All five women were gathered around the breakfast bar at Robin, Kelly and Lainey's place.
They were all wearing casual clothes, jeans and sweats, and t-shirts.
Kelly buttered a croissant. "Yum, these are delicious, Emily."
Emily raised both eyebrows and titled her head. "You don't think I made them, do you? Cook hasn't let me prepare more than cereal in her kitchen since I moved in."
"The poor life of an heiress," Lainey joked.
"Do you write Former Princess on your job applications?" Robin asked
"Of course, right after model and before ex- mob moll," Emily said, playing along.
They all cracked up.
"Are you going to warn Jason about you and Milo?" Liz asked
"Why would I?"
"After how he reacted to Sonny..." Liz raised an eyebrow.
Emily made a face, remembering that ugly scene. "Maybe he won't find out."
"Ha!" robin said "You saw The Mouth there last night, didn't you?"
"Who?" asked Kelly
"Carly !"the other four said in unison.
"You are right. She will so be running to tell Jason about this." Emily said
"Who cares what your brother thinks." Kelly said "What did you think about Milo, Em?"
A small smile curved her lips. "He was a total gentleman, just like I expected. And with him... I can just be me. I would not have been able to handle a date with some random doctor at the hospital or intern at ELQ or whoever. So thank God Milo changed his mind and decided to go with me."
"Changed his mind? He said no at first?" asked Liz
"He basically said Hell No, when I first suggested we date. But then about ten minutes later he said yes."
"Hmmm. So, was it a one time thing?" asked Lainey
Emily blushed.
"Did you two have...?" Liz squealed
"No! Of course not." Emily said "But he says he wants to see me again. I don't know if he means as friends or what but ...I just like being around him so whatever happens, I guess, happens or doesn't romantically... so yeah, that's where I stand. Now lets talk about someone else."Her whole face was red as she imagined doing what Liz referred to, spending last night with Milo. "How did it go with Lulu's teacher?"
Liz rolled her eyes. "Pete. Yeah, it was like a seven most of the night. And other times I thought I would kill him and Lucky would have to come and arrest me."
"Oh man, what did he do?" asked Robin
Liz shuddered and recanted some of the incidents.
"Toys?" shrieked Kelly "Oh no, he didn't!"
"He did," confirmed Liz "But the really odd thing is a little while before that he was as sweet as I have ever seen him. We were actually kinda bonding and then he goes and ruins it."
"Maybe on purpose." Lainey said "To push you away."
"Who knows?" asked Liz "I doubt he will ever call me again so unless he messes with Lulu's self esteem and I have to go and set his butt straight, I don't think I will be seeing the Professor anymore."
"Do you want to?'asked Emily
"I'm not even divorced. So who am I to be dating anyone?"
"But do you want to?" pressed Lainey
"Depends on which personality of Pete's would should up at my door next time."
"Hmm. Give him my card." Lainey said with a smile. "All right, ladies, who are we giving the Hottest Hottie award to?"
"Me, me, me!" chanted Kelly "I could so use that Victoria Secret's gift certificate the winner gets."
"Well, I think Milo should get it," Liz said "Because not only is he adorable but there is not a sweeter guy in town. He's so polite whenever I go to Greystone."
"Polite?" Kelly said in a whatever voice "This is about hot. H-O-T. And Nikolas is the hottest thing this town has to offer."
"Have you seen Patrick?" Robin asked, raising an eyebrow.
Emily and Liz exchanged a look. They both had previously told each other that Patrick showed up in some of their fantasies.
"Well, why don't go around the room and give reasons why we think each guy should win." Lainey prompted
"God, you would make a great teacher. You are so formal about this stuff." Robin teased
"Well, I want it to be fair..."
Robin said, "It is not the Presidential election, Lainey. We don't even have to vote if we don't want to, we could drop the whole thing."
"No way." said Kelly "Just because you aren't going to win..."
"Huh?" Robin said, wide eyed."Cruz is a hunk. There is no way you are going to convince me otherwise. Right?" she looked at the other women "Back me up."
"Yummy." Lainey said
"Totally." Emily agreed.
They looked at Liz. "Um... he's Lucky partner. I think I better keep my thoughts to myself."
"Geez! Lucky will never know." Robin said
"Yeah, well I would hate to have that conversation if he did." Liz shook her head. She spoke in a deep voice."Hey, hon, did you call my partner a nice piece of ass?"
They laughed. Robin said, "So you do think he is hot!"
Liz smiled but said, "I did not say that."
"Liz votes for Cruz." Robin said.
Kelly put up her hand and said to Robin, "Give it up. Besides, Emily and I vote for Nikolas."
"What about Ned?" Lainey asked
They all just looked at her.
"What?!" she asked with a confused look. "He used to be a rocker. What could be hotter than that?"
"Like 200 years ago." Kelly said
"Oh!" Liz covered her mouth, to hide her laugh.
"I can not be the only one here who thinks he is good looking," Lainey said
"He is. But I can not really think of Ned that way. I've known him forever." Robin said "He's like family."
"Well, he is my family so I'm out as far as voting for him." Emily said
"Okay, I say we have a secret ballot." Lainey suggested. She walked over to the drawer and pulled out a notepad, ripping off five sheets.
Every started searching for pens and then settled down to write their answer.
Lainey collected the papers and tabulated the votes.
"Wow," she said
"Who is it?" Kelly asked
WHEN LIZ went home a few hours later, after getting Cameron from her Grandmother's house, she saw three items placed on the ground outside her door.
A coffee mug, a bouquet of flowers and a card.
She took Cameron inside and then came back and picked up the card.
Once she opened it, she read
I'm sorry,
From the fungus.
Liz chuckled, remembering Pete saying to her "I am like a fungus. I grow on you."
"Pretty flowies, mommy." Cam said
"Yeah, baby, I think so too."