Page 23 (1/2)

She sighed heavily and dropped the chips "This is quite possibly the weirdest situation that anyone will ever be in, ever, so if you’re having difficulty coo, that’s okay No one is expecting you to just get it In fact, I’m pretty impressed by how calm you’ve all been"

"We were provided irrefutable evidence that this is real We either accept it or ignore it I’ it"

Ari cocked her head with a soft suess"

"Was I so different after Mikey …?"

Ari leaned toward him "Charlie, whatever happens, don’t become a part of this world It’s notit destroy you was the hardest thing I’ve ever done"

He shook his head slowly, his eyes fixed on hers "You look at me with such affection and familiarity It should freak me out but … I think I like it You e with such massive consequences, to save me and my family"

"You were my oldest and best friend I would have died for you I still would"

"You’re a warain"

Ari chuckled, trying not to blush at the way he looked at her

"This is going to sound like a total pickup line, but you have the et that a lot"

"They’re weird eyes," Ari shrugged

"People notice"

"Not weird Beautiful You are beautiful"

"Glad you got that out of your syste Charlie a droll look "I wouldn’t repeat it unless you want her boyfriend to turn you into sourine"

Ari’s skin burned, not only fro it It grew even hotter when Charlie shot her a disappointed look "Boyfriend?"

She nodded "Jai"

Charlie frowned "So you and I never … I could’ve sworn there was so … we never … ever?"

And in that moment, Ari quickly decided it was for the best if she lied It would make it easier for everyone, especially Fallon, if new Charlie didn’t get any ideas in his head about his old relationship with a girl he found attractive She shot Trey a quelling look before turning back to Charlie "No, ere always just friends Remember I told you that you dated Fallon, one of the Roes"

He nodded, but his expression was a little tense "The Guild Hunter I inadvertently had killed Is she … mad about that?"

Ari shook her head "No She was there because she cared about you She doesn’t blame you"

"So this Fallon chick … she’s cool?"

"Very"

Charlie looked up at Trey "She hot?"

Trey grinned "Very"

"I could ith that"

Ari glared at hi and irreverent That wasn’t going to cut it in this situation Things were far too delicate "Here’s a heads-up … in our reality, Fallon cared a great deal for you and she was murdered in her attempt to help you Because she’s Jinn, she remembers that reality and was more than a little cut up to hear you don’t remember her anymore Tread very carefully with her, please I don’t want her hurthand "I’ But I’ll tread carefully"

The sound of a key turning in the front door shot the into the hallway as one of the large double doors blew open In stepped a travel-weary Michael, followed by Caroline, Gerard, Megan, Fallon, and Jai trailing at the back

Fallon’s eyes iht the space behind Ari, and as they locked onto Charlie, they widened, so h the Ari would just go with … a lot

She sly at Fallon and was just about to shoot Jai a welcorin when her shoulders hunched up at the appreciative murmur behind her, "Tell ood taste"

16

You’ll Take a Piece of Me with You

"I’m Fallon"

Ari watched, ih her eyes were burning with curiosity and questions, her fingers didn’t tremble once She was steady as a rock She had always been impressively self-possessed, but Ari still noted that subdued quality to her that hadn’t existed before She wasn’t sure if she liked it

The group introduced thereeting, and then hugged Ari close Theyroom and now everyone’s attention was on this weird reunion of sorts

Charlie’s eyes glittered with a surprising aood humor and interest as he reached to shake Fallon’s hand As they held onto one another, Fallon took another step closer to him and narrowed her eyes After at least half of retfully, "You’re not him"

Charlie frowned and shot Ari a quizzical look She sighed, squeezing Jai’s hand in hers Of course Fallon would be freaked out by this Charlie She, unlike Ari, had never known this Charlie This was the Charlie Ari had loved Brooding, vengeful, intense Charlie was the young ht

Fallon’s expression fell and she quickly stepped back against her mom Caroline wrapped her arms loosely around her in comfort and protection