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“Well… that one’s the most like you. It’s sunshiney.”

I shake my head in disbelief.

“You’re being way too cute right now. Can I get used to this?”

Her response to that is a wink, and I practically melt into the floor.

“Probably not,” she says.

I smile anyway, because I don’t think that’s true. I can and I will.

I lean in to kiss her cheek, hoping it’s not too much PDA, coupled with our still clasped hands. She doesn’t pull away, so I take it as permission.

But I’m interrupted.

“I’m back!” Paige yells from across the store, heading out of the break room. We have radios for a reason, I don’t know why she didn’t make use of it.

Kara pulls away from me, but she does it gently. It’s hard to be upset with that at all, considering how much progress we’ve made lately. Another important thing to note is that Paige knowsAutumn pretty well. They went to school together. I don’t expect her to know who Kara is or to put any pieces together, but better safe than sorry.

I use my radio to reply, hoping it’s a subtle enough way of telling her to utilize it.

“Thanks for letting me know. Do you need anything before I head out?”

“I need the new code for the safe.”

Shit, that’s right. I turn to Kara.

“Find something to buy. I’ll be right back.”

I hear her voice behind me as I quickly walk away.

“Do I have to?”

33

Kara picks out a pair of black socks with red roses embroidered around the cuff, and a couple necklaces. One with a small heart charm, and another with a yellow daisy sitting in a clear resin pendant. Neither of them really seem like her style, but she doesn't say a word as she forgoes a bag and places them in her purse.

“Are you in a hurry to head home? Or do you think we could do some shopping?”

I glance at her suspiciously.

“What are you shopping for?”

She shrugs.

“Nothing in particular. It’s been a while since I came to the mall.”

I clock out on the register, say my goodbyes to Paige who now has everything she needs to close up the store tonight, and walk out the door with Kara. The place is pretty packed today, which makes me a little nervous. I’m surprisedshedoesn’t seemnervous. All it would take is one wrong person to spot us, and our secret won’t just be ours anymore.

Clearly thinking about it way less than I am, she grabs my hand and pulls me towards the shoe store across the way. I’m terrible about buying new shoes. All of the ones I own are filthy, and falling apart.

There couldn’t be a worse store for us to visit.

“Hey, Rey!” I look up to see Steven standing at his checkout counter. The store is empty, despite all of the foot traffic passing by.

I never gave him permission to call me Rey. It makes me cringe a little every time he does. I only like it when Miles calls me that.

“Hi, Stevie.”