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Just as I realized that, Josh got out of his seat, knelt in front ofbox

At first, I was frozen I wanted to say or do so before this went any further, but I couldn’t I couldn’t even hear what he was saying over the pounding of my heart and the rush of blood in , I heard myself say, "I can’t," and then ot up and ran from the restaurant

The store was still open, so I hoped Oould be there I supposed it wasn’t utterly essential that I talk to him now He’d be there to drove ht for me and I didn’t want to waste a ive hiave hiht come to hatedown several cabs, but they all passed right by er stopped and said, "Do you need a lift? You look like you’re having an eency"

I kneasn’t supposed to trust strangers, but this was a crisis, so I said, "You know the bookstore on Seventy-third?"

"Yeah, I won the treasure hunt there today--hey, that’s where I’ve seen you before Hop on"

He looked fao for it I hiked the skirt of hs to climb on behind him, and he handed me the spare helmet that was hooked to the seat I held on to hi in and out of traffic I keptto crash at any moment, and before I knew it, the cycle came to a stop "Here we are," the driver said

I dismounted shakily, handed him the helmet, then waved thanks to him as I hurried to the store’s entrance It wasti the shelves Our promotional efforts seemed to have paid off, I noted, but that wasn’tto the custo the store’s public address system but decided that would be overkill Instead, I headed toward thepaperwork

I didn’t realize that I’d started jogging--no et there faster until so at books and turned to stare at h the aisles When I had to stop to let a couple with a stroller get past, I turned just in ti down the stairs Before I knehat I was doing, I called out his name

He froze and frowned "Katie?" he said I wasn’t sure how round noise of the store and howmy name on his lips I rushed toward the stairs as he hurried the rest of the way down

"I’m sorry," I blurted e ot intothat had happened with us was just a drea about as real I rong about Josh I rong about you You’re the one"

This tiether Our lips touched, and it wasawake--truly awake--for the first time in my life

Both of us suddenly pulled away from each other "Katie?" he whispered

"Owen?" I responded

Then, simultaneously, we said, "Where are we?"

Chapter Nine

I felt dizzy and groggy, like I’d been suddenly awakened fros while the drearip on my brain and the real world hadn’t yet co on here?

Owen looked siently, "I think we need to talk"

I blinked, then re in the middle of a bookstore A s not to notice us while still watching avidly But, a bookstore? What e doing in a bookstore?

Owen released one of my hands and led me to the"What’s the last thing you remember--really remember, when you knoas us?"

I closed my eyes to think, then said, "We went into that warehouse that Earl sent us a picture of There was soood look at it before everything went black And then I was here in the store just now, except I also re I think I knohen it started being really me instead of fake , but I’d just discovered that I’d apparently been living soured that being freaked-out was perfectly understandable