Page 56 of Love Like This

“You take care of yourself, Saul! Good to see you,” Hadley called,waving happily back at him from the door.

This so wasn’t behavior she was used to, but at the same time, shewas compelled to wave at him herself. And did! What the hell was going on here?“I think you’re sucking me into your warm and happy vortex.”

Hadley stared at her, her eyes darkening. “That sounds sexy. Weshould get out of here.” And just like that Hadley tossed Spencer onto her headonce again. Happy do-gooder one moment and sex vixen the next. She had to learnto prepare for that duality more, realizing Hadley could change it up at anymoment.

Spencer swallowed. “Then hurry we shall.”

Gia, Hadley’s sick friend, opened the door to her apartment withbleary eyes and a red nose. “Hey,” she said with that “I have a cold” voicepeople got. “What’s going on?”

Hadley pushed past her and gestured with her head for Spencer tofollow. “I brought you some soup and some NyQuil. Oh, and Spencer. Feel likeyou could eat? You should eat.”

Gia took a seat on the couch. “I think maybe I could. You didn’thave to go all the way to the deli, though. Hi, I’m Gia. I’d shake your hand,but then you’d get the plague.”

“Spencer Adair,” she said, with a smile. “Sorry about the plague.”

Gia shrugged. “Happens.”

“Yes, I did have to go to the deli.” Hadley began assembling abowl for Gia, moving around her kitchen like she owned it. “You need yourstrength, and this soup will do that. Is Elle staying with you tonight?”

“She is,” a voice from behind Spencer said. She turned to see afamiliar, radiant blonde enter the apartment and move immediately to Gia. “Youdon’t look so hot.” She felt her forehead with one side of her hand and thenthe other. “Yeah, you have a little fever going.”

“She’s worse than a few hours ago,” Hadley called from across thekitchen counter. “I brought soup!”

“You’re a doll, Hadley,” Elle said. She turned to see Spencerstanding there. “Spence!”

“Hey, Elle. How are you?” she asked, and accepted Elle’s hug as itall came together in her brain. Aha! SoGiawas the friend of Hadley’s who was datingElle.She was also the other woman from the corn chip billboard on the 405.

“I’m sorry I bypassed you on the way in,” Elle explainedapologetically. “I was worried about this one. She tries to act tough when sheshould really just be a crumpled mess on the floor.”

“So true,” Hadley said, tag-teaming. “She does that exact thing.”

Gia looked at Elle and shrugged. “Not letting it take me down isall.”

“I’m the same way,” Spencer said. “Sometimes when you give intoit, it feels like you lose control.”

“Yes!” Gia pointed at her. “Thank you for getting it.” She turnedto Hadley. “I think I like her.”

Hadley grinned and studied Spencer. “Yeah, well, who doesn’t?She’s a good egg. And a fantastic kisser.” Spencer felt the embarrassed blushdescend. Elle nodded enthusiastically. Gia laughed. “What?” Hadley asked. “Ican’t not say so. It’s true. You’re a kissing genius.”

Spencer shoved her hands into her pocket. “Cat’s out of the bagnow. That’s what they call me.” She shook her head and grinned, hoping theyunderstood she was joking.

Hadley delivered a bowl full of soup and crackers to Gia andhanded the NyQuil off to Elle. “Passing the nursemaid baton.”

Elle held up the medicine like a trophy. “Baton accepted. You guysgo enjoy yourselves. I’ll deal with the less than ideal patient. I heard sheenjoys having her hair played with.”

Gia smiled lazily from the couch. “I can accept how sick I am now.Just decided. I’m very, very sick.”

Hadley rolled her eyes and grabbed Spencer’s hand. “I’ll check onyou tomorrow, G. Night, Elle. You’re a saint!”

“And don’t you forget it!” she called back. “Spence, we need tocatch up soon!”

“We will,” Spencer said, around the door jamb.

They didn’t make it but three feet outside Gia’s apartment beforeHadley took Spencer’s face in her hands and kissed her, long and good. “I’vewaited too many hours to do that,” she said, with a proud grin.

“Maybe you should do it some more then,” Spencer said, with ashrug. “Just want you to be your happiest self.”

“You’re so thoughtful. I’ve always thought so.” Hadley leaned inand did just that.

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