Chapter Fourteen
The morning traffic that came through the Cat’s Pajamas on this particular Tuesday seemed to have hit a lull as Isabel slid into what was now her customary chair.
“I have news,” Autumn said with a sigh. She came around the counter and placed a carafe of coffee on the table inhabited by herself, Hadley, and Gia. Meeting for a cup of joe and pastry before heading to work was turning into a regular occurrence, and one she looked forward to each day.
“Well, hit us with it already,” Gia said. “I don’t do well with suspense. It’s like a jack-in-the-box, but with words.”
Hadley turned to her slowly. “You’re a competitive surfer, weirdo. You have nerves of steel. Is this Colombian?” Autumn nodded proudly and brought over a tray of warm pastries that left Isabel drooling.
Gia waved off the comment. “Nope. Totally different. That’s something I have control over. If Autumn has news, what if it’s bad news?” She motioned to her stomach. “See? My muscles are already tight.”
Isabel pointed at her. “You’re an empathetic person who is worried for her friend.”
Autumn patted Gia’s head. “A softy with killer abs. I appreciate you, Gia-Pet.”
Isabel smiled at the nickname. “So, what’s the news?” She took a sip of the divine coffee and sat back in her chair as goodness rushed over her.
Autumn threw a glance to the counter to make sure Steve, the barista, had it covered and then took a seat with her friends. “My ex is engaged. It was all over Facebook last night. Ring shots, posed kissing. A total punch in the gut.”
Hadley sat up. “Someone’s agreed to marry Olivia?”
Autumn smiled at the comment, but it was the tiniest of smiles, and that said something.
“What’s this Olivia like?” Isabel asked. She seemed to be the only one who didn’t know her.
“She sucks,” Gia said.
Hadley jumped on and tried to explain in gentler terms. “If Cruella de Vil was from Calabasas and blond, you’d be somewhere in the right neighborhood. She was amazing to Autumn in the beginning, until she wasn’t anymore. Then she turned just plain awful when she started working out at this elite gym, which we sort of realized was more of a cult than a gym. Olivia quickly rose in their ranks and became awful and vapid. We don’t miss her.”
Gia shook her head emphatically. “We don’t. Because she sucks.”
“I miss the nice Olivia from the good part of our relationship,” Autumn said sadly, staring into her mug. “She wasn’t always awful.”
Isabel felt for her as the new vulnerability on display was so unlike the badass, outspoken Autumn she’d come to know. It was clear this Olivia had done quite a number on her.
Gia slid Autumn a croissant from the center of the table.
“No, thanks. I don’t have much of an appetite. Besides, I put those out for Had. She loves bread.”
Hadley held up a hand. “While I appreciate the looking-out, get thee back, Satan. I’ve been killing myself to fit into a dress designed to fit no reasonable living female, but it’s beautiful, so I have no choice.”
“I’m not sure I could do that for any dress ever,” Isabel said, reflecting. “No,” she added, snagging a croissant. “I’m sure. There would be no way. I’m obsessed with food.”
“What’s the dress for?” Gia asked.
“The store’s having a gala for our designers. It’s all very upper crust and Beverly Hills. Thereby, I need to fit into a memorable dress I can work like Tina Turner on a Proud Mary tour. I’d show you my legs, but as I said, they’re a work in progress.”
Isabel made a show of taking a big bite of a flaky croissant. “I don’t know, Had. I’m not sure any dress, designer or not, is worth missing out on one of these warm bad boys. It melts in your mouth. How do you get it to do that?” she asked Autumn.
Autumn shook her head. “Pajamas secret. Can’t tell you that.”
Isabel nodded in overly interested mode. “See, Had? They’re secret recipe pastries. Better get on it.”
Hadley blinked at her and then at the tray. Back to Isabel enjoying the croissant and then again to the tray. It was a Sophie’s Choice moment for the pastry books. “Hand me half of one.”
Autumn smiled and tore a croissant for Hadley. “You’re gorgeous already, by the way, dress or no dress.”
“Aww, you’re a very sweet enabler.” Hadley made a gesture as if to push it all aside. “Back to Olivia, queen of the solo orgasm.” She turned in happy greeting to her half croissant.
“Does that mean what I think it means?” Isabel asked. “The solo orgasm?”
“She could be selfish in bed,” Autumn said. “Or just overly sleepy. It was hard to tell.”
Gia leaned in. “She accepted what was given to her and moved the hell on, adding to her suckage.”
Isabel’s jaw fell. “I see why you broke up with her.”
The look on Autumn’s face dimmed. “I didn’t. She dumped me for the woman who owns the gym. And now they’re getting married, something I will never do,” she said with very little inflection in her voice. “I’ll probably die old and alone, standing behind that counter right there, begging people to buy coffee from the old coffee lady.”
They all followed Autumn’s gaze to the spot in question, prompting Steve, who stood there, to wave happily. Of course, they all waved back at him.
Isabel shook her head. “You’re too awesome to die alone, Old Coffee Lady. I’ll die with you. Fuck it. We can be spinsters united in dreary.”
Gia shook her head. “I don’t really think you’re gonna be alone either, Iz. Not the way your pal Taylor was cruising you the other night on the beach. I needed a fire extinguisher.”
Autumn nodded. “We looked for one.”
Isabel released a breath. “Yeah, I don’t think that’s going to work out. We kissed. It was epic. And now we move around each other at work, pretending it didn’t happen.”
Hadley stood up in anger. “Hold it. You guys kissed, and you said nothing?” She sat down again and leaned forward, her voice returning to soft and tender as she attempted to tamp down her outrage. “I don’t know what friends are like in New Hampshire, but here we tell each other that kind of thing. It’s an unbendable rule.”
Isabel smiled, as she’d never seen Hadley’s eyes get so big. But then it was also cute in a feisty puppy kind of way. “Got it. I would like to formally apologize for breaking this unperceived rule. But there really wasn’t much to tell.”
“You were kissed…or kissed someone—we don’t actually know which, because you haven’t told us. Either way, you failed. Failed,” Hadley said sadly. The feisty puppy was now a wounded puppy.
Isabel nodded slowly. “I’m sensing your melancholy and acknowledging it.”
Gia folded her arms. “Had’s right.”
Autumn picked up her mug and shrugged. “She just expresses herself with a little more heart. So why are we still sitting here waiting? Dish.”
“Fine. Okay,” Isabel said. “A few nights back, we had a great time walking the studio lot after work. And I mean late-night after work. We passed all the cool spots and ended up on the Forrest Gump bench, where we talked about what was happening between us.”
“And then she laid one on you?” Autumn asked. “Hopefully with a few more moves than Forrest Gump.”
Isabel shook her head. “The opposite. We were in 1930s Manhattan and I grabbed her and went for it. I had to.”
“Yes!” With two hands in the air, Gia grinned. “My new hero.”
Hadley grabbed her heart and leaned back in blissful surrender like something out of a Charlie Brown special. “My heart is swelling. I am incredibly happy right now. Press on. I’ll rejoin your already-in-progress conversation soon.”
Isabel closed one eye. “Slow that swell. It’s been tumbleweeds between us ever since. Desolate.” Isabel thought back over the last few days. Taylor had been at Sister Dale quite a bit, but she’d checked in on Isabel once her episode had wrapped.
“And?” Taylor had asked, standing next to her cubicle in anticipation.
“I think it went really well,” Isabel said, admiring Taylor’s look. She had her hair fastened in a knot. Translation: The gorgeous and elegant column of her neck was on display. She looked professional and hot and just downright beautiful. Isabel tried hard to not think about that flood of pleasure that came with kissing Taylor. At least, not right now when she was expected to produce words that sounded somewhat professional.
“It did go well. I’ve seen the footage. And here it goes.” Taylor took a deep breath. “You were right. I have no problem admitting that. The storyline was the right way to go, and it’s gonna be a killer episode.”
“Thank you. That means a lot.” A long pause, and not the comfortable kind. Isabel cringed and forced a smile. “I look forward to its air date.”
“Not long now.” It was Taylor’s turn to smile as proverbial crickets filled the large gap of silence. Kissing had apparently stripped them of their ability to construct sentences in easy succession, which was unfun and disastrous for their day-to-day. “Right, well, I’ll let you get back to work on…”
“Story notes,” Isabel said, pointing at her screen. “For Lyle’s script.”
“Right, well. Enjoy your day.”
“Back atcha. Have a good one.” Yep, she’d actually said have a good one, probably the stupidest phrase in the English vernacular. Isabel had clicked her pen a few dozen times in frustration. And then a few dozen more for good measure. That kiss, she understood, was beginning to cost them…well, them.
Gia shrugged. “Maybe she’s just gathering enough courage to turn the tables.”
“Yeah, I don’t think so,” Isabel said. “Though she is having a party this weekend at her house and invited me. You know, in addition to the whole staff. I’m told everyone important in Hollywood should be there. No pressure or anything.”
That perked Hadley right up, her first stop always fashion. “What are you wearing?”
“I have my go-to dress,” Isabel said. “An old standby. Simple, black.”
Hadley nodded. “Sounds serviceable enough, but I have other options. Alluring ones. Let me run with this one, okay?”
“Yeah?” Isabel asked. “You would do that?” Having someone with actual fashion sense help her get ready for a party that already had her out of her comfort zone was a fabulous idea. She’d owe Hadley.
Hadley passed Isabel her phone. “Type the date and time of this party. Taylor Andrews is not gonna know what hit her when I’m finished.”
“I’m in.” Isabel sat back to enjoy her coffee, feeling better about the looming party, and reaffirmed for herself that she would, in fact, attend. It might even be fun.