Page 61 of Hearts Like Hers

“It is.”

The summer crickets chirped, and Kate stareddown at their hands. “We’re constantly touching each other. Have you ever noticedthat?”

“Yep. It’s one of my favorite things aboutus.”

“Us,” Kate said, repeating the word. Shelooked uncomfortable.

“Don’t freak out,” Autumn said, gently. “It’sa casual term. I’m a pretty astute girl, Kate.”

“Do you believe in forever and ever?” Kateasked. “All of that?”

Autumn considered the question. “I’d like to.Hadley would immediately say yes. But yeah, I think that I do. What about you?”

Kate stared off into the night. “It’s a niceidea. But maybe it’s just that.”

The sentiment hurt, whether Autumn wanted itto or not. She pushed off the truck and walked a few feet across the gravel.

“Does that upset you?” Kate asked. “That Idon’t buy into it. Fairy tales are fun, but they’re fairy tales.”

“I don’t know,” Autumn said, wrapping herarms around herself and wishing away the weakness. “Maybe.”

She heard Kate sigh behind her, and theweight of their reality settled. They didn’t say much after that, each alonewith her own thoughts. Autumn wanted nothing more than to push them out of itand regain the lighthearted evening that had started with surprise milkshakes.The words to do so caught in her throat.

Instead, they sat there. Awkward.Uncomfortable. Tense.

Kate broke the silence. “I’ve been thinkingabout the kids a lot. About Ren and Eva.”

“Oh yeah?”

“All this time, I’ve struggled with the fire.The pointlessness of all of it. But maybe there was a larger reason in the end.Maybe the fire was meant to bring me to those kids.”

“I think it’s a definite possibility, Kate.”

“I think I want to adopt them, which means Ineed to go back.”

Autumn turned, surprised by the declaration.“Wow. Okay.” Another long pause as she tried to find the words. “I did not seethat coming.”

“No, I didn’t either.” Kate ran a handthrough her hair.

“When did you decide this?”

Kate stared at her. “I think I’ve known forabout a week.”

Autumn shook her head hopelessly. The glow ofwhat had been such a nice night subsided. “And you didn’t say anything? Didn’tclue me in? Believe it or not, I have some stake in what you decide to do, youknow.”

Kate took a moment. “I don’t want to hurtyou, Autumn.”

“Yeah, well, I don’t think there’s any wayaround that, and I’m sorry for beingthatgirl.” She tried to keep an element of calm present in her voice,but lost that battle. The emotions she was juggling were too strong. “We laidout the rules, and now I’m trying to change them on you without notice and holdall this against you. That’s not who I want to be, but it’s like I’m too far inand can’t help it.”

“You’re mad.” Kate seemed to be working thepuzzle. “I get that.”

“How could I be mad? You’re doing somethingnoble and wonderful. But I guess, at the same time, I wondered if what we hadwas enough to make you want to stay. It was stupid, and foolish, andself-motivated, but that’s what part of me hoped for. There. I said it.”

Kate’s gaze took on a removed, distantquality that she hadn’t seen from her in a while. “I don’t think I can be whoyou want me to be. I never intended for things to go this far.”

“I know,” Autumn nodded sadly, anuncomfortable lump in her throat. “Fairy tales aren’t real. I remember.”

Chapter Eleven

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