Timepiece (Hourglass 2)

I took Em’s hand, concentrating, reading her. She tried to pull away, but I wouldn’t let her. “Why are you trying to hide the truth?”

Em finally broke away, reminding me how much strength there was in her petite body, and took off toward the back porch at a jog.

“Give us just a second?” I pleaded with Lily. She nodded, and I caught up with Em.

“We’ll stop Jack,” I said. “But we have to find him to do it.”

“No, that’s not it.” She fought tears. “Jack never mentioned Lily specifically in the list of all the things he ‘did’ for me. But I’d be an idiot to think otherwise. A best friend with a supernatural ability? A coincidence?”

“I’m sorry, Em.”

Her fear was for Lily. “And I don’t know where she’ll end up. Her life … it hasn’t been easy as it is. What if it was as easy as Jack could make it?”

“Why don’t you just tell her?”

Em lowered her voice as Lily walked toward us. “How would you feel, hearing that? Knowing your whole life was manipulated because someone wanted something from your best friend?”

“But you don’t know if—”

“If he did put her here, he knows what her ability is. Jack has a reason for everything he does.” The tears she’d been fighting filled her eyes. “Why would he put someone in our direct path who could find him, especially when he doesn’t want to be found?”

“That’s it. Private time is over.” Lily interrupted and pulled Em into her arms, hugging her long and hard. “Em. Go inside.”

“What?” Em wiped her eyes and frowned.

“I want to talk to him. Alone.”

She was looking at me.

Chapter 10

Once Em was gone, I faced Lily. “I usually find bossy to be a sexy trait in a girl. You’ve broken the streak.”

“I don’t give a damn what you think about me.” Lily didn’t mess around; her words always matched her emotions. “You haven’t broken any streaks at all. I’ve met a hundred boys like you in a hundred different scenarios, even dated one or two, and you’re all exactly the same.”

“It’s not nice to stereotype.”

“Don’t talk to me about stereotypes.” She stared up at the pale pink sky and frowned. Her eyes matched the tiger’s-eye pendant that hung from her neck. “I’m not here for friendly conversation. Michael’s solidly on Em’s side, so I’m not going to get any information from him. But you’re selfish enough to tell me the truth.”

“Perceptive.”

“Very.”

“Maybe Em’s already told you the truth,” I countered. “Catch me up on what you know.”

“Smooth.”

“Very.”

Lily sighed. “I know that Jack Landers messed with her time line. I know what the Hourglass does, sort of, and that you all have to find Jack.” Worry. Helplessness. “I knew there was an ultimatum, but I didn’t know what it was, or the consequences of it. Until you.”

“Now that you do know, why did you ask me to stay out here with you, alone?”

She crossed her arms over her chest and tilted her chin up at me. “Do you have any other way to find Jack, or am I the only option?”

“I don’t know,” I answered honestly. “Dad says he’ll handle it. Well, that he and Michael will handle it.”

“So Em’s being her usual self by trying to circumvent the problem and take care of it herself?”