Page 96 of A Thousand Second Chances

“I thought we might join you for a rousing game of Michigan Euchre,” I reply. “If you’re up for it, that is.”

Her surprise morphs into a delighted grin. “Oh, I’m always up for crushing an unwitting opponent. Just don’t expect any mercy.”

I chuckle at the memory of how soundly she and Percy had beaten me the last time we’d done this. “Don’t worry. I know how ruthless you two are.”

She seems puzzled by my comment, and I mentally berate myself.Right.To her, this is the first time we’ve played together.

The rules come back to me easily enough, especially with Percy whispering reminders when I forget. And while I’m as terrible at it as the last time, I have a blast. Then again, I’m pretty sure I’d enjoy shoveling horse shit off the streets if I got to do it with Percy at my side.

As we play, I can’t help noting the drawn lines on Ms. Lindman’s face and the tired bags beneath her eyes. I think back on our previous conversations, remembering what she’d said about Owen—how the kid was having a hard time, and they’d gotten into a fight. I consider bringing it up, but what would be the point? If Owen’s determined to be a jerk and shut both Percy and her out, that’s his prerogative. Besides, we’re here to help her forget about her problems, not force her to dwell on them.

I notice Percy’s furrowed brow and wonder if his mind’s gone to the same place as mine. When Ms. Lindman heads to thebathroom after a particularly fierce hand, I lean over to him. “Why the long face?”

“Just thinking about Owen,” he sighs, confirming my suspicions. “I don’t know. Maybe if I had more than a day to wear him down, I could get through to him, but as it is, I can’t even convince him to sit still long enough to have a real conversation.”

I shrug, thinking of my talk with Devon and my own stubbornness. “Sometimes, you’ve gotta wait for people to be ready to help themselves. Everyone else can keep telling you whatever they want, but until you’re ready to listen, there’s only so much they can do.”

“Yeah, I guess. I just wish I knew what was going on with him. I saw him earlier out along the shore near Sunset Rock. I think maybe he had the same destination in mind I did but gave up when he realized this cute gay couple was already there. And, of course, he blew me off when I tried to talk to him.”

“The shore, huh?” I tilt my head to the side, considering that. “I wonder if it was him you saw that night we watched the Northern Lights.”

Percy absently shuffles the deck of cards. “Probably. He always did like gazing out over the lake, and we used to sneak off to Sunset Rock at night sometimes when we were kids. I think I told you, remember? We’d lie there and search for constellations. It was nice.”

I start to nod and then freeze, my whole body suddenly tensing.No…it can’t be.We wouldn’t miss something that obvious, would we? My mind makes connections almost faster than I can process them.

Owen’s constant surliness.

His mother’s concern.

How she waited up for him every night even after we went to sleep.

Percy spying him out alone on the shore at night.

That message, carved into the stone at Sunset Rock:The sun sets on one more day where I will never be enough.

I swallow. “Percy…”

He glances at me, brow furrowing. “Are you all right? What’s wrong?”

“Owen,” I choke out.

“What about him?”

“In all the cycles we’ve completed, have you ever seen him come home?”

Percy slowly shakes his head. “No…I guess not. Only Carol, waiting up for him to…” His voice trails off, and his face pales. “You don’t think—”

“I don’t know.” My heart is racing. “It kinda fits, though, doesn’t it? Us and this place. I mean, he’s your childhood friend, and he’s obviously going through something. Maybe…”

“Maybe this was never aboutus,” Percy finishes hoarsely. “Not really. Maybe we’re not trapped in this time loop to save ourselves. Maybe we’re here so we can save someone else.”

We hold each other’s gazes for a long, fraught moment. Then, we’re both tugging on our coats as we dash toward the front doors. There’s no time to wait for Ms. Lindman or try to explain.

I check my phone as we reach the door. “It’s almost one AM. We have to hurry!”

Percy nods, and I grab his hand, tugging him along as we break into a jog down the shadowed road. I pray we’re not too late. Because, if my guess is right, unless we interfere, we have until exactly 1:15 AM to save Owen’s life.

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