Page 102 of Time Stops With You

I keep my hand steady.

She steps back, shaking her head like a baby who doesn’t want to share her toy. “Go away.”

“What happens if you and Josiah get into an accident because you only had one hand available?”

Nardi tilts her head to the side. I notice her hair is wet and the limp strands tucked behind her ears are still dripping with water.

“Come on, Nardi,” Josiah gives her a little push, “I’ll be late for school if we don’t leave now.”

Nardi sighs hard enough the clouds shift a little to the left. “Fine, butonlybecause my wrist still hurts. I won’t need your help tomorrow.”

Rather than comment, I open the passenger door for her. Nardi climbs in with a begrudging frown. Glad to have gotten over that hurdle, I hand Josiah the bag with the breakfast I made.

On my way around the vehicle, my phone rings. It’s Asad.

I press ignore and climb inside.

The vehicle fills with the scent of breakfast. Josiah is already chowing down.

“Did you make this?” Josiah asks with his mouth full.

“I did.” I smile at him in the rearview mirror and return my attention to the road. “What are you doing after school today?”

“I have homework and then I have to help Nardi cut up vegetables for a party on Sunday.”

My eyes whip over to Nardi. “You still plan on catering for Darrel and Sunny Hastings?”

“You and your big mouth.” Nardi peers over her shoulder to give her brother the stink eye.

Josiah sinks into his seat.

“Nardi, you know your wrist won’t be better by the weekend. The doctor said you should take two weeks off.”

“I know what the doctor said. Why are you asking my brother what he’s doing later?”

Arguing with Nardi won’t change her mind, so I answer her question. “We’re working on a part of the simulation that requires a nuclear physicist. Dr. Malu Ko is flying over to give us a hand with our programming.”

“Really?” If Josiah wasn’t seat belted in, his head would have hit the ceiling in excitement.

“I wanted to invite Josiah to join us after school.” I glance at Nardi. “If it’s alright with you.”

“Nardi, please, please, please, please. I’ll never get this close to Dr. Malu Ko again if I miss this chance.”

Actually, I plan on introducing Josiah to Dr. Malu Ko. Networking isn’t my strong suit, but Dr. Ko is well connected in the science and technology field. He can be a big help to Josiah in the future.

Nardi’s facial muscles tense and I can tell she wants to say no with everything in her, but when she twists around to look at her brother, she says, “Fine. But make sure you do your homework first. I don’t want you distracted from school because of Mr. Po.”

“It’s Ko.”

“I don’t care. Homework comes first.”

“Yeah,” Josiah says, flopping back and kicking his legs in excitement.

I grin at the sight of his happiness and then I look over at Nardi. She’s smiling too but, when she sees she’s got my attention, that smile putters out into a frown.

My phone vibrates in my pocket again. It’s probably Sara.

“Is Mr. Ko going to work on the plane’s energy source?” Josiah asks, distracting me. “Does this mean you’ve found a way to connect to the controller and you’re starting to build the plane itself now?”

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