Page 76 of A Thousand Second Chances

None of this is.

thirty

Percy

I immediately regret mymorose musing. Chris went through all this trouble to give me a damn-near perfect day, and here I am shitting all over it. First, my mom and now my rant about the dagger. Why can’t I switch off and relax the way Chris can? It’s like I’m fated to dampen any good mood the moment I achieve it.

You’re literally Eeyore, I chide myself.Always focusing on what’s wrong instead of appreciating what’s right.

And there’s certainly plenty ofthat. I’ve thought about my mom a lot today after kayaking, but for the first time since she passed, the memories are as laced with joy as they are sorrow. She wouldn’t want me dwelling on the past and my pain. She’d want me to remember the good times with her—to have fun, exactly like Chris keeps urging me. So even if, deep down, I fear this is nothing but a series of stolen moments snatched from the jaws of time, I shouldn’t let that stop me from enjoying it while it lasts.

“Did you want to meet up with the others for dinner?” Chris asks hesitantly, and my stomach drops.

Great, now I’ve scared him away.Ofcoursehe’s getting sick of dealing with my mixed signals. Who wouldn’t? I rack my brain for a way to salvage the situation.

“You should call Quinn,” I blurt. “See if she wants to join us for dinner somewhere.”

A flicker of something like disappointment crosses his face. “You sure?”

Is he that eager to rejoin the rest of the group?

I nod. “If anyone knows how to have fun, it’s her, right?”

That at least elicits a grin, and the anxious knot in my gut settles.Crisis averted.“True enough. Okay, I’ll see if she’s interested.”

He gives her a quick call, breaking our no-phone rule with my blessing, and soon enough, we’re heading to meet her at a bar along the lakefront.

She grins when she sees us, hugging Chris. “So kind of you to make an appearance. I’ve been wondering where you ran off to all day. Oshkoff islivid.”

Chris grimaces, probably remembering one of the half-dozen times she’s chewed us out. “I’m sure she is.” He gestures to me. “You remember Percy, right?”

“Of course!” Quinn gives me a wave. “Long time, no see.”

Her eyes linger on the space between Chris and me—or, rather, the lack of it. I consider stepping away, but with her watching, that seems like it would only bemoreconspicuous.

It’s no big deal, I try to convince myself. So what if Quinn knows about us? Her suspicions will reset tomorrow, and Chris and I haven’t exactly been subtle around town this iteration anyway. Rational or not, however, that recognition does little to ease my wired nerves.

Chris picks up on my tension, leaving a bit of extra space between us in the booth and not doing anything too overtly couple-y. Despite being what I want, I can’t help but mourn the sudden loss of the intimacy we’ve shared all day.

“So,” Quinn says once we’re settled, “what have you two been up to?”

I share a glance with Chris that I’m certain Quinn reads into.

He shrugs. “Not much—checking out downtown, mostly.”

Her eyes go to the stacks of bags next to our table. “A rebel after my own heart. If only you had a poor, beloved friend on this trip whoadoresshopping…”

She clutches at her chest, her elbow almost knocking over a ketchup bottle, and Chris rolls his eyes. “We went kayaking this morning first. Didn’t think you’d be interested.”

Her put-upon act vanishes. “Fair.” She sips her water as her eyes rove back to me, narrowing slightly. I resist the urge to shrink beneath the scrutiny. “I had no idea you two were so close. I mean, I didn’t even realize you knew each other until the ferry ride yesterday, and I got the distinct impression things weren’t exactly friendly between you.”

She shifts her scrutiny to Chris, and we share another look. I’m not sure how much we should tell her. From past experience, I’m confident she’ll take the wholetime loopthing in stride, but it seems like a lot to drop on someone so late in the cycle. I give Chris a little shrug and a nod to let him know I’ll follow his lead, and he leans back in the booth.

“Percy and I used to be a thing,” he says, and I almost spit out my water. That wasnotwhat I’d meant to signal!

A frown briefly mars Chris’ features before he can smooth it away, and frustration writhes within me. If I can hold his damn hand for most of the day, shouldn’t I be able to acknowledge our prior relationship to his closest friend?

Forcing down my discomfort, I clear my throat. “Yep,” I agree, earning a shocked expression from Chris. “We dated for two years back in high school.”