You've Found Oliver (You've Reached Sam, #2)(66)

“Wait a second. Look at the date—”

I hand the phone back to Julie.

She squints at the screen. “Why does it say April twenty-ninth?”

“That’s what day it’s supposed to be! For me!”

“So…what does that mean?”

“I don’t really know, to be honest. But it has to mean something, right?” Maybe the timelines are connected again. Does that mean I’ll be able to return to my own?

“It could be a good sign,” Julie says.

“I hope so.”

“How do you normally get back again?”

“It usually just happens after I fall asleep.”

Julie stares at the screen. Then she hands back the phone and says, “I guess you’ll find out later, then.”

“I hope it works this time.”

“If you wake up in the future tomorrow, will you ever return to this timeline again?”

I look at her. “I don’t know,” I admit.

I hadn’t really thought of that before. I stare at the date on my phone again. Does that mean this could be my last day here? Maybe I should think this through some more, but this might be my only chance to go back. What does it mean for me and Ben…

Will we ever be able to see each other again?

Eventually, I rise back up. “I have to go to Seattle…”

“For what?”

“I need to see Ben.”

“You mean, right now?”

Maybe I’m overthinking this. There’s a chance nothing will change at all. But I don’t want to regret leaving without saying goodbye. Who knows how long it will be before we see each other again. If we see each other again. I pace the room for a second, wondering if I should take the bus. Thankfully, Julie says I can borrow her mom’s car. I just have to bring it back tonight. She hands me the keys and places my old phone in the bag of Sam’s things.

“There should be a car charger in there, too.”

We hug each other before I head out the door, and I remember something. I turn around and take her by the shoulders. “I forgot to mention this. Just in case I don’t see you again in this timeline. You need to go to the program in Copenhagen. Trust me, you’ll love it there. Promise me, okay?”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” she says.

“I’m serious, Julie.”

“Okay.”

I give her another hug, then head out to the car. As I’m about to drive off, Julie has come outside for some reason. I roll down the window.

“I wanted to say this really quick,” she starts. “No matter which timeline you end up in, there’s something important I want to tell you later. Just remember to ask me, okay?”

“What’s it about?”

“Don’t worry about that now. Just ask me later. I’ll know what you mean.”

“Okay.”

I wonder what she has to tell me, but I should really get going. I turn onto the street as Julie waves goodbye from the driveway.





Chapter

Twenty-five



Somewhere in another universe, Ben and I are lying in the field together. The sun is shining overhead as the grass rolls around us like ocean waves. There are no classes, seasons, or highways that separate us. Only a few centimeters of mountain air as his arm gently brushes mine. Time doesn’t really move in this universe, allowing us to lie there forever, staring up at the clouds. I wish I could somehow wake up to that one.



* * *





It’s a two-hour drive to Seattle. Hopefully there’s not much traffic on the way. I sent Ben a message beforehand. He should see it by the time I arrive. Sam’s phone has one percent battery left. I take out the charger Julie gave me and plug it in.

There are a few other things inside the plastic bag, including a burned CD. Haven’t touched one of these in a while. There’s something written on it. Sam & Ollie’s Graduation Playlist. For a second, I wonder if I misread. Was this found inside his car with the rest of his things?

Sam must have made it for our road trip to the senior bonfire, but I don’t remember listening to it before. We were always arguing about the music. I probably convinced him to play something of mine instead. Luckily, the car actually has a CD player, so I put it inside and turn up the volume.

The first song opens with a strong set of drums. “Bed of Roses” by the Screaming Trees. One of Sam’s favorite bands of all time. I imagine him tapping away at the dashboard with his fingers. I let the music play as I drive along the highway. I haven’t heard these songs in ages. Fleetwood Mac, Elton John, Air Supply. Each one brings back a different memory. Almost like a hand on my shoulder, asking me to look back in time. For a moment, it feels like he’s sitting in the car beside me.

My mind flashes back to that day. The two of us driving along this same road with the windows rolled halfway down…Sam is wearing his corduroy blue jacket. He looks at me from the passenger seat and says, “If you keep going this slow, we won’t get there for”—he pretends to check his watch—“three and a half business days.”

“Listen, Sam.” I squeeze the steering wheel. “If you wanted to drive, you should have said something before we left, okay?”