Page 32 of Hearts Like Hers

And then the game was on. She moved thelittle Ms. Pac-thing around with the controller, doing her best to dodge theghosts who swarmed her like kids on Santa Claus. “Back the fuck off,” she heardherself say under her breath, followed by chuckles from the peanut gallerybehind her. “What is this red one’s problem, anyway?” she asked, as shereversed directions, stealing a few of Isabel’s dramatic moves without evenmeaning to. The tension crept up her neck and her face felt hot. She had noidea why she was so quickly competitive, but she so was. She needed to evadethose ghosts and badly.

“You’re good at this,” she heard Autumn sayin wonder.

Kate threw her body to the right. “Are youkidding? I am not. They’re all over me.”

Gia pointed at the screen. “Yeah, but you’realmost done with the first level and still have all your lives.”

“She’s a prodigy,” Isabel whisperedreverently.

Kate continued playing, losing her livesslowly but surely, ending up nearly completing level three. Apparently, she’ddone well for her first time, and she hated to say it, but the game wasfun. “I see why youguys enjoy this. It’s…freeing.”

“That’s exactly what it is,” Gia said, andtook the controller. As she flew through one level after another, they allwatched in awe.

“Why are you off so early today?” Autumnasked Isabel. “How are we supposed to watch fantastic television if you’re notthere to write it?”

“You’re in luck because I happened to havestayed up all night finishing the first draft of a big episode. Turned it inthis morning just after three a.m. and knocked off early since my brain wasbeyond fried.”

“I can only imagine,” Autumn said and winced.“Hope you had coffee.”

“Yes, Caffeine-Yoda, I did. You’ve trained mewell.” Isabel paused. “Interesting occurrence, though. In the wee hours of themorning, when I was tucking my draft in for the night, I heard footstepswalking through the courtyard. Soodd,”Isabel said, her expression dialed to concern, “that someone—who looked so muchlike you, by the way—passed below my window and headed to the parking lot.”Isabel’s knowing gaze moved from Autumn to Kate and back again.

“I have a twin? Get outta town!” Autumnexclaimed.

Kate rolled her lips so the smile didn’tshow.

“This is fantastic news. I’ll call my mom andnotify her.”

“Mm-hmm,” Isabel said suspiciously. “I haveyour number, Primm.”

“And I have yours. I’ll call you after myparents.” With that, Autumn stood. “Break is over. Must make sureSimon-the-Nodder hasn’t nodded the business straight into the rack and ruin.”

“I’ll walk you out.” Kate stood.

“Shocking,” Isabel said, good-naturedly.“Isn’t that shocking, G?”

“What’s that?” Gia asked, lost in a haze ofMs. Pac-Man.

“I’ll tell you later as you self-destruct.”

Kate laughed and pulled the front door closedbehind them, leaving Isabel and Gia to their trash-talking tournament. She andAutumn walked a few steps in silence, before Autumn turned to her, shieldingthe sun from her eyes. “You didn’t stop by the shop this morning. Is it becauseit’s weird now? Please feel free to say so if it is.”

“No. It’s not weird now.” Kate dipped herhead. “It’s the opposite of weird with you, which is nice.”

Autumn smiled. “I can accept the opposite ofweird. Isabel would say it can go on my business card next to ‘Coffee Bitch.’”

“Killer combo.” Kate lost herself for amoment in the little flecks of gold the sunlight accented in Autumn’s greeneyes. The same eyes that had darkened in the most memorable way when shetouched Kate the night before. She rolled her shoulders to move herself beyondthe shiver-inspiring flashback. If Autumn’s eyes were amazing, her hands andmouth were heaven-sent.

“Where did you go just now?” Autumn asked,her voice soft.

“I was thinking about last night.”

Autumn shook her head. “You’re dangerous,Kate Carpenter.” She headed off across the courtyard, then turned back momentslater, as if she just had to say more. “Most people would have made up a lieright then, you know. Said they forgot to buy milk or something.”

“I told you. I always tell the truth, and youasked me a question.”

Autumn paused. “That I did.” Her eyes danced.“What am I gonna do with you?”

“Free coffee for a year?”

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