14 #2
“He’s still talking with them behind my back!” I say. “It’s still unacceptable. He’s emotionally cheating on me. And I thought he’d changed.” I laugh bitterly. “I even thought he was going to—”
“What?” Robbie’s face goes still. “What did you think he was going to do?”
But even saying it out loud sounds ridiculous now, remembering those girls in lacy Santa outfits. Of course Flynn hasn’t changed. Of course I wasn’t getting a ring for Christmas.
“Nothing,” I say, forcing myself to squint into the horizon to clear my tears. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be dumping this all on you. You’re probably in the middle of Christmas with your family.”
“Hey, don’t do that,” he says. “Don’t deflect like you always do. I’m not going to tell you all about the enormous turkey my mom is cooking while you’re crying in paradise.”
I can’t help but laugh at that. “How big is it this year?”
“Massive,” he says, waggling the phone in emphasis. “You’d think she would remember it’s just the three of us, but noooo.”
“So you’re going to have turkey until New Year’s again.” I grin just a little. “Just remember what you did last year and make sure the dog gets some.”
He laughs, and the sound of it breaks me into a full smile.
“Well, I’m in Hopewell Crossing for a couple of days,” Robbie says, suddenly seeming slightly nervous. “When do you get back? Maybe you can come help me finish it off.”
“I—” My gaze sweeps across the private island.
I’m all alone out here, far away from my family and friends.
Not only do I not know when I’m going back to Hopewell Crossing, I still don’t know technically how I got here in the first place.
Even if I got on a plane and went back to my parents’ house, what year would it be?
Would I still be caught in this Christmas Eve loop?
My chest squeezes tight. What if I can’t get out of this timeline? What if I’m stuck with Flynn forever?
“Hey, Marygrace.” Robbie leans closer to the camera. “Talk to me, what’s going on?”
“You’ll never believe—” I cut myself off. What am I doing? Am I about to tell Robbie that I’m stuck in some random time loop in the future?
“Maybe I would,” Robbie says earnestly. “You can tell me anything.”
Just then, someone calls my name from down the beach. I spin away from my phone to find Flynn running toward me. My jaw clenches tight.
“What’s going on?” Robbie asks.
“Nothing,” I say. “I’ve got to go.”
“Wait!” Robbie practically shouts. “Marygrace, are you safe? Do you need me? I can come get you. You know I will if you need me to.”
I do. The words are stuck in my throat because right now there is nothing I would want more than my best friend. But I don’t say that. I can’t say that. “No, I’m fine,” I tell him quickly instead. “I’ll call you later.”
“Hey, you sing lead, MGS. I’ll always be your backup,” he says, finishing the phrase because I’m too emotional to.
I practically sob into the phone hearing our old childhood promise to each other before I hang up the call.
My fingers clench around Fynn’s watch like it’s some kind of armor that will keep me safe as he comes closer.
When he’s standing in front of me, his gaze flicks down to my hand and his face lights up. “You found it! See, this is why you’re my lucky charm!” He opens his arms wide like he’s about to wrap me in them.
I take a step back. “Yes. Found it,” I say, trying and failing to hide the warble in my voice.
“What’s wrong?” he asks.
I swallow. “I saw what is on here.”
“Oh.” He exhales loudly. “Listen, it’s no big deal. Just a couple old friends.”
“Friends?” I squeak. “Oh, they look very friendly, Flynn.”
“Mary, we talked about this,” he insists, reaching for the watch again.
“Talked about this?” I repeat. “Talked about how you were allowed to stick it wherever you wanted? I thought we were committed to each other. I thought you were ready to settle down.”
“What?” Now he looks genuinely confused. “I never said that. I know your family has been pressuring you—but I thought we were happy with an open thing. That’s what we agreed on when we got back together.”
No, no, no. This isn’t happening. I cover my face with my hands. Was I so desperate to prove to my family that I could have a boyfriend that I agreed to an open relationship with Flynn? The thought makes me want to vomit. He’s wrong. This can’t be me. “I would never agree to something like that!”
He steps closer and he tries to set his hand on my arm, but I pull away.
“Mary”—his voice is quiet, gentle—“there’s no one like you.
You’re so good for me, and my family. You’re amazing.
You have the Baccay work ethic. My mother is obsessed with you after what you did for the gala.
And you’re trustworthy. I can go on and on, love.
But I told you when we got back together that I’m not the kind of guy who settles down.
I know you were upset about that barista when you found out about us, so I wanted to have everything out in the open this time. A fresh start.”
I look up at him through tear-clouded eyes. Is he lying to try to explain himself? There’s no way the real Marygrace would ever agree to something like this. Right?
“Remember?” he cajoles.
Remember? Yes, I remember the hurt I felt two years ago when I caught him cheating.
And the subsequent pain I felt every day after.
I remember how I couldn’t even think about dating someone for months after he broke my heart and my trust. How every guy afterward has been something casual because I’m afraid to get hurt again.
How did I even think for a minute the universe was giving me a second chance with this guy?
“No.” I step farther away from him. “I can’t do this again.”
“Don’t act like I’m the bad guy!” he says, a sudden edge in his voice. “I’ve been nothing but honest with you!”
“I can’t do this again,” I repeat as I spin around and start running back toward the villa.
But this time I know my words mean something different.
I have to get off this island and out of this villa.
More than that, I need to get out of this alternate future.
I can’t be trapped with Flynn. I can’t relive all of this again. I need to get out of here.
If only I knew how.
My feet pound the sand, and I huff as tears streak down my face.
Flynn yelling my name in the distance only makes me run faster. I don’t care if he’s mad at me. I’m getting out of here.
“Look out!” a man cries.
Then another voice, closer by, shouts, “Watch it!”
I glance over to see a woman in at one of the cabanas, pointing at something.
I turn just in time to see a speeding dune buggy barreling in my direction. The woman driving is wearing a cover-up in a familiar shade of midnight blue.
The license plate is the last thing I notice right before impact—2MORROW. A searing pain shoots through my body and everything fades to black.