Page 46 of All Your Tomorrows

“Why do I get the feeling you didn’t tell her you’ve seen him?” she asked.

I pursed my lips, unsure how much I should say.

“Is he hot?” she asked.

Nervous laughter escaped me. “What?”

“I’m getting hot guy vibes.”

I buried my face in my hands.

“Oh. My. God,” she said. “You need to tell me every juicy bit.”

I dropped my hands. “He’s very good looking.”

“I knew it!”

“Shhhh.” My head whipped around, making sure Julie out front didn’t hear us talking.

“Are you helping him figure out why he’s still here?”

“I’m trying.”

“Do you think he’s gonna wake up?”

I sighed. “Question of the century.”

“Why haven’t you told me any of this?” she asked.

“It’s complicated. I don’t really get what’s happening myself.”

“What does that mean?”

“He’s different than the others,” I explained. “I can actually touch him.”

“Shut the front door! You’ve touched him?” She was nearly jumping out of her seat.

I nodded.

“No way.”

“Way.”

“Jesus Christ,” she said.

“Please don’t tell anyone any of this.”

She made the sign of a cross over her heart. “Cross my heart and—”

“Don’t say it,” I said.

She cocked her head. “And hope he lives.”

Oh. I liked that one.

* * *

After my shift, I stopped by one of the boutiques on my way home. This one carried women’s and men’s clothes. I went to the back of the store where the accessories and fragrances lined the wall. I scanned through the bottles until I came upon the green bottle I’d been hoping to find. I picked it up and twisted off the cap. I closed my eyes and sniffed the nozzle, envisioning it on Kyler.

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