Suzanne Young

“Sorry,” I say to my father. “Hope we didn’t wake you. After last night, I wanted to check on Harlin’s arm.”He tilts his head like he is absolutely sure I’m lying. “And how is his arm, Elise?” he asks.“Uh . . . better?”My father stands motionless for a second, and then he shakes his head and walks into the kitchen. I hear the clink of cups, and then the running of water for the coffeepot.“That was a nice save,” Harlin says, sounding amused. “So detailed. Like a nurse.”“Shut up, Harlin,” I say, trying not to smile. “I didn’t hear you offer anything better.”“You sure you didn’t want to tell him we were playing doctor? That might have sounded more believable.”I turn quickly and swat at him. He laughs, dodging my swing, and catches my hand. “I would tackle you right here,” he says, leaning close. “Pin you and kiss you. But with the luck we have in your house, someone will walk in. And then what will you tell them?” he whispers. “That you were giving me CPR?”“Stop!” I slap his shoulder again.”

“Have you seen my daughter?”“Daughter?” I’m the worst liar ever. I stare at Sarah’s tall, imposing father and try to smile. “She’s getting us a table?”He narrows his gray eyes, and then tightens his mouth. “Is that a question or a statement?”“Statement?” I’m so blowing this.He exhales and nods. “Well, then. I guess I’ll see you in the banquet room.”Harlin grins as Sarah’s father walks away. “You are so subtle, Charlotte. Are you a ninja?”“Shut up.”“I’m sure he didn’t find that at all suspicious.”“Harlin!”He laughs and kisses the top of my head. “I’ll stop,” he says. “But where is Sarah? You might want to find her before we sit down for chicken with that man. What will you say if he asks you to pass the mashed potatoes? Mashed potatoes?” Harlin finishes, imitating my voice.”

“Jeremy takes the money and heads toward the back bedroom to get dressed.“Chinese? I’ll come with,” Henry calls, but then pauses to look at us, one eyebrow raised.Harlin laughs and puts his arm around me. “Don’t even say it,” he warns. “You’ll embarrass her.” But he always says it.“Charlotte,” Henry begins in a mock parental tone, “when two people love each other, they may have certain urges. Protection is an important—”“Oh my God!” I cover my ears and laugh. I wait until his lips have stopped moving before I drop my arms.”

“There is still so much I want to know, want to ask. But before I can say anything else, the world stops. There’s silence around me.I wait a beat, and when I finally sit up, I find Harlin waiting for me—ready to start again.”

“Well then, Elise,” Marceline says, using my name for the first time since I’ve known her. “I guess it’s time for you to wake up.”

“Your time for crossing is over. Now you must help Harlin find the Forgotten and lead them to their destinies. And, of course, extinguish the Shadows where you can.”

“Harlin needs you,” she whispers. “He loves you too much.”I smile a little. “I know. But I like that about him.”

“I realize then that I’m filled with memories, both mine and Charlotte’s. It’s like I’ve lived one full life and not two separate ones.”

“How many times would you do it, you think? How many times would you sacrifice yourself for good?”“Every time,” I answer automatically.”

“In another life we are happy,” I murmur, squeezing my eyes shut. “In another life we grow old together.”

“To fall in love with him even though I was right here?”“You’re not really my type, Abe,” I say.“I’m too handsome?” He grins.“Too evil.”

“I’m going to kick his ass for touching you,” he growls. “And for wrecking my bike.”“I’m glad I came first in that sentence.”“Baby, you always come first.”

“Because, worst of all, I remember every second of what it was like to lose my life.”

“Well, sweetheart. You have been missed. You’ve been missed dearly.”

“I’ve missed you so much,” I whisper as he kisses my neck. “Even when I didn’t know you, my soul still missed you.”

“I’ve already loved you twice,”

“That was a nice save,” Harlin says, sounding amused. “So detailed. Like a nurse.”“Shut up, Harlin,” I say, trying not to smile. “I didn’t hear you offer anything better.”“You sure you didn’t want to tell him we were playing doctor? That might have sounded more believable.”

“Are you sure this is okay?” he asks. “I mean, did your dad really invite the handsome stranger who’s dating his daughter to sleep on the couch?”“I like how you added in the ‘handsome.”

“What can I say? You bring out the devil in me.”“That’s not a comforting thing to tell a pastor’s daughter,”

“You make me proud every day.” Lucy and I start to groan, ready to tell him to stop being so sappy, when he laughs. “And I’m most proud when you’re home by curfew without any boys around.”

“You’re still home?” I ask. “It’s not even curfew.”“Thought I’d grace you all with my presence.” She pauses to smile.”

“I’m in love with someone else,” he says. “But she’s gone. And I—”

“Other than the fact that I’m entirely sick of Mexican food, Abe might be in there. And he might accidentally-on-purpose drop a plate of enchiladas into Harlin’s lap if we’re together.”

“How did my relatively inexperienced dating life suddenly become so complicated?”

“I’ll go to church if you cut my hair tomorrow. But then you have to let me paint your portrait sometime.”“You paint?” I’m honestly surprised.“I haven’t in a long time,” he says. “But I find you inspiring.”“I’d be interested to see your work,” I say. “Wait, you don’t mean nude or anything, right?”He laughs. “No. You’ll be fully clothed.”

“Although it’s always nice to make new friends.”“Who are mutually attracted?”“That’s a bonus.”

“Is it wrong that I’m wishing for congestive heart failure now?” he asks through the food.”

“It sounds to me like the gods of sneaking out have smiled upon Lucy.”

“I’ll expect you and your . . . guy friend in the front row. Paying very close attention.”“Wow,” I say. “What will you ever do if I get a boyfriend?”

“Thought you said this was just dinner?”Abe opens the glass door and holds it for me. As I pass by him, he lowers his head so that his voice is close to my ear. “It’s never just dinner.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Elise,” he says, a slow, sexy smile pulling at his lips. “I’m Harlin.”

“And when we left Colorado last month, I wasn’t sure if I’d ever make another friend again.”“But then I came into your life. Sounds like fate to me.”

“he lets me take the orders, standing at my side likemy own personal Mexican food encyclopedia”

“Why are you here?” Lucy asks incredulously. “You didn’t say yes?” I shake my head, and my sister looks offended on behalf of the entire female species. “I’m sorry to say this, Elise,” she states, taking out a slice and biting off the end. “I think you need therapy.”

“And while I’m at it, I’ll find out what’s wrong with your sister, too.”

“How do you get places?”“I go around saving attractive girls,” he says. “Obviously.”

“I try to tell myself he’s probably a teddy bear on the inside. But I’m pretty sure that’s not true.”

“In my head I hear a whisper, or rather the memory of a whisper. The familiar voice is soft, and it warms me from the inside out as it murmurs a name: Charlotte.”

“I’m hopeful that the new job I’m starting today at Santo’s Restaurant will not only get me paid, but will also help me meet some quality people. Or I’ll just eat a lot of chimichangas. I’ll be all right either way.”

“For a brief second I remember everything about who and what I used to be. But most of all, I remember Harlin. And I wonder how he’ll find me if I’m someone else.”

“In my hand I hold a small guardian angel figurine set in a smooth, clearstone. It’s beautiful, a promise of love. Of forever.”

“Harlin smiles softly and steps up, wrapping his arms around me as he brings his lips to my ear. I close my eyes. "I hate every second I'm away from you," he says. "Don't ever doubt that." And then he kisses me.”

“I have to live if I want to be remembered.”

“Wind is blowing past me and I open my eyes to look at the bridge above me. But I see only Harlin. And as I fall, he mouths, I love you.”

“You’ll make a sucky father someday,” I tell him with a smile. “I feel sorry for the kid that doesn’t get to burst into light to get out of your house.” He chokes out a laugh. “Is it my sarcasm?” “Definitely. And that obnoxious accent.”

“You're my girl, Tessa Crimson. You'll always be my girl." He brought me close to him and wrapped me up in his arms, staring down into my face. "And even if we aren't together, that won't change.”