Hourglass (Hourglass 1)

“Michael and I already had that conversation.” I focused on the chandelier centered in the ceiling, not wanting him to see the hopelessness I felt. And to keep the tears from falling. “There’s no way. This is some crazy once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I know it’s impossible to change the past. Except for this time.”

We sat quietly for a moment, both deep in our own thoughts, remembering our loss. Thomas cleared his throat. “You know what Dad always used to say whenever we faced a big decision.”

I resisted an eye roll as we said the words together. “Do the next right thing.”

“Exactly. Whatever the next right thing is for you, Em, I’m behind you.”

“The right thing is helping Michael. After that”—if there is an after that—“we’ll just have to see.”

Thomas let go of my hands and looked in the direction of the front door. “Wonder what’s keeping them?”

“I’ll go check,” I said, grateful for the opportunity to exit the conversation before I said something I shouldn’t. I nodded my head toward the kitchen. “Why don’t you make yourself useful and score me some of that bread and marinara? Don’t you own the place or something?”

As I crossed the town square, I replayed everything Michael had said to my brother and Dru in my head, my mind sticking on one particular subject.

Travelers were solid, and rips were vapor.

Jack. Not solid, not vapor, but somewhere in between.

Michael, Dru, and Thomas would have to wait. I needed to take care of some business. Now.

Chapter 30

Come out, come out, wherever you are!” I called softly as I opened the door to my room. “Jack? Don’t tell me you’re getting all shy on me now.”

Silence.

I opened my closet door, my bathroom door, looked under my bed.

Nothing.

I sat down in my armchair to think. Unlike the leather in Dru’s SUV earlier, it felt cool against my legs.

What if, when I touched Jack, I’d scared him away for good? I twirled a strand of hair around my finger, wondering. If I had, it would solve a big problem, because I still hadn’t decided if I should tell Michael about him.

Besides, what was I going to say? By the by, there’s this partially solid glow-in-the-dark guy who likes to hang out in my room? Was I going to admit why I’d never mentioned him to Michael? The attention and interest Jack gave me felt good. Now that I thought about it, maybe good enough to offset the fact that Michael had the lovely Ava as an alternative, when I had no one.

Except whatever Jack was.

How could I explain that without looking like a complete jerk?

If Jack disappeared, it wouldn’t be an issue, and I could go back to worrying about other things, like the possibility of dying while attempting to time travel so I could stop a murder.

Stuff like that.

So much had happened since I returned to Ivy Springs. I leaned back and closed my eyes. My whole world felt upside down. A month ago, I didn’t know what rips were. I didn’t know what my ability meant. I didn’t know Michael existed. Things were a lot simpler.

And a lot less interesting.

I waited a few more minutes. Figuring Jack for a no-show, I knocked on the door to Michael’s loft. No answer. I returned to the restaurant to find Thomas and Dru at the table. Alone.

“Where’s Michael?” I asked, looking up at the clock hanging above the bar. I’d been gone for only fifteen minutes. Surely the man possessed more patience than that.

“He left.” Dru’s eyes darted to meet Thomas’s before she looked back at me. “This, um, woman, came up to his loft to find him. She said there was an emergency.”

“Woman?” Please mean Cat. “Tall and gorgeous? Supershort hair?”

“No,” Dru said apologetically. “Tall and gorgeous, but long auburn hair.”