flow along with the current. But the sands of time allow us to walk against the current, back the way we came.”
“Okay.” I nodded. “So, you and I are in the parking lot in front of the café. Then how can we also be here?”
“Our younger selves are called echoes. Eventually, the echoes will catch up to the current version of ourselves. At that point, the sand will combine our echoes with our bodies, in this case in less than one hour. That is when we regain our normal place in the river. The echoes will be absorbed, allowing us to take their place and them to have our newly made memories. The longer we travel back, the more history the echo will have to absorb. An hour isn’t much, but a month or a year takes some time. Come, lamb, the river is flowing.” He moved away from the window and strode out of the room.
My head was spinning with information as well as the aftereffects of the magic as I stumbled along behind him. “But I still don’t see how—?”
He continued on through his living room and down the stairs, barely looking back at me. “Joey, I can either give you lessons on the fundamentals of the space-time continuum or you can make it to your appointment. Now go. I have things to accomplish this hour as well. I’ll meet up with you after we have reabsorbed our echoes.”
I followed him out into the air. “Wait! Is it dangerous? I mean, what if I run into the other version of me? Will I like, wipe out my own existence or something?”
He rolled his eyes at me. “You’ve watched too many science fiction movies. No, you can safely interact with your echo. Pulling a few strings will not hamper the fabric of the space-time continuum. Now go on. We have less than an hour before the current catches us up. Use it to your advantage.” Robin snapped his fingers and before I could ask another question, he vanished.
I blinked and then shook my head, unable to believe he’d just abandoned me in the wrong time.
Then again, what else could I expect from a mischievous fae bargain?
Chapter 6
“If it seems too good to be true…it’s probably a big, fat lie.”
–Notable quotable from Grammy B
I called Darcy the second the tires of my mother’s car left Firefly Lane. “What are you doing right now?”
“Dealing with a brutal hangover,” she kvetched. “Why did you let me drink so much last night?”
“Like I could have stopped you. I’ll be there in five minutes to pick you up. Be ready.”
“Ready for what?”
“Just do it!” I barked.
She blew out a breath. “Fine, bitchy briefs. I’ll be all set for my abduction. I should warn you though, my care and feeding is hella complicated.”
I hung up the phone and concentrated on driving, not allowing myself to think about what was going on.
Exactly four minutes and fifty-seven seconds later—I’d been counting—I slammed on the brakes in front of Darcy’s house. She was standing outside, wearing a giant pair of sunglasses along with her baby blue parka and flannel lined jeans.
“What gives, Joey?” She climbed in and gave me a sour look. “And wow, your hair looks amazing. Did you have it done?”
“In a manner of speaking. Buckle up.”
She reached for the shoulder harness. “What is this urgent mission?”
“We’re going to the café.” I waited until she’d buckled her seatbelt and then peeled away from the curb.
“Slow down! And the café? Ugh. I can’t eat there today. All the smells and grease will make me vomit.”
“You’re not going there to eat.” I took a hard right and Darcy slammed into the door. “You’re going to be my witness.”
“Um, like an alibi? Because if you hired some goon to off Rodney, I fully approve.”
“No one is being murdered. I just want to see if I’m in the café.”
“Huh?”
“You’ll see.”
I pulled up to a vacant spot at the back of the lot, far enough away that no one would spot my mother’s car. “Now… go on in and see if I’m sitting at a table with a good looking, if arrogant blond guy.”
Darcy’s eyebrows had migrated halfway up her forehead. “Um, Joey? How could you be in there when you’re right here?”
“Just go look.” I huffed.
“I am getting you massive doses of therapy for your birthday. For real.” Darcy snarked and then climbed out of the car.
I stared at the clock in the dashboard, the numbers a bright blue. 1:27.