“Dazing, fascinating.” Kate shrugged while she tried to ignore the ache in her heart. “Flattering, I suppose, but neither of those things equals love.”

The stubborn line came and went between Linda’s brows. “I don’t believe love comes in an instant, it grows. If you could have seen the way Ky was after you left four years ago, you’d know—”

“Don’t tell me about four years ago,” Kate interrupted. “What happened four years ago is over. Ky and I are two different people today, with different expectations. This time…” She took a deep breath. “This time when it ends, I won’t be hurt because I know the limits.”

“You’ve just gotten back together and you’re already talking about endings and limitations!” Dragging a hand through her hair, Linda came forward to sit on the edge of the bed. “What’s wrong with you? Don’t you know how to wish anymore? How to dream?”

“I was never very good at either. Linda…” She hesitated, wanting to choose her phrasing carefully. “I don’t want to expect any more from Ky than what he can easily give. After August, I know we’ll each go back to our separate worlds—there’s no bridge between them. Maybe I was meant to come back so we could make up for whatever pain we caused each other before. This time I want to leave still being friends. He’s…” She hesitated again because this phrasing was even more important. “He’s always been a very important part of my life.”

Linda waited a moment, then narrowed her eyes. “That’s about the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.”

Despite herself, Kate laughed. “Linda—”

Holding up her hands, she shook her head and cut Kate off. “No, I can’t talk about it anymore, I get too mad and I’m supposed to be taking care of you.” She let out her breath on a huff as she removed Kate’s tray. “I just can’t understand how anyone so smart could be so stupid, but the more I think about it the more I can see that you and Ky deserve each other.”

“That sounds more like an insult than a compliment.”

“It was.”

Kate pushed her tongue against her teeth to hold back a smile. “I see.”

“Don’t look so smug just because you’ve made me so angry I don’t want to talk about it anymore.” She drew her shoulders back. “I might just give Ky a piece of my mind when he gets home.”

“That’s his problem,” Kate said cheerfully. “Where’d he go?”

“Diving.”

Amusement faded. “Alone?”

“There’s no use worrying about it.” Linda spoke briskly as she cursed herself for not thinking of a simple lie. “He dives alone ninety percent of the time.”

“I know.” But Kate folded her hands, preparing to worry until he returned.

CHAPTER 9

“I’m going with you.”