Chapter Two
“So, how’d the thing go with the lady-lady?” Isabel Chase asked, two days later at Breakfast Club. Though Hadley and her best friends lived wildly different lives during the day, they did their best to meet each morning at the Cat’s Pajamas for coffee, baked goods, and gossip. It kept them centered, in touch, and ready to blast off to their different professions each morning. In Isabel’s case, to Paramount Studios, where she wrote and produced one of the hottest shows on television, The Subdivision.
Hadley studied her patiently. “What lady-lady about what thing? You’re speaking early morning Isabel again.”
Isabel’s eyes got wide. “The lady about the thing, and the new designer with the good clothes and promise. You were nervous, then excited. It was a whole deal,” she said, around a mouthful of blueberry muffin. “Anyway, how’d it go?”
Hadley smiled, translating the nonsensical version of Isabel, who was often useless until caffeine took hold. Right on cue, Steve, Autumn’s number two guy and the assistant manager at Pajamas, delivered Izzy’s latte, along with Hadley’s sugary caramel mocha. “Thanks, Steve!” Hadley said brightly, perfectly capable of mustering the cheer before the coffee. Life was too short to be anything less than friendly and warm, principles her fathers raised her on. She turned back to Isabel. “I believe you’re referencing that new designer Elle recommended.”
Isabel sipped her coffee and closed her eyes, allowing it to wash over her. “And there it is.” She opened them again. “Yes, that one.”
“What about me?” Elle asked, approaching their table with Gia. They were both in shorts and hoodies, which meant they had swimsuits on underneath and would be heading to the beach for training after breakfast. As two of the top surfers in the world, and competitors themselves, they rarely took days off.
“I met with your friend Spencer Adair earlier this week,” Hadley told Elle. “She’s an amazing find and I owe you everything for the tip. I’m going to make you cookies by way of thanks. Chocolate chip ones!”
“Yay!” Elle said, fist in the air. “I love it when you bake me things.”
“I’m presenting her stuff to Trudy today. Fingers crossed for me.”
Elle tucked a strand of her blond hair behind her ear and lit up. “Spence is gonna be thrilled if this goes through.”
“And how do you guys know each other?” Isabel asked Elle.
“Oh, Spencer and I went to high school together. She’s one of those people you can lose touch with but pick right back up again like no time has gone by at all. She’s good people, but she doesn’t mess around. She’s got goals and charts and plans.”
Hadley nodded. “She’s clearly driven, and not at all afraid to speak her mind.”
Elle grinned. “Sounds like Spencer. She’s always had a firm head on her shoulders. Knew she was gay by the time we hit tenth grade. If only I’d had her self-awareness.”
“Then you might not have been single and fallen for me,” Gia said, in uncharacteristic meekness.
Almost as if she couldn’t resist, Elle leaned over and kissed her. “It wouldn’t have mattered when I realized it, I definitely would have found you. No matter what it took or where you were.”
Hadley covered her swelling heart. Romance in all forms was her complete and utter undoing, and seeing Gia so happy these days with Elle had the thing ready to burst. Then there was Autumn, who’d been so happily married to Kate for almost a year now as they waited on their twins to be born. And of course, before that, Isabel had fallen madly in love with her boss, television producer extraordinaire Taylor Andrews. The two were practically inseparable. Yet here Hadley sat, alone, cheering everyone else on from the sidelines of singledom. Not that she minded. One day her person would come along. No question about it. She just wondered why it seemed to be taking them so long.
Two arms snaked around her neck from behind. She knew that hug and leaned into it. “Hi,” she said, looking up at Autumn, around her stomach. “How are you feeling, Mom-to-be?”
“Like I’m ready for this all to be over and for these giant, unruly kids to be here so I can kiss their cheeks and love them. It’s impossible to get comfortable. I’m about to abandon the concept of shoes altogether. You might find me lying in the courtyard like a beached whale. Call me Willy. I’ll answer.”
“Sit down, Willy,” Isabel said, jumping up and ushering Autumn to her customary chair at their table. “We can all imagine you already hugged us. The hugging credit is there. No reason to remain on your feet longer than necessary.”
“Good to know.” Autumn sat down with a weary sigh. It was likely she’d come in before six a.m. to open the place, which was insane, given how far along she was. “I think it might be time to hand the store off to Steve until delivery.”
“You think that might be a good idea?” Isabel said with a laugh. She’d been pushing Autumn to go on maternity leave for a while now.
“Good call,” Gia said. “Time for you to do nothing but relax.”
Hadley sighed in relief. She, too, had been waiting to hear that statement for weeks now, but Autumn was a stubborn one who refused to leave her business, which she loved beyond all measure, until the last possible second, throwing Hadley’s worried heart into overdrive. “I’m going to bring you a basket of bath bombs later, and I order you to use them. Start with the blue glittery one. It’s called Moonlight Madness and it will make your life feel like it’s new again. Oh! And play some flute music while you soak. Does it for me every time.”
“Bless the blond girl,” Autumn said, with a hand over her heart. “Bless her sweet soul. If I didn’t have pregnancy brain, I might even remember her name.”
“Flute lunatic works,” Isabel said.
“How’s Kate?” Gia asked. “I haven’t seen her around much.”
“She’s been picking up extra shifts at the firehouse any chance she gets, which will allow her to take more time off when the kiddos are here.”
“Smart,” Elle said, with a thoughtful look. “When I have kids one day, I want to do the same. Take some time for just them.”
Autumn lit up. “So, does that sound like a game plan in the works?” She looked from Gia to Elle.
“I wouldn’t put it on your calendar, but maybe,” Gia said, with a small smile on her lips. She looked over at Elle and took her hand. “Down the road. Yeah, I think we definitely want kids.”
“Who’s going to carry?” Hadley asked, sold on the idea instantly. She leaned forward with her chin in her hands, eager for details.
“I think when we decide we’re ready, I will,” Elle said, as pink touched her cheeks. “I’ve always wanted to be pregnant.”
“God, I can’t wait to see that,” Gia said, looking skyward. The glow coming off of her could light up the whole block in an outage.
Autumn pointed at her stomach, eyes wide. “If you hurry, that little one can be friends with these guys.”
“Do the mysterious twins have names yet?” Isabel asked. “Taylor suggested Donald and Daisy, but I like Elphaba and Fiyero.”
“Jack and Diane,” Gia offered.
“Jon Snow and Khaleesi,” Elle said with a grin, followed by a smolder.
Hadley shook her head. “Weirdos, no. Those are all couples. You can’t name the twins after couples.”
“She has a point,” Autumn said. “But no names yet. I might need to meet them first. Get some experience with their out-in-the-world vibe.”
Isabel dropped her head onto the table with a thud. “Fine. Thus, we wait.”
They’d learned a few months back at a gender reveal party on the beach that Kate and Autumn were expecting a boy and a girl, which had Hadley shopping for them like a maniac. She’d singlehandedly purchased an entire summer wardrobe for both babies, each item selected to compliment the outfit of the other twin, obviously. She’d matched accent colors, and hints of patterns, and even tossed in a few theme outfits, her favorite. With Fourth of July right around the corner, how could she resist little red, white, and blue top hats? No one could. It would be blasphemous.
“What about you guys?” Hadley asked Isabel. Of all the couples, she and Taylor had now been together the longest. “Any thoughts of little ones? Tiny creative writer feet prancing through the studio crafting conflict? That could be fun!”
Isabel smiled. “Right now, we have two little ones with furry feet to worry about. Fat Tony is making great strides on his social skills, and Raisin has mastered ‘snuggle eyes’ like no one’s business. I think that’s enough. Plus, I’d want to be married first. Start with that foundation and build from there.”
“And when is that happening?” Autumn asked, her eyes hopeful. “I’d be happy to do the coffee for the reception.”
Isabel glanced at her watch. “Would you look at the time? Story meeting in a little over an hour, and with traffic, I’m already gonna be late. Gotta jet.”
“Someone’s scared of commitment,” Gia called to Isabel’s retreating form.
“If it ain’t broke,” Isabel called back.
Autumn turned to the remaining group. “Oh, yeah. She’s terrified.”
“Totally,” Gia murmured. “What about you, Had?”
Hadley glanced from Gia to Autumn. “What about me?”
“Any big bang yet?”
She smiled at the use of the term that dated all the way back to her adolescence, when she’d decided that meeting that special someone would surely feel like the Big Bang they’d learned about in science class: unexpected, earth shattering, and all encompassing. Her dads had agreed and encouraged her quest. “Strangely, not in the last twenty-four hours. One day she’ll come along. I think the universe just wants me to be ready for her.”
“I love how optimistic you are,” Autumn said. “And in my opinion, that optimism will be rewarded kindly.”
Hadley returned her chin to her hand and sighed happily. “Wouldn’t that just be awesome? I’m holding on for that.”
“Wait,” Gia said, bringing the whole thing to a stop. “When exactly does the big bang happen? Is this an as-soon-as-you-lay-eyes-on-them kinda thing, or can it happen later? For me, it was definitely later. I wanted to kill Elle, well, until I wanted to make out with her. I think it took a little time for me to get it, though, that this was my big bang.”
“Same,” Elle said, glancing at Gia. “We knew each other for years first.”
This was a great question, and one Hadley wasn’t sure she had the answer to, having never experienced the big bang herself. “I think it can happen at any point really. It doesn’t necessarily have to mean that you’re in love. The big bang is just that moment when you know that you’re on the path to your person, that this one is different from all the others.” Hadley paused and grinned. “But when it happens, you know. I’m confident of that. That’s what makes it the big bang.”
“Oh, I most certainly knew,” Autumn said, fanning herself, her eyes darkening with lust. “It was the second time I saw Kate, when she sauntered into the coffee shop looking like Kate does with all that quiet confidence and eye contact for days.” Autumn looked like she might combust on the spot from the memory alone.
“Now you’re getting me all hot and bothered,” Hadley said, “and I haven’t even had the big bang yet.”
“Somehow,” Gia said, “I have this feeling that it’s not far off for you.”
“And after that you get to just keep banging and banging and banging,” Autumn said. She and Gia shared a fist bump.
“I see what you did there,” Hadley murmured into her coffee cup with a smile. Didn’t sound so bad at all.
* * *
Trudy Day breezed into Silhouette half an hour after she was scheduled to meet with Hadley, who’d waited patiently that afternoon, not at all surprised by her boss’s disregard for time. She ran her hand through her severe dark brown bob and regarded the room with her wide-set eyes. Trudy believed that the world operated according to her schedule. Due to the money and power she wielded in high-end retail at only forty-eight years of age, it kind of did.
“Who did the glove display?” Trudy asked, with an air of distaste. Hadley studied the display, which was simple and elegant. Perfect for the store.
“Daisy, and she did a lovely job.” Hadley had worked for Trudy long enough to know how to nudge her out of an unreasonable opinion. It worked most of the time.
“You don’t think the beiges are too prominent on the right?” She placed a hand on her hip, signaling her struggle.
“I don’t,” Hadley said with a hint of serenity. “I was actually just thinking how pleasing the color layout delineation was earlier today. It’s going to sell a lot of gloves.”
Trudy nodded, probably zeroing in on the word sell. “If you think so. Which one is Daisy?”
“Friendly, petite, curly hair. A whiz at displays like this one.”
“Right. The little short one. Keep an eye on her.” Hadley quirked an eyebrow, unsure what that even meant. Trudy, meanwhile, stalked through the store en route to their shared office. “Well, I’m here,” she tossed the words over her shoulder. “Isn’t there a new designer you’re just wild about? Let’s get to it.”
“Yes. I think you’re going to love her,” Hadley said, scurrying after Trudy in spite of her high-heeled Manolos. She presented Trudy with Spencer’s portfolio and résumé and had the samples displayed in an order she thought showed a progression in story.
“Interesting,” she said, taking in Spencer’s book. “She’s certainly no wallflower, is she?”
“Not at all, which is what I really like about her work. It stands out, yet it comes with an elegance we’re known for at Silhouette, a sophistication that works for our clients. She’s gonna be a hit, Trudy. She just needs a chance. I think we give her an order and see how it goes.”
“Hmmm.” Trudy flipped a few of the pages, which almost made Hadley cry out, because each page contained such vital information to who this designer was. It was important for Trudy to take the proper time in her assessment. Yet…she was Trudy, and not one for dwelling. Finally, she looked up at Hadley with a grimace. “I don’t know.”
Hadley nodded. She had prepared for this reaction. It was Trudy’s second nature to balk at anything new and outside the box, even if it was precisely what she’d asked Hadley to find for her in the first place. It was up to Hadley to put Trudy’s nerves to rest. She made sure her tone was gentle and full of understanding. “I get why you would hesitate. The bold colors, the edgier prints, some of the lines push the boundaries of what we’re used to greenlighting for the store, but we’re purposefully seeking out new designers that help us revamp our image, right? That’s been the plan all along, and Spencer Adair is the perfect person to kick us in that new, innovative direction.”
“It’s a no from me,” Trudy said, as if she’d just announced that the coffee was ready. “A worthy effort, Hadley, but a swing and a miss. Keep trying. Oh, and let me know when the new Dior scarves arrive. Text me immediately. It’s dire.” She grabbed her bag, and started for the door, probably mentally already moving on to her next appointment.
“Wait,” Hadley said, following her. “Before you completely close the door on the idea, let me walk you through some of her inspiration. I think it really offers an insight into who we’re dealing with on an artistic level and signals what we can expect in the future. Plus, we haven’t even gone over the samples from her spring line, or the sales figures she’s provided from online sales alone—where she’s killing it, by the way. It’s insane.”
“I glanced at the samples,” Trudy said, sounding bored. “The colors are just too bold, and she dabbles in prints, which you know is a pet peeve of mine. The world has too many prints! It’s barbaric.”
“Dior’s entire spring and summer line is full of prints.”
“Dior is Dior,” she said haughtily.
“Don’t be afraid of an occasional print from someone unknown.”
“I’m not afraid of anything,” Trudy said, straightening, and glancing around as if she smelled something unpleasant. It’s what she did when she felt she was being challenged, and in a way, she was. Hadley believed in this designer and was willing to push back. She was always one to pick her battles with Trudy, and this was one she gladly selected. She narrowed her focus and dug in.
“What can I do to change your mind?” Hadley asked.
“I’d be willing to take another look if she can get me revised pieces in a month. That’s not a lot of time, so I doubt it’s even possible.”
Hadley doubted it, too, but it was worth a shot. “Let me talk to her.”
“Fine. But understand, it’s a stretch.”
Hadley nodded, but couldn’t resist. “A stretch you wanted.”
Trudy sighed, as if she’d been taxed so very much today already. “And maybe that was a mistake.”
“It wasn’t,” Hadley said. “Give her a month.”
With a curt nod, Trudy popped on her oversized Chanel sunglasses and strolled back to the front of the boutique. “Text me when the scarves arrive.”
“Making a note right now,” Hadley said, touching her temple. “It’s dire.”
“I don’t like the gloves!” Trudy called without looking back. “Fire Daisy.”
“Not going to fire Daisy,” Hadley said calmly, as she strolled behind the reception desk.
Trudy paused in the doorway, defeated. “Then maybe less beige on the right side?”
“You got it.”
Once Trudy left, Hadley placed a hand on top of her head and sighed. Hurricane Trudy had struck once again, and she now had a lot of work to do. No day like today to get started.
* * *
“Minnie. We’ve talked about this. Leave those alone.” Spencer stared hard at her mischievous cat who batted two of her Prismacolor pencils around like she was a three-year-old in a ball pit. “Do you realize how expensive those are, you maniac?” She snatched the stray pencils off the kitchen table and placed them back in the tin.
Minnie Mouse, her white cat with black ears, had pretty much adopted Spencer two years earlier simply by following her everywhere she went outside and never leaving her doorstep once Spencer went into her apartment. It was one way to find a home. Demand it. Cite squatter’s rights. Refuse to leave. She admired the tenacity and had seen a little bit of herself in Minnie when she decided to invite her inside and make their arrangement a permanent one.
She turned back to her sketchpad and continued to add detail to the blue skirt, inspiration firing. She liked where this was going, biting her lower lip as she sketched. Honestly? When she imagined the fabric, she was thinking something sturdy, military inspired. Maybe with an accent of gold buttons, a concept she could run with for her entire fall line. Minnie Mouse leapt for the pencil in her hand. Spencer dodged the move handily. “Nice try, ninja cat.” She reached for her phone, which had been buzzing incessantly for the last few moments.
“This is Spencer,” she said, to the foreign number on her readout.
“Hi, Spencer! Hope your day is going well. It’s Hadley.”
Spencer sat up straighter, her senses on heightened alert. She’d been waiting for this call, for any sort of indication on whether she’d be getting an order from Silhouette. If so, there would be manufacturing details to hammer out, and money she’d have to front. Not that she hadn’t planned for it; she had. “Hi, Hadley. Just getting some sketching in. How are things on your end?”
“I wondered if you had time to talk this afternoon?”
“Sure. I’m free right now. What would you like to discuss?” She held her breath, waiting for the verdict. If there was something to talk about, then the deal wasn’t dead, right?
“I meant in person.”
“Oh.” A pause as she scrambled to decode what that could mean.
“I could come to you, or we could meet at the store, or somewhere in between.”
Spencer surveyed her apartment / workshop / tornado central in horror. Sketches and fabric and swatches everywhere. It looked like a proper design studio had exploded. She pivoted. “Do you drink coffee?”
“Are you kidding?” Hadley practically shouted. “I know the perfect spot!”
An hour later, Spencer pushed open the door to a funky little coffee shop in Venice with a cat, of all things, playing a guitar and wearing what looked to be crazy pajamas on the sign out front. Points for creativity. She dug the vibe. If the coffee held up, she would make note of this place. She scanned the half-full portion of the cafe space and found Hadley in less than two seconds, waving with a friendly smile on her face. One thing was notably different about her, however. Gone were the upscale designer clothes, heels, and fancy hairstyle. This version of Hadley wore jeans, flip-flops, a soft purple T-shirt, with her hair down. Subtle waves caressed her face and fell down her back. It took Spencer a minute to adjust. The transformation was so…pleasing. Hadley was a person in the real world, living life, and a really beautiful one at that. This felt a little bit like running into your teacher at the mall and bracing against the impending crush.
Hadley stood, beaming as Spencer approached. “Hi, there! Any trouble finding the place?”
“Not at all. I’m pretty handy with my phone.”
Hadley shook her head. “No one ever needs directions anymore. Technology is awesome. We’re lucky.” Hadley, Spencer realized, thought a lot of things were awesome. In fact, she was perpetually cheerful and optimistic in every conversation they’d had thus far. She couldn’t decide if that was an endearing quality or annoying one. Not that it mattered. This was business. “What can I get you to drink?” Hadley asked.
“Oh,” Spencer said, and waved her hand. “I can get it.”
“No, no, no. I invited you. Entirely on my dime. I insist. I will throw a fit right here if I have to.”
Spencer gave in. “To avoid the fit, I’ll take a cappuccino.”
“Good choice.”
Hadley walked to the counter, and Spencer watched her go, only realizing moments later that she was blatantly staring. She gave her head a shake and scolded herself, deciding she needed to get out more, and maybe not check out her potential clients. She exhaled slowly, ruminating on what the next few minutes might mean for her future, her career, and her bank account, which, let’s be honest, could use a boost.
“One cappuccino and one caramel mocha,” Hadley said, placing the drinks on the table. The part in her hair left a strand drifting across one eye as she leaned over. She brushed it to the side, revealing her big, blue eyes. The action caused a pleasant stirring in Spencer. Hadley was really pretty.
“Thank you,” Spencer said, and lifted the hot mug to her lips.
“Wait,” Hadley said, eyebrows near her hairline.
Spencer froze.
“You’re going to burn your mouth.”
“I’ll risk it,” she told Hadley, and took a sip. The hot liquid settled on her tongue, and the flavor spread out strong and bold. “This place is no joke,” she said, as much to the cup itself as to Hadley. She lifted the mug. “Amazing brew.”
“Everyone says that. My friend, Autumn, is the owner and spends hours coming up with the perfect flavor profiles and roasting times. It’s her life’s passion.”
Spencer nodded, identifying entirely. “I suppose we all have those.”
“Speaking of yours, I have good and bad news.”
“Bad first.” She exhaled, not liking the direction this was heading. “Tell me.”
Hadley didn’t hesitate, but her features softened to sooth the blow. “Trudy didn’t go for the line as is.”
Just as she’d thought. Her clothes didn’t fit in at Silhouette. Her gut instinct had been correct. “How is there good news after that?” Her gaze fell to the table as she attempted to recover. Her spirits catapulted.
Hadley nodded sympathetically. “I get that you’re probably demoralized and a little pissed off about that, but the door isn’t closed, which is why I called. She’s willing to take another look at the line with a few small changes.”
Spencer sighed, not sure she could stomach this. “What kind of changes? I’ve never really compromised myself for a client.”
“A slight tone down in color, and maybe the subtraction of a pattern or two.” Spencer opened her mouth to object, but Hadley held up her hand. “I get it. This is your work, your vision, your passion, which is why I’m offering to help.”
Spencer made sure not to balk visibly, but in her head was a pretty aggressive hell no. “I don’t collaborate. It’s not my thing. No offense.”
“It wouldn’t be that. Think of it as a temporary consultation. I’m a fan of what you do, Spencer, and I also have a great big desire to see Silhouette move into a more accessible direction. I think I might be able to help bring those two things a little closer together.”
While everything in Spencer wanted to push back, finish her cappuccino, thank Hadley for her time, and get the hell out of there, there was a viable part of her that wanted to take the next big step, and seize the opportunity. Was she capable of swallowing her pride and making a few adjustments to her work in order make it out of a niche market and into the larger fashion world? Damn it. She was actually considering this crazy thing. “We’re not talking an entire redesign, because if that’s the case I have to respectfully decline.”
“No,” Hadley said. “Some adjusting, which admittedly will take some work.”
“You’re telling me.”
“You have a month.”
Spencer nearly spit out her coffee. “A month for sketches, or a month for samples?”
Hadley winced. “Samples would be ideal.”
“You realize we’re talking about fashion. Clothes. Not pancakes you just sent back to the kitchen.”
“I do.” Hadley reached across the table and covered Spencer’s hand which, in a weird way, seemed to quickly calm her. She wasn’t a casual toucher, and the gesture caught her off guard. But her breathing slowed, as did her heart rate. She focused on Hadley’s kind eyes and that helped focus her. “I think this could be a very good thing for everyone, and I just want to help all I can.”
Spencer nodded, her thoughts shooting off in a million different directions like a batch of wayward fireworks. She ran her index finger around the ring of her mug, letting the heat from the coffee warm her wrist. She flicked her gaze to Hadley. “Can I think about it? Mull it over?”
“Of course, but we don’t have a lot of time.”
“You did mention that. How about I call you tomorrow?”
Hadley nodded. “Perfect. Tomorrow would be great. I will wait to hear from you and hope desperately that you say yes.”
There was that contagious optimism again. Spencer stood, downed the rest of her cappuccino, and met Hadley’s gaze. “Thanks for going out of your way for me. You didn’t have to.” She felt everything in her tighten for this next part, as she dropped her tone. “And I don’t know if anyone has ever told you this, but you look killer in a simple pair of jeans.”
Hadley’s mouth formed a small O, their eye contact unbroken.
The comment seemed to have stolen her words, which was rare as far as Spencer could tell. “Professionally speaking, of course.”
“Of course.” Hadley blinked several times in succession.
Spencer chuckled quietly at her own brazenness. “I better go bang my head against a wall about this Trudy thing. Talk to you tomorrow, Hadley.”
Hadley nodded, still not saying anything. She did, however, raise her hand in farewell. Spencer made her way to her fairly new Nissan Altima, bright red, purchased just six months ago with all the bells and whistles. This car had been Spencer’s one indulgence when she started making waves, and cash, via her online store. She’d played it conservative with money in every other aspect of her life, storing away as much as she could, but this car was her own little celebration. She wondered if maybe, someday, there might be another reason to celebrate.
She pulled her phone from her bag and dialed. “Hi, Mama. You free for breakfast tomorrow? I have something I’d love to talk over with you.”
* * *
Hadley hadn’t moved since Spencer knocked her over with that compliment and then took off. She stared out the window, watching the traffic fly past as she floated back to herself. She’d been complimented before. This had felt markedly different. The way Spencer had said it, in her lower register with a twinkle in her eye left Hadley…tingly. She had wiggled her toes both then and now. She was becoming a toe wiggler out of nowhere.
“Who was that?” Autumn asked.
Hadley blinked and then blinked again. “What? I missed what you said.”
“The hot girl you were just having coffee with? Did you forget about her already, or is that who you’re daydreaming about all starry eyed-like?”
“What?”
Autumn patted Hadley’s head. “Who were you just meeting with, sweetie?” she said more gently.
“Oh, that was Spencer Adair. The friend of Elle’s, you know, the designer I told you about? I’m still trying to get her stuff into the store. Trudy’s not making that easy.”
Autumn pointed at the empty chair and then back at Hadley. “That was work?” Hadley nodded, and Autumn held up her hands in surrender. “I totally mistook that for a date. I could feel the chemistry from across the room.”
“No,” Hadley said, smothering a grin. “Just a meeting. She is attractive, though. I can’t lie about that.”
“Well, I don’t know what it’s worth, but you two make a striking pair. Even Steve thought so.”
Hadley felt the blush but didn’t fight it. “She’s very attractive. Very.”
“Do you want to say very again?” Autumn asked with a tilt of her head. “Not sure you’ve made the point enough.”
“No, I think that’s plenty. She is, you know.”
Autumn placed a finger on her cheek. “I heard that somewhere. But?”
“She’s a client, you know? It feels weird to say she’s pretty.”
“Except you’ve easily said it three times. And she’s only a client until she’s not.” Autumn chuckled again and headed back behind the counter where she wasn’t supposed to be anymore, due to maternity leave. She always had been stubborn. Hadley followed her.
“What do you think it means when you have to wiggle your toes?”
“That you need new shoes?”
“No, it’s a good wiggle. What does good wiggling signal?”
Autumn stared at her. “I have no idea what that means.”
“No, and how could you?” Hadley gave her head a shake and tried to explain herself. “When I’m around Spencer, I wiggle my toes. I’ve never done that before, but it’s rampant! I’m this overzealous wiggler who keeps telling people Spencer’s attractive, like a maniac. I’m a wiggling maniac.”
“Finally, we have a name for you! Interesting. Steve, do you wiggle your toes when you have the hots for some girl?” Autumn asked.
Steve’s eyes went wide, and he paused mid-cappuccino-preparation. “Not that I know of. Am I supposed to? Maybe that’s part of my problem. I could try.” He was so cute in all his nerdy glory. Hadley wanted to pinch his cheek in spite of her present dilemma.
“Who knows?” Autumn asked. “Had does when she’s all hot and bothered. She just said so.”
Hadley scoffed. “I am not hot and bothered.”
“Are, too.”
“Fine. A little bothered. A tad hot. Without the two mingling.”
“Semantics, Cooper, but if you prefer we can stipulate to the no mingling.”
Hadley followed Autumn into the storage room behind the counter. “I don’t think it means I have a crush on her, though. She just has an effect on me I haven’t figured out. A physical one.”
“That’s fair. What do you think a possible reason might be? Let’s break it down.” Autumn rifled through a shelf of supplies, looking for who knew what coffee accoutrement.
“Maybe because I’m uncomfortable with how pretty she is? That could be it. What’s the scoopy thing?” she asked, pointing at the thingamabob on the shelf.
“For measuring ground coffee. Does the rest of you feel uncomfortable?”
She thought on this and the answer was easy. She liked Spencer, admired her. There was no unease, though. “No.”
“Do you feel excited, and tingly, and happy when she’s around? I mean, you’re always happy, but extra happy in any way?”
Hadley squinted. “Yes, but that’s probably just the clothes that are making me happy. Don’t you think? Clothes always get me worked up.” She rolled her shoulders, channeling the energy the reflected passion brought on. She really did live for good fashion, and that’s exactly what Spencer brought to the table.
Autumn nodded sagely. “Then maybe it’s the killer combination of the two. Her looks and her talent. Bear with me.”
“Bearing.”
“Some killer clothes. A killer bod, which I can attest to, and some killer chemistry might have your toes a-wiggling. Ever think of that?”
“Not until right now. It’s not impossible,” Hadley said. She took the silver canister Autumn handed her and followed her back to the front of the shop.
“Biscotti?” Autumn offered, stealing one from the jar on the counter and biting into it herself. “I’m a ravenous pregnant woman in the wild. Pay no attention.”
“No thanks. Hey, why are you here, by the way? Aren’t you supposed to be temporarily retired? You promised.”
“I was retired, that part’s true, and enjoying it like a boss. Bath bombs, apple juice, which I’ve been craving like you have no idea, feet up and all. Then I just got this surge of energy, like I had to do stuff. So here I am. Doing all the things I can think of. The energy surge is amazing. I figured I should use it while it’s here. I’m about to reorganize this whole shop. My apartment’s already done.”
“Oh, my goodness. Oh, my goodness!”
Autumn stared at her. “What is that about? You sound like an orphan in Annie.”
“You’re nesting! I read about this.” Hadley covered her mouth with both hands. This was huge!
“Really? Huh. Hadn’t considered that.”
“It’s real and it means that you’re about to go into labor. Like, any second.” She pointed once and then again at Autumn’s stomach for emphasis. “They’re coming.”
Autumn shifted her lips to the side in thought. “I’ve yet to feel any signs of that, other than the twins and their usual afternoon dance party, which, let’s be honest, is growing tiresome.”
“Any second now,” Hadley said, and stared at Autumn. And stared some more. She looked at her stomach, then back at her face. The silence felt a little awkward, and nothing seemed to be happening.
“You’re being a weirdo again.” Autumn shook her head and went back to her intense organization.
Still nothing had happened three hours later, as Hadley sat smack in the middle of the courtyard, waiting, holding watch like the lookout in a scary movie. This was it. She could feel it, and she was not about to miss one second of such a monumental occasion in her best friend’s life. She checked her watch and glanced at her book. Reading it felt a bit like cheating, but she stole a few chapters anyway. This was book five in the Janika series. Only three more to go before she’d have to say goodbye to Captain Janika and her crew forever. She lost herself in the action and drama of the space opera until Seven Shores seemed all tucked in for the night. Quiet and peaceful. She smiled at the night all around her.
Good things were headed their way she told herself, and if it weren’t for that tiny, nagging feeling in her gut, she could allow herself to fully believe it.