“And?” I asked.
“It was impressive. I guess that’s what it’s like to work for the good guys.”
“That makes Chronos the bad guys.”
“Are the jobs we do there legit? Do we help the people who need it, or the ones who can afford it?”
“I don’t know. But the reason you fell for Mom’s bull is because we never questioned anything.”
“It opened my eyes.” He looked at me. “I don’t want to be that guy anymore. Do you want to be that girl?”
“Do I have a choice?”
“I know you think you’re invincible, Hallie, but you aren’t. Every time your mom takes a chance to get what she wants, the consequences are worse. I don’t want to see you on the receiving end of whatever Teague does to manipulate you next.”
“I don’t want to see it, either. But Dad’s cut her out of Chronos now. We don’t have to deal with her.”
“I don’t,” Poe said. “You do. She’s your mother.”
“That’s just blood. And in my book? Choice wins out over blood every time.”
Dune
Hallie walked into my room without knocking. “Are you always this organized?”
“I actually am.”
“Impressive.”
“How did it go with Poe?” I asked.
“Fine.” I could see her, trying to convince herself to believe her own lie. My hackles rose.
“Do I need to go have a talk with Poe?”
“No, no. It wasn’t anything he did. Just some fair points he brought up about Chronos. And my mom.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“No. Not yet. But Dune? Thanks.”
Instead of meeting my eyes, she leaned over my desk and looked at the small corkboard Emerson had filled with pictures as a going-away present. “Ever wish you’d stayed there, in Ivy Springs?”
“Never.” I sat down on the edge of the bed.
“What happened here?” The picture she was pointing to was mostly metallic silver.
“My friend Michael’s room. We wrapped everything we could in aluminum foil.”
“I’ll have to remember that.” She moved closer. “Who’s he?”
I looked over her shoulder. “Nate. You’d love him. He’s a dancer, too.”
“And has good hair. Hold on a second.” She pointed at another picture. “Speaking of hair … you had dreads. How long did you have dreads?”
“Pretty much always.”
She turned around, her hands on her hips. “When did you cut them?”
“Right about the time I decided to come here. I didn’t want to give your dad any reason to turn me down. I wanted to help you.” I shrugged.
“You had to give things up. Your home, friends—and your hair—all to come to New Orleans. For me.”
“Coming here wasn’t mandatory. It was my choice. And don’t doubt for a second that I wouldn’t do the same all over again.”
“The dreads were hot.” She bent toward me, smoothed her fingers over my hair. “But this … being able to slide my hands in and keep your face where I want it? I like that better.”
I met her eyes. “I might need a demonstration.”
She smiled, slowly, and pulled me in for a kiss.
Chapter 15
Hallie
I wasn’t done with the kissing by any means, but I couldn’t stop thinking about the pictures or his life in Ivy Springs. I took the corkboard off his desk and climbed into his lap.
“Who are they?” I pointed to a group picture. “Them first.”
“Kaleb and Lily,” Dune said. “She can find things; he can read emotional time lines.”
“That’s a lot of sexy in one couple.” Kaleb stood behind Lily, with his arms around her waist.
Dune laughed. “You got that right.”
My jealousy tweaked a little. “And these two?”
“Emerson and Michael. Travelers. They set off electrical equipment when they touch.”
“So do Amelia and Zooey. Imagine how their mom felt when they were in her womb.”
I refocused on the photo. Tall, dark, and handsome held hands with short, blond, and cute, and they both looked fierce, like anyone who tried to come between them would get taken out.
“And you never had anyone?”
“I hadn’t met you yet.”
I turned around to face him. “Why are you giving me puppy eyes?”
“I thought you were going to kiss me.”
“Oh, keep looking at me like that and I can do better than kiss you.” I put the corkboard down and slid my hands inside the short sleeves of his shirt and up, just to touch skin I hadn’t before. I stopped when I saw the tattoo that completely covered his right shoulder. I pulled up the fabric and stared at the intricate lines.