In Kieran’s defense, she didn’t do everything she was instructed to do by her best friend...unless it was work-related, or it was an obviously good idea. Ziggy wasn’t the impulsive one, but she had the best impulsive ideas. She could have made Kieran imagine she’d come up with them on her own if she wanted, she was that skilled (a true Slytherin in the Rowling tradition), yet she preferred to claim her own glory when given the chance. It made her an unbeatable manager and literary agent. She had it and she flaunted it for Kieran’s benefit. Queen.

Ziggy was beside her on a flight to Nashville three days after Ziggy’s initial brainwave. Jamie had immediately invited them to the Bookstop when Kieran hesitantly mentioned they’d be in the area later in the week.

As expected Ziggy looked spectacularly retro in a paisley A-line cocktail dress and espadrilles whereas Kieran had opted for military chic: a repurposed naval coat dress, embossed gold buttons polished and epaulets ruler straight, over thigh high faux leather Chanel boots. Kieran had tried very hard to look good for Jamie, she wasn’t remotely sorry.

They arrived at the cafe at mid-morning, having stopped at their Airbnb accommodations first to unpack and freshen up. They arrived to find the place packed with patrons. Many of them their contemporaries based on evident age, though some were younger, perhaps in their early twenties. Uni students. Kieran wrinkled her nose.

“If that doesn’t make you feel your age,” Ziggy weighed in.

Kieran shushed her. She wanted to look around without the color commentary. The Bookstop was a spacious place, two levels high with the the upper floor visible from the lower. The upper, terraced, level was dedicated to intimate bistro seating and an assortment of book nooks overflowing with cushions and bean bag chairs in rich, deep hues of blue and purple and red. There were hand-painted signs taking up whole walls that said Read your <3 out over a star-laden backdrop on one and Free your mind on the crest of an enormous ocean wave on the other. Midday rays filtered through the full-length picture windows that made up the other walls to illuminate the disco ball revolving slowly on the ceiling. It gave off almost heavenly iridescent light that reflected off the silvery-white stars and the opalescent froth of the painted ocean. Like staring at a postcard the size of a billboard, or a painting hung in a museum.

“It’s gorgeous,” Kieran breathed.

“You can thank Tracy for that. She’s the artist.”

Kieran wobbled on her heels turning around. It was her soulmate. She was dressed in an almost nautical striped navy and white shirtdress and flat brown boots. They were wearing the same shade of midnight blue (#32378E; the surface of the ocean well after dark on a night without a moon).

Kieran was kissing Jamie before it occurred to her that she should say hello. Jamie wound her arms around Kieran’s waist and stood on her toes to meet Kieran’s lips, Kieran’s spiked boots making her a few crucial inches taller. Jamie’s lips were soft as the sighs she emitted when Kieran ran her fingers through her hair. She purred a little.

“I can come back,” deadpanned Ziggy. They parted quickly, Jamie going flush about the cheeks to match her reddened lips.

“Sorry.”

Kieran waved. “Not sorry.”

“You’re going to be the shameless half of this couple, I can already tell.”

“Guilty but not guilty.” Kieran shrugged and pulled Jamie against her side. She really enjoyed touching her soulmate, her girlfriend, she supposed, if she managed not to bollocks this up. Jamie tangled their hands together. Kieran bit her lips to keep from grinning like a loon. Ziggy made a face at her. Definitely grinning like a loon.

“Since it seems that I’m not going to get an introduction-” She glared at Kieran. “-I’ll just introduce myself. I’m Xiaoquing Yang. My friends call me Ziggy.”

Jamie offered her a handshake with her free hand. “I’m James. Jamie for short. My mom loves--loved gender-neutral naming.” Her lips wobbled a touch and she looked down. Kieran kissed her hair. She was getting to enjoy this being taller than her girlfriend deal.

“Bet she was special,” Ziggy replied. When don’t you know what to say, Z? She flashed her best friend a grateful smile.

“Good moms always are,” added another voice, this one coming from a petite woman who’d probably be their height were it not for the platform pumps she was wearing. She was dressed in a pressed, tailored suit and a teal head wrap. Her cream blazer was lined in matching teal paisley. She flashed a billion-dollar smile at Ziggy. “Nix Willems, here. I’m Jamie’s financial advisor-slash-BFF. And you are?”

Ziggy went pale, but she still took Nix’s hand when it was offered. “Kieran’s best mate, booking agent, and publicist.” She released the other woman’s hand reluctantly and visibly steeled herself. “Can I help you in some way?”

Nix leaned against the nearby counter. “Oh, yes. First, stop trying to woo my best friend with your sweet disposition; the bestie position is very much filled. Second, give me your number again because I definitely lost it when I dropped my phone in a puddle outside JFK a couple of years ago.”

Kieran silently swore and covered her mouth. She knew that snark. Ziggy had mentioned the girl who gave her colors being hilarious and not a little up herself. Also very beautiful, and Nix would fit any bill you liked for beautiful. Jamie looked mystified.

Ziggy snorted. She wasn’t buying Nix’s excuses. “Water-resistant Android phones exist.”

“I’m Apple trash. Gimme.” She made an impatient beckoning motion.

“I shouldn’t give it to you again.”

“You’re right. I’m protective of my friends, obviously successful, very cute, and an irrepressible smart arse. Why would you be interested in me?”

“Not helping your case.” But it obviously was. Ziggy was smiling a bit. She was glowing.

“Am I missing something here,” Jamie interrupted.

Nix gestured to Ziggy. “Met her on a trip to NYC for a conference a few years back. She was in the hotel bar, the most gorgeous woman in the place--”

“Oh, stop!” Ziggy nervously tucked her hair behind her ears. She’s never had it this bad.

“I do not tell lies,” Nix insisted with gusto. “Anyway, gorgeous. I, being me, bought her a drink and asked her life story. What I did not do, because I’m a complete disgrace, was ask her name.”

“You did,” Ziggy was quick to amend.

“Then, why couldn’t I find you online when I looked later?!”

“Ah, I gave you my given name, not the one I go by.” The spelling alone was enough to put off most lazy suitors and Ziggy had no use for lazy lovers when she could have the determined variety. She had high standards.

Nix hissed her offense. “Thanks so much for that rousing endorsement.”

“Well, I didn’t know if you were a weirdo or not!”

Nix set her hands on her hips. “Am I a weirdo?” That seemed to be a trap in the making to Kieran.

“A little,” Ziggy permitted, “in a hot way.” Ziggy barely noticed hot so this was a revelation.

“You bet your ass it’s in a hot way.” Nix shifted closer to Ziggy, all but ignoring Jamie and Kieran at this juncture. “I’ve been watching you from the bar. You’ve got fire. You’re still hot. And we can double date with these two soppy idiots.” She pointed to Jamie and Kieran giggling at their antics. “Let’s go one-on-one first and see if we like it.”

“Right.” Ziggy rolled her eyes, but she was definitely smiling a little. “That should not have worked on me.”

Nix exuded self-satisfaction. Now she was the one with the unearthly glow. “I’m magic like that.”

Kieran wondered what their colors looked like right now. They must have been shining the way beacons shine for landing planes or lighthouse draw in approaching ships. They must have seen the world so clearly and for the first time. Jamie gave her a hand a clench. They were thinking the same thing.

Ziggy caught a hold of herself and leaned out of the other woman’s bubble. “A little cocky. I remember that.”

“A lot cocky, actually. You haven’t seen my portfolio. Cocky just seems reasonable when you’ve got a nest egg the size of mine.”

“The bigger the nest egg, the messier the omelette.”

“That was ridiculous and yet I’m not put off by it.” She glanced at Jamie for support. “Which one of us is magic again?”

“Definitely that one,” Jamie contributed, pointing to Ziggy.

“Thought so. You heard it here first, lovely, you’re the magic one.”

Ziggy looked between Jamie and Nix, skeptical. “Did the two of you plan this?”

“I didn’t even know you were coming until I saw you walk in. The miraculous Ziggy Yang, if I can call you Ziggy.”

Ziggy’s answering smile was soft and small, and relieved. “Call me Ziggy.” She flipped open her handbag and rifled through it for a second. “And call me later.” She produced a business card. “Whenever.”

Nix took the card. “What about now? Can I buy you a drink while these two find a dark corner to shag out the whole three days of sexual frustration they’ve accrued?”

Ziggy looked to Kieran for her okay, which Kieran gave her gladly in a nod.

“Sure. It’s about time you got around to wooing me. You’re late!”

“Only fashionably, dear.”

Nix waved over her shoulder at Jamie and Kieran, and swept Ziggy off to the bar for something or other, whatever it was probably outrageous. Kieran doubted it was the drink she was really interested in.

Looking puzzled, Jamie started to ask, “Is Nix her...?”

“Is Ziggy hers?”

“Nix got her colors when she was a kid. They’ve changed a lot over the years, but I’m not sure she’d notice a change. I just know she likes Ziggy a lot. She never does the chasing when she wants a date.”

“Something pretty special going on, then, you think?”

“I think.”