Future Threat

32

When I’m ready, she walks me to the front door, but we both pause in front of it. Like me, she’s probably trying to figure out how to end this awkward moment. Should we hug? Shake hands? Or walk away with a quick “bye” like we’re strangers?

I offer her my hand. “Thanks for the new clothes and for the tip about Jeremy.”

She eyes my hand, then sighs and pulls me in for a tight hug. It’s strange, being hugged by myself…but oddly comforting too. “Go find the others, and when you get back to the present, try to forget the past and focus on the future. I know that’s impossible, but just…try. And remember that Adam loves you.”

My throat closes up, and all I can do is nod. Now I really feel like my mom is talking to me. But it’s nice. I haven’t been mothered much in my life.

I’m reluctant to pull away, but I finally step back. There are so many things I want to ask her about my future, about her life, about what she’s seen and done and experienced. I want to know what Future-Adam is like in this timeline, and about the company they created together, and a million other things. But all I know is that they’re together and they’re happy. I guess that will have to be enough.

“I hope, for your sake, that the timeline hasn’t been disturbed too much.” She sighs and opens the door, but when I walk out, she grabs my arm. “Just promise me one thing. Whatever happens, make sure you go with Adam to Cabo San Lucas for his thirtieth birthday.”

“Um. Sure.” I don’t understand why some vacation is such a big deal, but I guess I’ll find out in about twelve years.

“This is really important,” she says, pleading with her voice and her eyes. “Please, promise me you’ll do it.”

“I promise.”

She releases my arm and nods. “Good luck.”

“Thanks.” I step through the door but turn back one last time. “I guess I’ll see you in thirty years.”

“No,” she says with a knowing smile. “You’ll be me in thirty years.”

03:27

Adam and Paige arrive at the hospital at about the same time Zahra and I do, and we meet in the parking lot. Relief slams me in the gut at the sight of Adam getting out of the white car, and I practically throw myself into his arms. He lets out a surprised sound as I kiss him hard, with thoughts of our future still fresh in my mind. Our house, our dogs, our wedding picture. Our life together.

He studies my face. “You okay?”

I debate telling him I met my future self and about everything I saw, but maybe it’s safer if Adam doesn’t know what our future holds. Future-Elena’s dire warnings about changing the timeline have made me wary, so I simply nod. “I’m just relieved to see you. And there’s still no word from Chris. I’m getting worried.”

“Me too. If he doesn’t check in soon, we’ll go find him.”

A short girl with long, blond hair pops out of Adam’s car and bounces over to us with a giant smile. “Hi, I’m Paige!” she says, and throws her arms around me. They’re muscular and strong, especially for such a tiny girl. Must be from the gymnastics she used to do.

“Elena,” I say, patting her back and feeling awkward.

“Ooh, you’re Adam’s girlfriend. It’s so good to meet you. He told me so much about you, I already feel like I know you!” She glances at him with shining blue eyes. “Isn’t he the best?”

He holds up his hands in surrender. “I barely said anything.”

“He’s so modest. I just love him,” she says, swatting at his arm. My eyebrows shoot up at her familiar touch, but she flings herself at Zahra next, grabbing her in a tight hug. “How did it go? Did you get what you needed? Are you okay?”

Zahra cracks a tiny smile. The first one I’ve seen from her. “I got it.”

“Oh, yay!” Paige grabs her in a second hug, but Zahra doesn’t seem to mind. “I was so worried about you.”

“I’m fine. What about you? You got arrested?” She genuinely sounds concerned, all her sarcasm gone. The two of them seem to be close, which surprises me ’cause they seem so different. Then again, opposites attract. Adam and I are proof of that.

“Yes! What an ordeal. Thank goodness for Adam, or I would still be in prison.” She gives him another beaming look, but I don’t think she’s hitting on him or anything. That seems to be how she is with everyone.

“How did you get her out?” I ask Adam.

“I had to convince Paige’s husband that Future Visions will back his next congressional campaign in exchange for him dropping the charges. I’ll have to send our future selves an apology for that.” Adam sighs, his face exhausted. I don’t blame him. I am too after five seconds with Paige.

“What happened exactly?” Zahra asks Paige.

“First I went to my house, which was seriously amazing, but then I caught Brad in bed with a girl my age! Like, my age now, not my age in the future, ugh. He said he thought I was going to be out all day, and then he freaked ’cause I looked so young, although really I think I look pretty damn good in my late forties too, if I do say so myself.” The girl talks a mile a minute and bounces on her heels, like she has to be doing something physical or will die. Like a shark who can’t stop swimming. “Then I got really mad, ’cause how dare he cheat on me! What about our marriage? So I found his office and broke in and stole something, which is how I got arrested. But the police didn’t search my underwear, so I still have it.”

“That asshole,” Zahra spits out. “I’m going to hack into his accounts and wipe them clean. Both now and in the past.”

“Please don’t,” Adam says, pinching the bridge of his nose. “It was hard enough getting Paige out of trouble.”

“Please. Like they’d be able to trace it back to me.”

We step into the hospital, and Adam heads to information to find out where Jeremy is, while the three of us hang back and wait in the lobby.

“What did you steal?” I ask Paige.