Page 67 of Love Like This

“You, there,” Autumn said, calling on her. “With the dark hair andpale, pale skin. What say you?”

“Thanks, formerly pregnant lady.” She turned to Hadley. “Iremember what that’s like, to be Spencer. When Taylor and I first started up, Iwas scared out of my mind. I was so careful about every little thing, andalways waiting for the other shoe to drop, that it was hard for me to fully letgo of myself and allow her in. I panicked. Couldn’t believe what we had wasn’tgoing to just disappear and crush me. To this day, I can’t imagine what madeher stick around and wait out my neurotic bullshit, but she did. She waited meout. Maybe that’s what Spencer needs. A little bit of patience.”

It made sense, and it had worked for Taylor. She’d be thrilled ifshe and Spencer found their way to being their own version of Isabel andTaylor, who were so in love it radiated off them wherever they went.

“Or just leave every damn item you own all over her place andindoctrinate her by fire,” Gia said, smoothly. “Or there’s always kneecaps.Just say the word.”

Autumn turned to Hadley. “Talk to her.”

“I will.” Hadley smiled at her friends. “Thanks, guys. Very goodadvice. All of it.” She turned to Gia. “Maybe not the kneecaps.”

“Just file it away,” Gia said. “It’s here if you need it.”

* * *

Spencer couldn’t work. She couldn’t think. She couldn’t function.She’d tried many times over, to no avail. All she knew was that she’dinadvertently hurt Hadley and hadn’t been able to concentrate on anything elsesince. She’d sent her that good morning message hours ago, only to receivenothing back. The memory of the look in Hadley’s eyes when she’d walked in onSpencer discovering her stored belongings haunted her. She never wanted to seeher look that way again, which meant something had to give. She had to beforthcoming with Hadley. Honesty was the only way to go, she told herself, as shepaid the exorbitant parking fee at the lot near Silhouette. Even if that meantrevealing every vulnerability she had, every hang up, and each conflict ofemotion, because there were many.

She opened the door to Silhouette and found a rather posh, serious-lookinggirl with a red updo adjusting the dress on a mannequin wearing sunglasses. Sheturned regally to Spencer and regarded her as if trying to sum up her purposeon Earth. “Hello,” she said, breaking into a languid smile. “Please come in.”

“Thank you,” Spencer said.

“I’m Miranda. What can I help you find today?” the woman said.

“Spencer. And Hadley.”

“I’m sorry?”

“I was looking for Hadley Cooper?”

“Spencer Adair,” she heard another voice whisper behind her. Thisvoice carried excitement and seemed a great deal friendlier. She turned to seea second woman, with shorter brown hair and a contagious smile, approach. “Hi,I’m Daisy. Big fan of your designs and thrilled to know you’ll be one of ourdesigners soon.”

“Thank you,” Spencer said. “Me, too.”

Suddenly the Miranda chick seemed a great deal warmer. “Howlovely,” she said, beaming at Spencer. “Can I get you a refreshment? A glass ofChardonnay, perhaps?”

“Just point me to Hadley if she’s around?”

“Right this way!” Daisy said, and marched Spencer toward the backof the store and up the handful of stairs to the sitting area. There she sawHadley working with what appeared to be a mother?/?daughter combo. “Thanks,”Spencer whispered to Daisy. “I can take it from here.” Daisy nodded andreturned to the retail space below. Spencer watched Hadley from a distance, alittle nervous, but also fascinated to see her in her element.

“I’m thinking if you went with the blue and added a jacket,something casual, and a pair of killer shoes, then this outfit is going toslay,” Hadley told them. The mother looked on, dubious, as the daughter turnedto the side and studied herself in the mirror.

“I think I’m down for slaying.”

“Sophia, I’m just not sure about all the skin showing. Theneckline and the shoulder glimpses don’t sit well with me.”

Hadley pointed at the mom. “I know exactly where you’re comingfrom. Why don’t we give that jacket a try now and see?” She shuffled through anearby rack of clothes she’d likely pulled for the fitting. That’s about thetime her eyes landed on Spencer. “Oh. I didn’t see you there. Hi.”

The mother and daughter turned. Spencer smiled. “Hi, everyone. Idon’t mean to interrupt.”

“Friend of yours?” the mother asked, nodding to Spencer.

“Yes,” Hadley said. “This is Spencer Adair. She’s actually anup-and-coming designer. You’ll be seeing her line in the store soon.”

“Impressive,” the obviously rich woman said.

“What’s less impressive is what an ass I can sometimes be,”Spencer said pointedly.

The woman squinted, intrigued by the bold comment. “Is that so?”

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