“Karly. That’s what this is about. That’s his plan. I need to stop him before he finds her. I’m the only one who can save her.”

Roscoe shook his head sadly. “Is that what you’re trying to do? Save her?”

“Of course it is. Don’t you see? I’m the only one who even knows she’s at risk.”

“I know that’s what you’re telling yourself. But it also gives you a convenient excuse to meet her again, doesn’t it? You can meet her and make her fall in love with you. You can have the life you lost. That’s what you really want.”

“That’s not what this is about.”

“Isn’t it? Dylan, whether or not your story is true really doesn’t matter. You can’t live two lives at the same time. No good will come of it. You’ve already hurt people. The longer you stay on this path, the worse it will get. If any of this is real, then the best thing you can do is say the word infinite right now and go back home. Let us worry about our own world.”

I put my hands on Roscoe’s shoulders. “I can’t do that. I failed Karly in my other life. I let her die. I should have been the one who died, not her. I’m not going to fail her again. This time, I’m going to keep her safe.”

“That was your responsibility in your own world,” he replied firmly. “Not here. In this world, you have no connection to her at all. Wherever Karly is, she has her own life, and you don’t belong in it.”

Roscoe knew me well, but I knew him, too. The truth always showed in his face.

“My God. You know her, don’t you? You know Karly. You know where she is.”

“I don’t.”

“Well, you know something about her. What is it?”

“This is a mistake. You should let it go.”

“Roscoe, please. You have to tell me.”

My friend sat down in the pew again. He exhaled with a heavy sigh. “I can see you’re not going to give up. One thing is consistent about every Dylan Moran. They disregard all of my good advice.”

I waited impatiently, but Roscoe could never be rushed.

“Almost ten years ago, I set you up on a blind date,” he went on. “Do you remember that?”

I thought back. “Yes. You had a married friend who was a religion major at Northwestern. I met her and her husband at Thanksgiving dinner at your mother’s house. Afterward, she told you that she had a girlfriend who’d be perfect for me.”

“Did you meet up with her girlfriend?”

“No. I said thanks, but no thanks. I had no interest in blind dates. Why?”