Page 26

Elle covered her face the way girls did when they were making adecision that embarrassed them. “Okay, why not just say it, right?” Shelaughed. Her cheeks were pink, and it was spreading into an impressive blush.

“Right,” Gia said, still not following.

“So, I had a dream. A crazy one.”

“Gotcha.” She waited. Nothing. “Was I in this dream, or…?”

“Oh, yeah. You were definitely involved.”

“Ah. Well, I hope I didn’t do anything too crazy or mean.” Shenodded and turned to go.

“It was one ofthosedreams,” Elle said. “God, I can’t believe I’m telling it all right now.” Sheseemed to refocus as Gia turned back and met her gaze. “And then seeing you onset was so…odd. After we’d…you know.”

Wait. Gia stopped and played the whole thing back. She took a steptoward Elle, and even though they were alone in the restroom, she made sure thecoast was clear and dropped her tone. “Are you saying you had asexdream about me?”

Elle pointed at her, seemingly more confident and exceptionallydrunk. “Bingo.”

“Oh.” And then, “Wow.”

“I know,” Drunk Elle said. “No idea why. Well, it might have beenthat online article that we were dating.”

“The internet prompted this?”

“That’s what I said. Like, more than three times to myself.Because we’re not. Dating.”

“Didn’t see that particular article.” But then Gia didn’t reallypay attention to what was said in the press. “Let me get this straight. You’resaying that there was an article about you and me that inspired a dream inwhich we were—”

“Naked, and kissing, and it was really good.” Elle gave her head ashake, as if the details were all consuming. “Sooo good.” She then glanced around,realizing her hands were still damp from the faucet. “Are there paper towels inhere anywhere?”

Gia retrieved one for her, trying to figure out how to play thiscool and keep everything status quo with her thoughts moving a mile a minute.She decided it was best to just check in on Elle’s state of mind. “Are you okaywith everything? Just a dream, right? Nothing more.”

Elle put her hand on her heart as if relieved. “Right? A sillydream that messed with me temporarily. Feeling so much better now if only thefloor would stop doing that. Maybe I need another drink.”

“Maybe not, though. I’m feeling like that would be a bad idea.”

Elle nodded vaguely and pointed at Gia. “You’re very wise. I neverknew how wise you were until now and the Ms. Pac-Man advice. And you’re muchnicer than I ever thought, too.” She downgraded to a whisper. “And very pretty.Like…don’t get me started.”

“Thanks.” Gia shifted uneasily. “I should get back to my friendsnow. You going to be okay?”

“Yeah. Sticking with water, I think, so I don’t make any otherembarrassing confessions.”

“I think you’re in the clear.” A pause as they stared at eachother. “Take care, Elle.”

“You, too. See ya out there.”

Gia, wanting to make sure Elle made it back to her friends safely,took a spot at the bar where she could observe the restroom door. It was only amoment or two before Elle emerged and joined her friends. Just as promised, shelatched onto a giant glass of ice water. Knowing that all was well, Gia headedback to her own table, where she found her friends musing about Autumn’s futuremenu prospects.

“I’m just wondering if you decided to offer a few actual entrees,like French toast in the mornings, if you would make a killing,” Isabel saidcasually.

Autumn held up a finger. “Except I would never do that, becausePajamas is about the coffee. The coffee is the star. Nothing can overshadow it.You just want convenient French toast.”

“Is that a crime?”

“You guys,” Gia said, in a bit of a fog.

“I get Autumn’s point, though.” Hadley chimed in. “It’s a brandingissue. She can’t confuse the message just so your life is more convenient.Though I do love French toast. Hey, Gia’s back!”

“Depperschmidtson!” Isabel yelled and pointed.