate-covered strawberry?”
“Yes, please.”
They stayed up most of the night talking, catching up on all the things that had happened since they’d parted, and when the sun came up the next morning and drenched the suite in its magnificent show of color, Spencer snuggled further into Hadley, lost, happy, and sure.