Page 82 of Hearts Like Hers

She sat back in her chair with a thud. Shehadn’t. The realization struck like a lightning bolt. “I’m in love with her,”she said. She looked up at Randy. “I’ve known that for a while, just wouldn’tallow myself to go there.”

“Yeah, well, maybe it’s time.”

She sighed. “Not sure it matters. She’s upsetwith how I treated her. Plus, there’s a lot going on in her life right now.A lot.”

Randy relaxed and sighed. “Yeah, well, whatrelationship isn’t messy? Anything you can’t handle?”

She shook her head. “I want to be there forit all. The hard parts and the easy parts. Doesn’t mean she wants me to be.”

“It’s your handsome, bookish brother’sopinion that you find out once and for all.”

Kate stared at him. “I’m getting really goodat road trips.”

He grinned. “Think of it as the upside.”

Kate nodded, understanding that this onemight require some additional planning.

* * *

“You guys need to see Thursday night’sepisode,” Isabel said, as she pulled the wrapper off a warm apple spice muffin.It was just after seven thirty a.m., and they’d gathered for Breakfast Clubthat Friday to bring the workweek to a close. Well, that is, if any of themworked a normal schedule.

“Oh, yeah?” Hadley asked, sipping her CaramelKnockout, one of Autumn’s newest menu items. She was rather proud of its recentsuccess and had named it after the momentous afternoon she’d finally stood upto Vicky—not that Vicky needed to know that. Hadley ordered them regularly now.

“It’s one Taylor wrote, and she fuckingkilled it. I could make out with her over it. It’s that good.” She glanced upfrom the muffin with a grin. “Oh, wait, I already did. Twice.”

“Is that buttoned-up woman from the PTA onthis week, the one who’s the nemesis to our girl, Genevieve?” Autumn asked. Sheloved the show. Genevieve was an ex-CIA agent and, in her new life, played therole of doting parent by day and vigilante assassin by night.

Isabel’s eyes glimmered. “That’s exactly whyI’m telling you to watch. That’s all I’m going to say.”

“Oh my God, if they take each other’s clothesoff I’m going to lose it,” Hadley said. “My TV will likely combust.” She turnedto Autumn. “Speaking of, where did you get these muffins?”

“New vendor stopped by and I thought I’d givethem a chance. Good, right?”

“Can we keep them?” Had asked around amouthful.

“I also support the muffin,” Isabel said,holding up what was left of hers.

“Hey, everyone. I don’t mean to interrupt.”Four faces turned in the direction of the voice. Kate stood a few feet in frontof the door. Her three friends swiveled their gazes to Autumn, but her own eyesrefused to leave Kate’s. She was stunned to see her there and didn’t know whatto say. After that day on the beach, she didn’t know if she’d ever see Kateagain, and that thought had been too much to reckon with. So she’d set itaside, hoping there would come a day. Seeing her now sucked up all the air in theroom.

She took a moment to drink her in, steadyingherself against the always-present visceral reaction. Kate wore slim-fittingjeans and a dark blue T-shirt that looked like it was made deliberately for herform. No one looked as good in clothes as Kate did…or out of them. She had noidea what brought Kate there, but with her own heart beating out of her chestthe way it was, she was ready to find out, if a little afraid of the answer.

“I don’t want to get in the way of yourbreakfast,” Kate told Autumn. Her gaze shifted to the counter, where Stevelooked on with interest. “Or the morning rush.”

“Get in the way,” Hadley said automatically,and then covered her mouth. “Sorry.”

Kate swallowed, looking nervous as hell. “Ijust need a minute or two.”

Autumn turned to her friends. “Maybe you guysshould give us a—”

“It’s all right. They can stay,” Kate said.She smiled at them and lifted a hand in greeting. “Hey, you guys.” Gia andHadley nodded and smiled back. Isabel waved. Kate turned her attention back to Autumn.“You weren’t wrong on the beach.” There was that unrelenting eye contact.Autumn felt their connection move through her, familiar and wonderful, but sherefused to give it too much attention.

“About what?” she asked. This part mattered.What Kate did or didn’t say would make a big difference in her own happiness.She dared to hope, but also knew what a risk it was. “Please tell me.”

“Ihavebeen running, just not in the way you think.” She glanced around at theoccupants of the coffee shop, who seemed to have taken an interest in what shehad to say. Kate didn’t let them deter her. “I think fate stepped into my lifeand did me a favor. The stars, I guess. Through tragedy, I was led to you, andGod, nothing was the same. Not the trees, not my outlook on life, not a damncup of coffee, and, like a magnet, I couldn’t stay away.”

Autumn swallowed, feeling herself melt littleby little.

“If it seemed like I was running, Iapologize. Maybe I was. But if anything, I’ll be running straight to you fromnow on. In fact, I think that’s what I’ve been doing all along.”

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