Page 29 of Sparks Like Ours

“You gonna stand there with your hands on your hips and a farawaylook in your eye or are you gonna drop and give me a hundred pushups?” Brucebarked. He was always barking, so it carried less effect.

“Sorry. Got lost for a minute.” She dropped down onto the mat andwent to work on those pushups as Bruce paced in front of her.

“Next time you get lost, it might mean Gia Malone finds yourtitle. No more getting lost.”

Elle paused her progress and glanced up. “Can we not talk abouther?”

Bruce wasn’t having it. “Why? You scared of her? You should be.She’s getting better by the minute while you stare at swirly clouds.”

He was the worst kind of drill sergeant, but that’s why she paidhim what she did. “Tomorrow we take the Jet Ski out and get you some big wavetime. For now, I want you eating, drinking, and living Gia Malone. You hearme?”

Unfortunately for Elle, she didn’t really foresee that being toobig a problem.

Chapter Seven

Gia pushed open the door to the Cat’s Pajamas at 7:45 sharp to seethat her friends had already beaten her there. Wait. Most of them, anyway.Instead of Autumn behind the counter, she saw that Kate was on register asSteve prepared drinks.

“Well, this is new,” Gia said with a grin. “You taking over thebusiness, Carpenter?”

Kate laughed. “No way. Counter help at best. Autumn’s extrauncomfortable today, so I told her I’d fill in while she took the morning torest. I have the next two days off, so I don’t mind. And hey, I’m not as bad asI used to be.”

“Well, you look sharp back there.”

“Thanks,” Kate said, and dropped her gaze to the register. She wasnever one for much attention, always moving out of the spotlight, which Giafound endearing. Kate was good people, and she’d been an amazing partner forAutumn.

“I should check in on her later,” Hadley said from her chair attheir table. “I could read to her like I do the kiddos at the hospital.”

“Autumn would probs love to be read to. Please promise me you’lldo that,” Isabel said, with a mischievous smile, because in truth, they knewAutumn would have little patience for inactivity and was likely doingeverything in her power to claw her way back to her prized coffee roaster.

“On second thought, maybe not such a good idea.” Hadleybrightened. “I can’t help but remember when my dads would read to me when I wassick. We would go through book after book. It’s where I developed anappreciation for the written word.”

Isabel regarded her. “You really did grow up in a gay fairy tale,didn’t you? Two dads with an eye for decorating, copious milkshakes, and probablya damn pet unicorn.”

Hadley sipped her mocha. “And proud of it.”

“I have to head to work early,” Isabel said, standing. “I’m takingFat Tony to the office with me. He and Raisin have signed a temporary peacetreaty and I thought what better way for them to practice their manners than inmy place of employment. Sounds like the perfect plan to me.”

“Good luck with that,” Gia said. “My money’s on my man Tony.”

“I could take bets,” Hadley offered.

Gia looked at her. “Vegas theme night has changed you forever. Youknow that?”

“Iz, wait!” Kate said, racing over with two to-go cups. “I’msupposed to send these for you and Taylor. It’s on the list she gave me.”

“You’re the best substitute Autumn ever, and I would never justsay that to you either, because those stakes are fucking high.Ms. Pac-Mantonight?”

“Done.”

“Hey!” Gia said. “I’m sitting right here.”

“You’re invited, too, Surf Queen. You know the invite is standing.All right. Me and my asshole cat are out. Peace, bitches.”

Hadley stared after Isabel. “She always has the best exits,wouldn’t you say? I need to work on mine.” She finished the last bit of hermocha, returned the cup to the counter, and regarded them. “Well, everyone herein the coffee shop, I’m off to take Rodeo Drive by storm.” With that, sheflipped her blond hair and sauntered to the door. “How was that?” she askedmeekly, glancing back.

Kate squinted. “That was pretty good.”

Gia nodded at Kate. “I’d give it a solid seven.”

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