Page 70 of Love Like This

“Don’t bother, landlord-dude,” Barney said, and grabbed the lastfour cupcakes as he ambled to his apartment door on the first floor. “Radgathering!” he called to Hadley by way of thanks. She sent him the hang tensign, which he happily returned.

“He just stole all your cupcakes,” Kendra pointed out inconfusion.

“That’s just Barney,” Gia said. “He does what he wants and dancesaround while he does it. We like him for his consistency, even if he’s a tool.”

“That’s all true,” Hadley said. “Plus, he’d give you the shirt offhis back if you needed it. Well, maybe not Larry, but the rest of us.”

“Aww, then I like him,” Kendra said. “He must have really wantedthose cupcakes.”

“I could bake him some,” Sonora said, showcasing her generosity.

Spencer came from really good parents. Hadley was now positive.

After such a laid-back, fun evening, everyone began to gathertheir belongings and hug their goodbyes. Gia and Elle headed out for Elle’splace, as they planned to wake up and train on Hermosa Beach before heading offto Portugal for a tournament in the coming days. The days of settling for lesson tour seemed to be a thing of the past. Elle had recaptured the number onespot, and Gia temporarily embraced her number two ranking. That is, until shecould overthrow Elle. The two couldn’t be stopped. Sonny and Kendra also tooktheir leave, hugging Hadley many times over for inviting them to the event. Thesleepy parents joined their kids, and Isabel, Spencer, and Hadley remained inthe courtyard.

“So, what are we gonna do now? The three of us,” Izzy asked, inall her half-clad glory. She placed her hands on the hips of her superherobikinis and looked from Spencer to Hadley. They stared back at her. “I’m justjoshin’ ya.” She clapped them each on the shoulder. “I have plans with Taylor,so you two can suck as much face as you want. As you were.”

Once they were alone, Spencer didn’t hesitate. “You are thesexiest Tigger I’ve ever seen, and I have never once expected to utter thatsentence.”

Hadley tugged the front of Spencer’s T-shirt. “You know how toflatter a girl.” She shrugged. “I might have been checking you out tonight.Can’t say for sure.”

“Now you’re just teasing me.”

“My place?”

“I’d give anything to stay, but I didn’t bring anything with me. Icould run home and come back, or you could come to my place.”

Hadley looked skyward. She’d not stayed at Spencer’s since theunfortunate drawer incident. “You sure you want me all up in your space?”

“I will sell half of my possessions to make room for yours if itgets you over there tonight.”

Hadley laughed. “Someone is in the mood.”

“When it comes to you, I’malwaysin the mood. You pretty much own me in that sense. But I’d bethrilled to just watch a TV show with you, or we could sit out here and talk.”

Hadley stared at Spencer as heat flamed and flickered betweenthem. “Your place it is. Let me change and grab a few things.”

Did she go inside and put on her sexy jeans and tight-fittingblack top that made her look a little bit wanton? Heck yeah, she did. Hadleyfluffed her hair, smiled at the result in the mirror, grabbed her overnightbag, and descended the outside stairs to Spencer, who waited below. Upon seeingHadley, her lips parted and she seemed struck. Oh, yes. She’d achieved herintended effect.

“Oh, man,” Spencer said, finally.

“Shall we?” Hadley asked, with a grin. She walked past her on theway to Spencer’s car, working it the whole way. Sashay, sashay, repeat. She wasgoing to work her va va voom and enjoy every decadent minute of it.

* * *

The rules of the road took on new meaning as Spencer attempted tonavigate her way back to her apartment with Hadley next to her in the passengerseat, affecting her in so many indescribable ways. She found herself breakingthose traffic laws and accelerating past the speed limit simply to get themthere sooner. Hadley was driving her crazy, the way she’d leaned back in theseat, crossing her legs and showcasing the black heels she’d selected for theirjourney of just over nine miles. Lord help her. Midway through the ride, Hadleyleaned forward to retrieve her bottle of water, only to reveal a glimpse ofcleavage as it pressed against the tight black shirt. She sent Spencer aknowing smile, making her wonder if it had been on purpose. Spencer swallowedand forced herself to keep her eyes on the road and ignore the blood that lefther brain for other places. They’d be there soon enough, and then all bets wereoff. Just drive. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat, tapping the steeringwheel, chewing the inside of her lip as a distraction.

“You might be speeding a tad,” Hadley said quietly, pointing atthe speedometer.

“Sorry,” Spencer said, easing off the gas. She tossed Hadley alook. “Apparently I feel like taking risks to get you home a little faster.”

“I could occupy your mind in other ways if you want.”

“That could be helpful. Yes. What do you have? Anything.”

Hadley tilted her head in thought. “I could tell you all thethings I want you to do to me once we get there.”

“Not helping.” Spencer swallowed. “Now who’s endangering lives?”

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