"Okay, I think you're all set," Pia said, looking as though she was going to leave.
Zoey reached for her, a wave of panic coming over her at the thought of Pia leaving. "No, stay," she said.
Pia stared down at Zoey for a long while. "I'll stay, but you're not getting any until you sober up enough to remember it, at least," she said with a smile. "Do you want me to sleep on the couch?"
"What? No. Don't be silly. Here," Zoey said, smacking the bed next to her.
Pia took off her jeans and climbed into the bed beside Zoey. Zoey snuggled up to her. "Do you want to be the big or the little spoon? I don't mind if you want to be the little spoon. I will big spoon the hell out of you," Zoey said, wrapping an arm around her middle.
Pia laughed, running a hand through Zoey's hair. "How about I start as the big spoon and then you can feel free to switch whenever," she said.
Zoey nodded. "Very diplomatic," she said, turning onto her side to fit her back into Pia.
Pia wrapped an arm around her, and she was cocooned in warmth.
"That was such a fun party," Zoey said.
"Mmhmm," Pia murmured.
"My parents already like you," Zoey continued.
Pia was quiet for a moment. "Mmhmm," she said, conflicting emotions of warmth and fear beginning to war within her — Zoey was talking long-term...
"My mom doesn't like anything, but she likes you," Zoey said.
Pia shushed her, wrapping her other arm under Zoey's neck. "Just sleep now. Don't worry about any of that," she said.
"I'm sorry I drank a little bit."
"Don't be sorry. It was a party."
"I'm so glad you came over," Zoey said.
"Me too," Pia whispered. "Now hush and go to sleep."
Zoey awoke to the mouthwatering smell of breakfast. Something sweet... pancakes? And something savory... definitely bacon. She opened her eyes and looked around. She was in her own home, thank God.
She took stock of her hangover: she didn't feel sick to her stomach, but she had a slight headache. Overall, not as terrible as she could have been.
She reached for her phone, but it wasn't on her nightstand.
She grabbed a sweatshirt from the back of the door and walked into the great room to find the source of the delicious smells.
Pia was standing in the kitchen, wearing an apron as she danced to silent music. She didn't notice Zoey walk into the room.
Zoey leaned on the kitchen island, watching her.
Pia had adorable bedhead — that didn't seem fair — and was wearing a pair of Zoey's pajama pants and a t-shirt.
"Good morning," Zoey finally said, and Pia turned, gasping in surprise.
"Oh, damn, I wanted to bring this into you so that you wouldn't have to get up just yet," Pia said, gesturing to the pancakes and bacon.
"It's okay," Zoey said, taking a seat on a barstool so she could get a better view of her chef's ass.
Pia poured a cup of coffee. "Do you take creamer or sugar or anything?"
Zoey started to get up to get the creamer out of the fridge, but Pia held up her hands to stop her.
"I can get it if you just tell me what to get," Pia insisted.
Zoey rolled her eyes. "Just a bit of the oat milk creamer, please," she said. "I'm hungover, not helpless."
"Po-tay-to, po-tah-to," Pia said, reaching into the fridge.
"What made you want to go all Martha Stewart this morning?" Zoey said, accepting the proffered mug of coffee.
"I wanted you to have a full belly and a clear mind on the first day of Kaleidoscope being out in the world," Pia said.
"What? Why? Are the reviews bad?" Zoey asked, feeling instantly panicked.
Pia shook her head with a laugh. "Not at all," she said. “I want to be the first one to congratulate you.”
Zoey smiled. “Thank you, baby.”
Pia leaned and gave her a quick kiss.
“I’d better check in with the ladies. Do you have my phone?" Zoey asked, looking around.
"It's charging over by the couch," Pia said, pointing with a spatula.
The front door swung open and a panicked-looking Domino rushed inside. "Zoey, are you ali—"
"Oh, fuck, wait, Dom," Zoey said, jumping up before realizing she wasn't wearing pants. She sat back down, tugging her sweatshirt lower on her thighs.
Domino paused, looking from Pia to Zoey and back again. Her face went through a wide range of emotions before landing on a wide grin. "I fucking knew it!"
Chapter Ten
Pia
Pia turned at the sound of the door opening, startled. She held the spatula tighter as if she was — what, going to spatula-bludgeon an intruder to death?
But no, it wasn't any intruder.
It was Domino.
Fuck. Just what they needed.
She stayed in place, unsure what to say. She watched as Zoey shrank back into her seat under Domino's stare.
"Good morning, Domino," Pia said, clearing her throat. "Want some pancakes?"
Domino walked up to Zoey, her brow furrowed. "I was worried about you. We've been texting in the group chat all morning about reviews and you hadn't responded. I know you drank a little bit at the party last night, so my mind started racing and Sabrina tried to talk me out of it, but I had to come check on you," she said. She held up a key. "I used my key, even."
"I see that," Zoey said, looking at the key in her hand. "What time is it?"
"Noon," Pia chimed in, adding more pancake batter to the pan.
Domino looked from Zoey to Pia. She looked suddenly protective, her eyes narrowing for a split second before a pleasant expression came over her face. "Now, put some of those pancakes on a plate and tell me what's going on here," she said, sliding out a barstool. "And Zobo, go put on pants."
Zoey laughed, embarrassed, and walked out of the room.
As soon as Zoey left the room, Domino's mood shifted. "Is this a toaster thing?"
"Uh, no, I'm cooking on the stove," Pia said, gesturing to the stove top. She knew damn well what toaster thing Domino was referencing, but it was a bit more fun to mess with her.
"I'm serious, Pia. I like you, but I love Zoey. She's like a sister to me. My parents have basically claimed her since we were 19," Domino said, her arms crossed over her chest.
"We're just friends," Pia offered unhelpfully. She didn't know why her instinct told her to keep her guard up, but that's what was happening. Perhaps she was afraid of showing Domino emotion, knowing that Zoey would corroborate the friends story, insisting nothing personal was going on between them.
"Friends without pants," Domino said, her eyebrows raised.
"Why do I feel like I'm asking Zoey's dad permission to take her to prom right now?" Pia asked, sliding a few pancakes over the island to Domino.
"Thanks." Domino took the plate, reaching for the maple syrup. "You need my permission because Zoey is pure. She's not even gay. She doesn't date. She's driven and successful and a badass and I don't need you fucking with her feelings."