Page 62 of A Thousand Second Chances

“But…why?” I shake my head. “What’s so special about that particular time?”

Percy shrugs. Of course, he has no answer. Neither of us does, and we’ve been over it enough times that the thought of rehashing it again doesn’t sound appealing. It could correspond to a significant event somewhere on the island…or it could be nothing but chance, chosen at random when this all began.

We eat our food in silence for a while before Percy ventures, “Yesterday was a good test. We need to try more things like that.”

I snort. “You mean crazy ideas with little to no chance of success?”

He unleashes a full grin on me, and I fight a blush at the way my pulse quickens. “Exactly. Nothing else has panned out so far. I think it’s that sort of out-of-the-box thinking we need to figure out how to free ourselves.”

Ignoring my usual confused pang at the prospect of escaping the loop, I say, “I’ve got a couple ideas that could fit the bill.”

Percy takes another bite of his muffin. God, he even looks adorable chewing. “Do tell.”

“Well, the time loop seems to have singled the two of us out. What if it needs both of us in order to run its course?”

“We’ve already determined that distance doesn’t matter. At least, not what we can drive in a single day. I guess we could take a flight—”

“I mean, yeah, we could try that, too. But I’m talking about something a bit more…extreme. What if one of us isn’t around anymore?” He blinks, still looking confused, so I sigh and roll my eyes. “You know…if one of us exits the time loop prematurely.” I slice a finger across my neck, and Percy’s eyes bulge with horror.

“No!” he shouts, chair skidding across the tile as he surges to his feet. I stare open-mouthed at his reaction, as do the other customers in the cafe. Owen glowers from behind the counter, but what else is new?

“Geez, chill,” I mutter. “It was just a suggestion.”

“Well, it’s a stupid one!” Percy retorts, his eyes blazing. “What if it actuallyworked?Whoever did that wouldn’t come back. There’d be no reset.”

I force a nonchalance I don’t feel and shrug. “That’s a risk I’d be willing to take for science.” I avert my eyes. “Besides, it’s not like it would be some great loss.”

Percy steps around the table in a few quick strides. I instinctively shrink back as he looms over me. “That’snotfunny,” he snarls.

He grabs my shoulders, tugging me close and forcing me to meet his gaze. Despite his obvious anger, his touch remains gentle. I could easily break out of it if I wanted to. Instead, I stay still.

“Don’t even joke about that,” he continues, a note of pleading entering his voice. “Whatever else happens, however desperate we get, that isnotan option. Because, no matter what you think,Iwould care. Okay?”

I nod mutely, stunned by the strength of his reaction. His fingers tighten around my upper arms like he’s clinging to me for dear life. “Promise me?” he demands.

“Okay,” I manage, my voice hoarse. I clear my throat and say more strongly, “I promise.”

He nods and takes a deep breath before releasing me and stepping back. I watch him warily as he circles around to his own seat and gulps his latte.

“Got any other ideas?” he asks reluctantly, setting aside his cup. “Ones thatdon’tsuck?”

I try for a mock glare, but my heart’s not in it. I’m still reeling from his outburst.He still cares.Maybe it’s my unbalanced state that makes me say what I do next. Or maybe it’s the memory of yesterday and that car ride—of his unabashed laughter and that quiet, intimate moment we’d shared.

I would happily repeat the same day a thousand times if I got to spend them with you.

Whatever momentary lapse it is that seizes me, the words tumble past my lips before I can stop them. “Maybe we should try going on a date.”

twenty-six

Percy

Maybe we should trygoing on a date.

The words hang heavy between us. I’m staring, I know I am, but I have no idea how to respond. My first instinct is to laugh it off. It’s gotta be a joke, right? Chris is just trying to lighten the mood after his last terrible suggestion to kill ourselves.

I start to grin, opening my mouth to say…I don’t know what. Something to make it clear I’m in on his poor attempt at humor. But the look on his face stops me cold. There’s a slight flush to his cheeks, his hands practically throttling his coffee cup. His eyes rove over the cafe, focusing on anything and everything except me.

Holy shit, he’s serious.