Page 83 of Not You Again
April 23
Adam tried to hold on to the warmth of Carly in his arms, but that was quickly replaced by the coolness of his hand on Shireen’s shoulder.
Wait, Shireen...She’d been gone for two loops, and now she was here. He blinked into the reset and nearly tackled Shireen as soon as she came into focus. “You’re back!” he exclaimed at the same time as she said, “You’re back!”
Adam pulled away, confused, but sure she was having residual side effects. “Are you all right?” He held her face in his hands and inspected her eyes for signs of distress.
“Adam,” she carefully said. “You were gone.”
He paused. Could she be suffering a kind of head trauma?
“Shireen, I think you should sit down. I’ll explain everything.” He started to lead her toward the big leather chair behind his desk, but she grabbed his wrist.
“No, Adam, trust me. I came back many loops ago. I was gone for two of them. Then you vanished. You’ve been gone for a long time.” She gave him a steadying look and he began to understand what she was saying.
“I was gone?” he asked.
“Yes.” She sharply exhaled and released her grip on his wrist.
“And Carly?” He asked the question, but had already begun to open the office door. If Shireen had returned and Adam vanished, would Adam’s return mean that Carly had vanished?
He tripped out of the office, unable to keep up with the pace of his own spinning thoughts, and that was when he saw her: combat boots, black dress, glasses and the sweet round face dotted with a lush pout.
Carly. His Carly. She ran to him, and he ran to her, and he scooped her up and spun her around like they were in a damn movie.
“You’re here,” he breathed into her ear.
She pulled back, holding on to his arms and breathing heavily. Her eyes scanned him as she said, “You were gone for so long—ten loops.”
His eyes widened. Ten loops? He hadn’t felt any different. All he’d known was being with Carly after the vow renewal, and then the reset.
“Are you sure?” he asked.
Carly laughed. “I’m not a scientist, but I know how to count.” She tucked a strand of hair behind his ear and added, “I didn’t give up, though. Every loop I tried to bring you here. I didn’t know what it would take, but I knew you’d come back.”
Adam wanted to kiss her. He wanted to kiss her until they forgot that he’d been missing. He bent down to meet her when his phone rang in his jacket pocket.
He stilled. Carly stilled. Shireen came out of the office. “Is that your phone?” Shireen asked.
Adam reached for his cell, pulled it out of his pocket andsaw the name Dad flashing on the screen. “Oh my God,” Adam said, swiping to answer the call. “Hello?”
Screaming. Lots of screaming was all Adam heard on the line when he answered. He had to hold it away from his ear and, as he waited for the screams of his parents to end, Carly and Shireen took out their phones, too.
Shireen was on a call with Dean. Carly typed furiously into her iPhone. “Hi, Marilyn,” she mumbled to herself. “Would love to discuss! Thank you so much for the read! I will get back to you with availabilities as soon as possible.”
Adam smiled at Carly, and she smiled back. A shiver ran through at the possibilities of what this could mean. Was the loop... over? Did they somehow only have cell service for a moment?
“Adam!” Sheila’s voice screeched from the phone.
“Mom, yes!” he finally answered. “I’m okay, I’m okay. Can you two come to the funeral home? I’ll see you soon.” Adam couldn’t quite understand his parents as they spoke over each other. But he hung up and put the phone away.
While he wanted to get back to kissing Carly, Shireen approached.
“I’ve been wanting to give this back to you for a while.” Shireen placed her wedding and engagement ring into Adam’s hand. Adam took off his wedding band, too. Shireen held his hand, and the place where their rings were. Her skin was cool against his palm, and he was suddenly grateful for this moment with her, where they could have a goodbye that was mutual.
“We both deserve to be happy,” she added. “I hope you find that again.”
Then Shireen gave Carly a nod, and she turned on her heel to head out the front door.
