15 Minutes: A YA Time Travel Thriller (Rewind Series) by Jill Cooper Page B

I find Rick
leaning against the tan support structure. His head is tilted as he plays with
a device in his hand. He seems a million miles away.
    His
head snaps up when my shoes crunch on some fallen leaves.
    “Hey.”
    He
gives me a timid smile and stuffs his hands in his pockets. I haven’t seen him
act this shy in years. “Was beginning to think you weren’t going to make it.”
    “I
was held up, sorry.”
    He
nods. I can see nerves bubbling out of him. Added to my own, this is going to
be one game-changer of a conversation. “Sorry about yesterday. It just freaked
me out.” His hands fan out in a display of surrender.
    “It’s
all right.” I smile. “I shouldn’t have said anything. I shouldn’t have even
come to your house.”
    He
shrugs. “Today I was thinking, somehow you knew about the ring even though
there was no way you should. And if my mom didn’t tell you … how’d you know? So
I guess I’m here out of curiosity. I need to know if you’re for real.” His eyes
narrow, glinting at me.
    I
want to be an open book. We feel like strangers, and I hate it. He’s standing
so far away, and his posture says all the wrong things. All I want is for him
to hold me, kiss me. But then I think of Donovan. Maybe we have a good thing.
Maybe I should give it a chance.
    Maybe
…
    “All
right,” I say, trying not to sound as if we’re playing truth or dare, but
there’s an edge to my voice. “I’m from a different past, and this future is all
messed up.” I laugh. “Royally messed up.”
    “How?”
    He
hasn't told me I’m insane yet, so that’s a good start. “Well for one, in this
one we’re not a couple.”
    His
eyes twinkle with mischief. “Us? A couple?” He thinks I’m joking, but I could
never be that cruel.
    “I
never moved away. We grew up together in the same apartment building. I live
with my dad and our dog.” I take a deep breath, pain rippling through me. “My
mom was killed in that alley all those years ago.”
    Shock
ripples through his face, and his mouth falls open. Even his hands fall from
his pockets. “Your dad got away with it?”
    My
lips twitch to the side, and anger grips my chest. “He’s being set up. He’s
been in prison all this time here, and it’s my fault.”
    “How
is it your fault?”
    He's
trying to read my expression. In my timeline he would know exactly what I’m
feeling, but I’m not sure if it works the same here.
    “Time
travel? You went to the agency?” His voice is tight with disbelief.
    “Yes,
and you can stop looking at me like that now.” I lick my lips. “I know it was
dangerous. I know it was—”
    “Stupid,”
Rick finishes for me.
    “I
wanted my mother.” My lips pucker. “But I didn’t think I’d lose you, my dad,
gain a sister or a brother.” I wipe my hair from my eyes.
    Rick’s
eyes narrow. “It’s impossible to change time.”
    “Not
for me, it’s not,” I snap back. “We’ve already had this conversation. You just
don’t remember it.”
    He
rubs his lips. “You can’t expect me to believe—”
    “You,
no, but the other Rick …” My voice drops to a whisper. “… would never doubt
me.”
    “This
is messed up.” Rick huffs, and I see him the way he is with others who don’t
know him. Tough. Distant. It hurts me to have him act that way with me. “You
know this secret side to me that you shouldn’t, but I can see it in your eyes.”
    “See
what?”
    “Familiarity.”
Rick spits out the words. “You know me in impossible ways. No one gets close to
me. No one. And you’re looking at me like I’m some sort of puppy dog.”
    I
laugh and glance away. “Well, you think you’re pretty tough, but once someone
gets to know you …”
    He
steps closer. “No one gets to know me. That’s the point. That’s how I like it.”
    His
face is close to mine, and his stern expression is beginning to crumble in front
of me. “Liar. You say that, but you don’t mean it. Like when your brother went
to jail. You