Page 3 of Sparks Like Ours

Hadley shook her head slowly. “You guys are the most pragmaticcouple I’ve ever met.”

Isabel’s girlfriend was the well-known TV producer Taylor Andrews,who just so happened to think Isabel hung the moon. “Raisin has an appointmentat the vet, so she has to do this whole pep talk thing with him. Who knewDachshunds were so easily influenced? Not that it works for me,” she said, andshrugged. “I can get him to chase a rubber pork chop, but she’s able to changehis whole life view in one chat. He’s obsessed with her. I fault him not.”Isabel turned to Gia. “Oh, and she watched your finals online from her office.Said to give you a hug just from her. We can get to that later.”

Gia smiled. “Give her my love.”

“Done.”

Hadley, always one for following the surfing news, sat taller inher seat. “So, what do you think of the reports that you interfered on ElleBritton’s final wave? Not at all true, by the way.”

Gia sighed. She’d heard the speculation that she’d edged Elle outof her final opportunity to score by dropping in on her wave, but she hadn’tbroken any rules. That was just part of the sport. “Nothing I did stopped herfrom going for it. If I’d interfered, I would have been docked. I wasn’t.”

“Is that what she thinks, too?” Hadley asked, the always eagerinformation-monger. “That you stole her wave?”

Gia passed her a look. “Are you worried about Elle Britton’sfeelings right now?”

“No way. I just don’t like the idea of anyone being mad at you.It’s not fair.”

Gia softened. “In that case, hard to say. She sounded upbeat andperky at the presser after the heat. But then she always does, so…”

Isabel stared at Gia, tapping her chin. “She drives you crazy,doesn’t she? I mean, I can just tell.”

“She’s my competition,” Gia said plainly. “So yeah. Plus, her MissPerfect persona is tired at this point.”

Isabel looked deep in thought. “Right, but how does that make youfeel? Physically, emotionally? How does the rivalry manifest itself?”

“Are you trying to put me in your TV show?” Gia asked, leaningforward. “You are, aren’t you?” Isabel was constantly studying them for hooks,or story ideas, gestures, and reactions. The dangers of befriending a writer.In the year that they’d been friends, Gia had gotten better at catching her inthe act.

Isabel sat back in her chair, shrugging in surrender. “It’spossible we’re working on a rivals-to-lovers storyline onThe Subdivision. Justusing your experience for the rivals portion I’m developing. I need sparks, youknow?”

“Oh, sparks are good,” Hadley said, resting her chin on her palm.“I love sparks. Write lots of those.”

“No.” Gia shook her head. “We don’t have any sparks.”

“Depends on the definition,” Autumn said. “Sometimes you spot thesparks right away, like with me and Kate. Other times, they sneak up on you.”

“Like with me and Taylor,” Isabel said, with a smolder.

Gia shook her head. “By any definition, we don’t have them. Atall. None of those kinds.”

Isabel studied her. “Does she hate you back?”

“Probably. I’ve never asked.”

“Gotchaaaa.” Isabel drew the word out, looking super thoughtful.“No sparks. But when you see her, how do you feel? Still applies.”

That part was easy. “She makes my skin itch and my blood get hotand I just have this intense need to take her down.”

“As in down to the floor?” Autumn asked, with a twinkle in hereye, as she swapped out the creamer.

“Maybe a bed?” Isabel joined in, with a sideways grin. She wasmessing with Gia. It’s what she did to them all. The Isabel charm.

“Not even close,” Gia answered dryly.

“You guys,” Hadley said, waving them off. “It’s not like that withthem. They’re like oil and water. Ursula and the Little Mermaid. Beauty and theBeast.”

“Beauty and the Beast hooked up,” Isabel said. “Big-time. Dancingfurniture made it happen.”

Hadley looked mystified. “Good point.”

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