Page 61 of Love Like This

Hadley was completely unfazed. “I’m ready.”

Because she couldn’t help herself, she placed an arm aroundHadley’s waist and pulled her in. “And they’re going to love you.” They shareda kiss before Spencer took her hand and led her into the house.

“Well, hello!” her mother said, coming around the kitchen counterwith her arms open for a hug. “You must be Hadley.”

“That’s me,” Hadley said, hugging her mother. She placed a hand onher chest and looked all around. “Thank you so much for inviting me. I loveyour house. Oh, hello!” she said to Spencer’s father. “Hadley Cooper.”

“Russell Adair. I’ve heard you’re friendly.”

“I’ve been told so.”

“And I’m Sonora,” her mother said. “Sonny for short. Like thesunshine.”

“Which is perfect for your gorgeous dress.”

“You think so?” Her mother turned to the side to model it moreeffectively, slimming a hand down her stomach.

“Looking good, Sonny,” her father said, before dashing off tosneak a bite of food, no doubt. Spencer laughed. Okay, this was going well.

Her mother moved to the couch and patted the seat next to her forHadley to sit. When the two of them were side by side like a couple of bestfriends, her mother launched in. “Tell me about you.”

“Well, I’m a Gemini and a big believer in all things good in theworld.”

Spencer laughed at what was probably the whitest sentence she’dever heard. Didn’t matter. It was all Hadley.

“I was raised in Calabasas but have come to love living in Venice.It’s my home.”

“It’s beautiful out that way!” her mama remarked. Hadley continuedto impart her life story as her mother nodded and oohed and ahhed in all theright places. Her pop hadn’t been seen recently, which meant he was still inthe midst of raiding the oven. She prayed silently he’d leave enough fordinner. Yet somewhere in the middle of that moment, she felt herself relax.Things felt…natural, as if they would all be just fine without her. She didn’thave to direct the conversation or monitor the flow. Hadley was taking care ofherself. She could just kick back and enjoy it all. What an odd and wonderfulrelief that was. “Two dads!” she heard her mother say, pulling her attentionback to the conversation. “Oh, I bet they doted on you.”

“You have no idea. I was dressed to the nines just to go out forice cream. I credit them with my fashion ability, which led me to Spencer.”

“Then we might just owe them by the end of all this. Tell me whatyou think of her.”

“Mama!” Spencer said. But she was easily waved off as the two newpeas in a pod continued to dish. If they continued at this pace, her motherwould like Hadley more than her. Not that she would blame her. She listened asHadley described her as smart, ambitious, talented, and a knockout.

“Oh, I think you have her pegged nicely,” her mother said. “Butyou forget stubborn, pigheaded, and stubborn again.”

“Maybe I should be taking notes. Then again, I’m sensing a theme.”

Her mother nodded. “A very noticeable theme.”

“You realize I’m sitting directly across from you, right?” Spencerasked.

Her mother scoffed. “As if you didn’t know yourself. Hadley, ifyou ever need a house, you just let me know. I’ll drop my commission.”

Hadley lit up. “That’s a very generous offer. When the time comes,I’ll be callingyou.”

“We’ll have such fun when we set out to look. We can build in sometime for lunch at this new Thai food spot that’s getting lots of buzz.”

“I love Thai food.”

Spencer shook her head. “You’re planning a fictitioushouse-hunting venture in the long distant future. You two just met.”

“But we get on!” her mother crowed.

“We get on nicely!” Hadley crowed along with her. Spencer wasn’tsure how she felt about their united force but suspected it to be a verypositive thing once she’d had a chance to wrap her mind around it.

Her mama popped Hadley on the knee. “The three of us have to stopgabbing now. We have a dinner to eat. Russell! Your fat fingers better not beinfiltrating my pot roast.” But they weren’t. When they came around the tableto sit, they found her father finishing up a batch of freshly squeezedlemonade. The kind he used to make for Spencer and Kendra when they were kids.

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