Chapter 30
thirty
Percy
I immediately regret my morose 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 of that. 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. Of course he’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 is livid.”
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 be more conspicuous.
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 who adores shopping…”
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 whole time loop thing 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 was not what 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.”
Quinn nods, but her gaze continues to flick between us. “No used to about it if you ask me,” she says, earning a blush from me and a glare from Chris. She turns toward where a band is setting up in the corner of the dining room. “But suit yourselves. I hope our server comes soon. I’m starving.”
And just like that, I’ve officially come out to someone other than Chris…for the duration of this loop, at least. My heart is racing, and my stomach roils, but the world didn’t come to an end. Maybe there’s hope for me yet.
By the time the band starts to play, we’ve all ordered a few drinks, and the mood has lightened considerably.
Quinn’s a blast to be around like always, and as the night wears on, I scoot closer and closer to Chris until I somehow wind up with my head resting on his shoulder and our hands entwined in his lap.
I glance away from the band at one point to find Quinn watching us with a smug expression.
I raise a brow, but she only grins and looks away.
I fight down the faint twinge of nerves that flicker in my chest and remain right where I am.
In that moment, there’s nowhere I’d rather be.
When Chris glances at me after a slower song ends, the unguarded emotion in his eyes steals my breath. I can’t remember ever being this content, and I think (hope) he feels the same.
I still love you. I never stopped.
I want to shout the words loud enough for everyone in the bar to hear. I want to lean in and capture his mouth with mine, claiming him. I want to seize everything I’d been too afraid to allow myself back in high school, even if only for this singular fleeting moment.
But I don’t.
The words die on my lips, and I settle for answering Chris’ smile with one of my own until he turns back to the band. The warmth within me fades, dulling, and I cling even more desperately to Chris’ hand beneath the table. As if that half-hidden touch could ever be enough.
It’s after eleven by the time we finally meander back to the Royal Lilac.
The music follows us out. It’ll likely keep going right up until the time loop resets, but I don’t want to end this near-perfect day drunk in a bar.
I sneak a glance at Chris. If I can’t muster the courage to admit how I feel in public, I can at least do my best to show him in private.
Despite the late hour, Oshkoff awaits us downstairs.
We’ve never purposefully tested her commitment to chewing us out, and while she lays into us about shirking our responsibilities and squandering my father’s philanthropic gift, I wonder fleetingly if she’d still be waiting here for us when 1:15 AM rolls around and consigns her fury to oblivion.
That’d be some true dedication to discipline.
Thankfully, unlike most of the times Chris and I skip out on the day’s designated itinerary, we have a secret weapon tonight.
“I’m sorry, Professor Oshkoff,” Quinn bawls, tears streaming down her cheeks. Her back heaves with sobs. “This is all my fault. I w-wanted to do the right thing. They were only h-helping me like I asked.”
Oshkoff hesitates, some of her anger dissipating as her brow furrows. “Explain, Ms. Pearson.”
That gives Quinn the chink in Oshkoff’s armor she needs. She spins some crazy story of familial drama involving her ex-boyfriend and a wild animal attack, and before long, it’s Oshkoff who is comforting Quinn.
“There, there, dear. It’ll be all right.”
Quinn nods, swiping at her eyes. “T-thank you, professor, for being s-so understanding. If it’s okay, I think I’m going to head to bed.”
“Of course. After the day you’ve had, you certainly deserve some rest.”
Oshkoff starts up the stairs with Quinn in tow, pausing to glance back at Chris and me. “I’m proud of you boys,” she says. Her gaze locks on me. “And I’m certain your father would be proud of you, too.”
Chris and I share a similar, incredulous look as Oshkoff and Quinn vanish upstairs. “What the hell just happened?” I whisper. “Was that some sort of witchcraft?”
Chris snorts a laugh. “That’s Quinn for you. She can’t talk her way out of everything, but she can come pretty damn close.”
I shake my head, staring after them. “Thank God she only uses her powers for good.”
Chris pats my back. “Yeah, you just keep telling yourself that.”
His hand lingers, sending little jolts of electricity tingling up my spine. The air between us becomes charged, and I meet his eyes, only to see doubt warring with his obvious arousal.
“So, my room or yours,” I say quickly, suddenly terrified he’s about to call it a night.
Chris’ breath catches, his eyes darkening as he shifts closer. I’m relieved to see that flicker of hesitation gone…for now, at least. “Yours,” he says, the warm exhalation caressing my cheek. “It’s closer.”
We stare at each other a moment longer, then rush toward the stairs, hand in hand. I’m almost at the mid-landing when I glimpse a figure from the corner of my eye and pull up short.
“There’s someone down there,” I hiss to Chris.
He pauses, glancing back. “Oh, yeah. That’s Ms. Lindman. She always stays up reading Saturday night. Remember?”