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Not that far away at all.

Chapter Nine

It was ten past two in the afternoon, and Autumnwas late for her doctor’s appointment. It was possible she’d been putting offleaving Pajamas until the last possible second, not exactly looking forward tothe experience. The idea of sitting alone in that waiting room again had herpsyched out. But if she was actually going through with this thing, and shemost definitely was, she needed to pull herself up by the bootstraps and get itthe hell together. She was a strong, successful, independent woman and alwayshad been.

Today was no different, damnit.

She pushed open the door to the shop, readyto take on the world, just as Kate pulled the handle to enter.

“Whoa,” Autumn said, meeting Kate’s eyes andsmiling in reflex. “Sorry ’bout that. I guess I was in my own world.”

“That’s okay,” Kate said. “You’re leaving?”

The disappointment gave Autumn’s spirits aboost. “Yeah, I have a thing.” She hated herself for being vague, and correctedcourse. “A doctor’s appointment.” She sighed. “I have, unfortunately, adoctor’s appointment.”

“Unfortunately?” Kate asked.

“Did I say that? Yeah, I guess I did.” Shedropped her focus to the ground and back up with an explanation. “They make menervous. Not something I completely enjoy, not that it has to be a party, youknow.” She had no idea what made her confess these details to Kate, who seemedafraid of nothing. She must think Autumn was a total incompetent.

“You should take a friend with you,” Kateoffered gently.

“Yeah, maybe so, but people have lives, youknow? Jobs, plans. I don’t want to bother them. I got this.”

“Then I’ll go with you.”

“What? No, no, no. That’s silly. You don’thave to do that. Above and beyond the scope of your friendship requirement.”

“Right. But I’m going.”

Autumn paused, touched by Kate’s unflinchinggenerosity but guilt-ridden for her part in this. “Why would you do that?Surely you have a million other options for your day than sitting in a boring,sterile doctor’s office.”

“Wouldn’t matter. I’m doing it because I likeyou, and I don’t want you to be there alone. C’mon, I’ll drive.”

And before Autumn could so much as utter asyllable, Kate turned and headed toward the parking lot of the complex, keysjingling from her fingertips.

“You kind of just do what you want, don’tyou?” Autumn called after her.

“Is that a problem?” Kate called back.

“Not at all,” Autumn mumbled to herself, andfollowed Kate to her truck with a smile tugging. In a welcome turn of events,Autumn felt that tingly little sensation that hit when things were going well,when you’re lighter and looking forward to something. She zeroed in on theappropriate word.

Happy.

That’s exactly what it was.

Knowing that Kate would be there with herthis afternoon had instantly calmed her worked-up nerves and made her feelsupported and cared about, in turn, making her happy. She almost wanted to saythe word out loud.Happy.How remarkable that something so small, so everyday as a friend going with herto a doctor’s appointment, could bring about such a mood transformation.

Instead of dwelling, or reciting the wordeight times like a lunatic, Autumn played navigator and directed Kate throughthe interconnecting highways of Los Angeles. Surprisingly, Kate maneuveredthrough LA traffic with ease and patience, way more patience than Autumnembodied in probably her entire life. “You’re a remarkably calm driver,” Autumnsaid in mystification, as a guy swerved to cut them off. Kate pressed the brakeevenly. Autumn balked. She couldn’t identify, but admired the quality.

“What’s there to get worked up about?” Kateasked, and passed her a laid-back smile. Oh, Kate looked good behind thatwheel. Autumn had never been a truck person but lately had a newfoundappreciation for them. Solid. Sexy. In control. The metaphor was not lost onher.

“I just know that when I drive in afternoontraffic, I want to hurl my Big Gulp so it splashes fantastically across thewindshield of whoever makes me mad. It’s my number one driving fantasy.”

“But then you’d have nothing to drink,” Katesaid simply.

Autumn shook her head. “Only you, Kate. Onlyyou.”

Kate laughed and turned up the volume on theradio as they drove the rest of the way, sans any sort of road rage whatsoever.Autumn could learn a little from Kate.