Infinityglass (Hourglass 3)

Hallie

I rolled over to look at the clock. “It’s six A.M.”

“I don’t want to leave.” Dune propped his head on one hand and traced the outline of my bottom lip with the other.

“We could run away.”

I looked for the smile in his eyes, but all they told me was that there was too much to run away from. He cupped my cheek and kissed me again.

It was so easy to sink into his body, to fit it to mine, to take the warmth that was an intrinsic part of him. I felt like I’d known him for years, but every touch reduced me to a pile of first-kiss butterflies.

“I have an idea.” I pulled away, reluctantly, and tugged at his arm. “Come on.”

“Should I be worried?” He rolled his big body off the bed and helped me up.

“Always.” I grabbed my sneakers out of my bag, contemplated how they’d look with my yoga pants, and decided I didn’t care. “My dad is gone until tonight, and I want to take advantage of that while I can. Can we go back to your place?”

“I need to talk to you about that.”

Serious tone. Frown. Uh-oh.

“I live in the Georgian.”

“I know the building. That’s where Poe lives.” Not that I’d ever been inside. He’d just popped into my place when we spent time together.

“Yeah. I live with him.”

“He’s back? How long has he been back?”

“Since I got here. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but Liam and your dad are trying to keep him off your mom’s radar. That’s why he hasn’t been in touch with you.”

o;I think it could be worth it.”

“I know it could,” he said.

Where had he come from? How long would he stay? “Will you go back to the Hourglass when this is over?”

“I don’t know. What will you do?”

Hopefully be alive. Anxiety trickled between my shoulder blades like ice water.

“I want the same things I’ve always wanted. We’re talking about you. I don’t even know your life plan. What is it?”

“College. My professors let me take my finals early so I could come here.”

“Come here and help me?” I put my arm across his stomach and squeezed him. “How is any of this fair to you?”

“Everything I did was my choice. All I have under my belt are core classes. Pretty sure most of those will transfer. I can get into any school I want. Can probably get scholarships, too, at least for undergrad work.”

“You want to go to grad school?”

“I’m not counting it out. Loyola has a computer science program, and a newer one in digital humanities that’s fascinating.”

A spark of hope lit up my chest and shot out to my fingers and toes. “Did you know that before you met me?”

He grinned.

“No.”