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“You’re on the phone or video chat with Em or Lily every day, and you have been for the past three months. We didn’t decide on Hawaii until last week. What were you all talking about all the other times?”
“Hush.”
She silenced me with a kiss, but I started up again as soon as it was over.
“You didn’t give in and tell them about your Newcomb acceptance, did you?” I asked.
“No. Did you tell them about Tulane?”
“Nope.” Just Liam, but he didn’t count, since the information had been part of my resignation letter. He’d given the school transfer and my new job his full blessing. Things were about to change at Chronos.
“Rip alert.” Hallie squeezed my hand. “A pirate, I believe. At four o’clock. Do you see him?”
I searched the crowd. “I don’t.”
“Good.”
Liam, Grace, Michael, and Emerson claimed the rips were back to normal, at least as normal as they’d ever been. Hallie could still see them, but only one at a time, and they only noticed her if she approached them directly.
I wasn’t done with the Skroll. There were still more passages to translate. After the continuum calmed down, we’d learned that an Infinityglass had the power to return individual rips to their places in time.
“Still want to try to send one back?” I asked.
“Eventually.” She gave me a shoulder bump. “But not today. You ready to steer a cruise ship with your mind?”
“I’m willing to walk on the beach with you, but only if you hold my hand.”
“Deal.” She turned to face me, raised up on her toes.
It didn’t mater that we were on the sidewalk, in full view and in the way of locals and tourists alike. When our lips touched, I was lost to everything but her.
“Dune! Dune!” I heard my name and pulled away from Hallie. We both scanned the crowd this time.
“Nate!” He was racing across Jackson Square, faster than he should be, as usual. I didn’t even attempt to be cool. A man hug and a few back slaps later, I heard Hallie clear her throat.
“I see you there.” Nate’s grin had cheeky written all over it as he turned toward her. “I thought my bestie was exaggerating when he told me how sexalicious you are in person. I thought you were a hottie through a computer screen.”
“Nate,” I warned. “I did not use that word.”
“I think I need details of this conversation,” Hallie said.
“Wouldn’t take very much to persuade me to give them to you.”
“Stop. Now.” I tried for stern, but my face gave me away. “I’ll tell my secrets when I’m ready.”
“I’m Nate.” He held out his hand. “And I know all his secrets, in case you’re ready before he is.”
“I’m Hallie. When do I get to see your dance moves?”
“B-boy. More tricks than moves.” He did a couple, and the crowd around us applauded. Show-off.
“Maybe we can trade knowledge on that, too,” Hallie said, after Nate finished taking his bows.
“Let’s cut Dune out of the picture completely. Run away with me, and we’ll live off the tips people put in our upturned fedoras.”
Hallie laughed, wide open, and I watched Nate fall in love. I couldn’t blame him.
“Okay, kids, let’s go. Everyone’s waiting. Betcha can’t keep up.” He took off.
