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Gia nodded, not sure what else to say. It was almost like thespell had been lifted. Without the drama of the past twelve hours to hold themtogether, they were left in the very same spot as before. She didn’t want toleave Elle, but she knew that it was the mature thing to do. “I guess we goback to our status as acquaintances now.”

“Tour mates,” Elle said, flatly.

A long pause hit, anything to delay Gia saying goodbye. They’dfelt likethemin these desperate hours, and she didn’t want to let go. She studied Elle’sfeatures, her blue eyes, that mouth that communicated so much with a smile orgrimace. The way it felt against Gia’s. She blinked against the ache. “I guessit’s been good for you, though. You’re back at number one.”

Elle smiled, but her eyes carried regret. “You’re climbing yourway up the board yourself.”

“Yeah.” They nodded and stared and steadied themselves against theblanket of sadness that fell over them. She met Elle’s eyes and touched herface gently. “Take care, Elle. I’ll see you in Honolulu. Final stop of theseason.”

Elle leaned into the touch and closed her eyes briefly, as if tohold it in for just a little while longer. “I’ll see you there.”

“Tell Holly I’ll be thinking about her.”

“Of course.”

Gia could feel Elle’s gaze on her as she headed down the hallway,which made sense because their connection hadn’t dimmed. While more thananything she was grateful for Elle’s safety, her well-being, underneath it all,she carried regret about the way things stood between them. The familiar lumpin her throat presented itself as she made her way to the front of thehospital. It didn’t seem fair that, at long last, she’d found someone who’dgrabbed hold of her heart so fiercely, and it was the one person she couldn’thave.

Suck it up, she told herself, doing her best to remember thebigger picture.

Champions didn’t wallow in their feelings.

Chapter Nineteen

“No one said this ice cream gathering was a theme party,” Gia said,surveying Hadley, who was dressed, as best she could characterize it, as a cowwho walked upright.

“It’s not technically a theme gathering,” Hadley said. “I have aBeach Blanket Bingo party on tap for next week, but I couldn’t resist adding tothe festivities a little today.”

Gia nodded stoically. “Right. As a cow.”

“Cows make milk, G. And milk is used to make—”

“Ice cream,” Gia finished.

“Now you’re with me!” Hadley fluttered away, tail swaying, to makesure no one needed any extra hot fudge.

Their friends were gathered outdoors around the couches in thecenter of the complex, making sundaes from the vast buffet Hadley had assembledon the coffee table. She was happy to see that Taylor and Kate had joined them,as had Barney and their surliest neighbor, the heavy-eyelinered Stephanie, whoonly emerged from her apartment for free food and disparaging remarks in amonotone delivery. Oh, and of course, Larry Herman was there, never one to missan event thrown by his beloved Hadley. Apparently, Gia was the last to arrive.She made herself a mint chocolate chip bowl smothered in Oreo crumbles, perfectfor the warmer weather that had blown in with the summer, and joined Isabel onthe couch.

“Whoa. You’ve made the most colossal sundae I’ve ever seen,” Giasaid, taking in Isabel’s towering bowl of ice cream, covered entirely withlarge pieces of candy of all varieties.

Isabel pointed with her spoon. “I don’t mess around when it comesto food. It’s too important. How’d things go at the hospital?”

“With Elle? As good as can be expected.”

“It was cool of you to stay with her.”

“Thanks, Iz. Wasn’t as easy a decision to leave her there,though.”

A pause. Isabel opened her mouth and then closed it.

“Were you about to say something?” Gia asked, squinting.

“I don’t know if you want me to.”

“Well, now it’s out there. You have to.”

“What’s out there?” Hadley asked, trotting over in her ridiculousgetup. “Autumn, what are they talking about without me?”

Autumn, who sat on the couch across from Gia with Kate, didn’tmiss a beat. “Pretty sure Isabel is about to get real, real honest with Giaover there. Gia looks curious. Taylor looks concerned. She’s probably thinkingIz should throttle back.”