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I searched the crowd "I don’t"

"Good"

Liam, Grace, Michael, and Emerson claimed the rips were back to normal, at least as normal as they’d ever been Hallie could still see them, but only one at a time, and they only noticed her if she approached them directly

I wasn’t done with the Skroll There were still es to translate After the continuulass had the power to return individual rips to their places in time

"Still want to try to send one back?" I asked

"Eventually" She gave me a shoulder bump "But not today You ready to steer a cruise ship with yourto walk on the beach with you, but only if you hold my hand"

"Deal" She turned to face me, raised up on her toes

It didn’t mater that ere on the sidewalk, in full view and in the way of locals and tourists alike When our lips touched, I was lost to everything but her

"Dune! Dune!" I heard my name and pulled away from Hallie We both scanned the crowd this ti across Jackson Square, faster than he should be, as usual I didn’t even atte and a few back slaps later, I heard Hallie clear her throat

"I see you there" Nate’s grin had cheeky written all over it as he turned toward her "I thoughtwhen he told ht you were a hottie through a computer screen"

"Nate," I warned "I did not use that word"

"I think I need details of this conversation," Hallie said

"Wouldn’t take very ive theave me away "I’ll tell my secrets when I’m ready"

"I’m Nate" He held out his hand "And I know all his secrets, in case you’re ready before he is"

"I’et to see your dance moves?"

"B-boy More tricks than moves" He did a couple, and the crowd around us applauded Show-off

"Maybe we can trade knowledge on that, too," Hallie said, after Nate finished taking his bows

"Let’s cut Dune out of the picture completely Run aith me, and we’ll live off the tips people put in our upturned fedoras"

Hallie laughed, wide open, and I watched Nate fall in love I couldn’t bla Betcha can’t keep up" He took off

"We can try" Hallie grabbed my hand

When we reached Café du Monde, we found Em, Michael, Kaleb, Lily, Nate, Ava, and Poe at an outside table All seven of thear

"You’re here!" Eed her Lily, less sugary than everyone else, was next

Once they’d settled down, I pointed to the only girl still seated "This is Ava"

"Hi, Ava" Hallie knew about Ava’s past with Jack She’d been the one to insist that Nate and Ava be a part of the Hawaii trip, clai everyone who’d been affected by him deserved a vacation "I heard you dance, too Pointe?"

"Mostly contemporary" Ava’s hands twisted in her lap, and she looked like she didn’t knohat to do once the words were out

"You know, I love contemporary" Hallie took the empty seat next to Ava "You’ll have to come to my studio for a dance play date If that doesn’t sound lame"