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"Our relationship is … difficult"

"My dad was dead"

I jerked my head around "Was?"

"He’s a time traveler Explosions, continuulass see back froh year" He pointed to the tiny scars fros in his nose and eyebrow The studs in his ears rees of a tattoo at his sleeve cuffs and collar It ht"Dune and I went to the tattoo parlor at the same time"

"I love his I bet Lily likes yours"

"Lily acceptsti to pull you through this The Hourglass has a special talent for that, too"

I bit down on my lower lip I didn’t want any ave me a pat on the shoulder, stood, and leftoff the water

Dune

Kaleb told me I could find Hallie at the pool When I’d stared at him for a few seconds, he’d told me I should find Hallie at the pool, and then he pushed ht direction

I surprised her when I sat down

"What are you doing?" She looked at the water like it was alive and ready to coround to shole

My sto where she was "Did you come here because you hoped I wouldn’t follow you?"

"No No!" She grabbed my knee when I started to stand up "I ca about it, and the water is heated"

Logic, not purposeful avoidance

We both leaned back, hands behind us Hallie’s feet were in the pool, lance, and I turned around, back to the water, legs stretched out in front of me We were still shoulder to shoulder, but I liked this position better I could look at her face

"There’s a pool outside the Hourglass I actually live in the pool house" I grinned "How’s that for irony?"

"I’ave ame of chicken, and we need to incorporate pool tiether"

"First vacation?" I watched her expression closely "Does that mean you’ve reached a decision about how to handle the rip situation?"

"I talked to rabbed her phone and run outside so quickly, and was probably the reason why Kaleb had followed shortly thereafter

"What did he say?"

"He agrees with your plan, thinks she should share the load He wanted to drop everything and come home"

"Did you think he wouldn’t?" I asked

"I have a lot to think about I asked him to trust me"

"I’m sorry that it’s come to this, but the choice is crystal clear to me"

"There’s a part of s could be different That she’d be the cookie-baking mom, the kind that was a hundred percent in my corner But I know that’s not the case, and it never will be" She took a deep breath "And Dad used to love her I asked hi He said he didn’t He also said he didn’t love her anymore"

"Is he your--"