All it took was one slip. If we made the wrong choice, we could be separated before we reset the clock and odds were, we’d be locked into whatever decisions we’d made. Only a few moments had passed since our last reset, and we already looked suspicious, frozen and staring, both lost in thought.

I couldn’t see the future, but I could see where this was going.

If we didn’t escape, both our timelines ended here.

Quanta tapped her pinky finger against my hand. We’re already screwing up this loop. The brush of her soft skin zinged up my arm.

We’d been touching too long. Again. It was a bad habit we seemed to be developing. Let’s make our break after shooting.

I’m ready. Quanta sat up straighter and fire flashed in her eyes. I need to see what that asshole’s been working on.

Speaking of assholes, my watch vibrated.

A message from Darren that I didn’t bother opening. Quanta and I had been staring at each other for too long. I switched our food trays and moved to my side of the table, mentally running through the moves we both had to make next.

Quanta held eye contact as she pushed her breakfast off the table. “I’m not hungry.” And like clockwork, she knocked back her chair before heading for the door. “I want to go shooting.” The words sounded a little wooden—she’d said them so many times by now—but they should be enough to get us safely outside without interference from Darren.

I fought the urge to grab Quanta’s arm and support her down the hallway. She could still walk by herself, even though she shuffled her feet and her eyes darted lazily. Flicking through her vitals showed what I was already seeing. She was dehydrated, with low blood sugar and electrolytes. It wasn’t deadly yet, but if the symptoms got exponentially worse…

I had to do more. Something to take the burden off her.

But I kept coming up blank. It was an impossible situation.

Before I could come up with a solution, Quanta stubbed her toe on the empty floor and started to go down.

I snapped into motion, catching her shoulders and pulling her upright. “You’re not all right.”

“Just sleepy.” She made a show of brushing off my hands, but there was no heat in her actions or her voice. “Don’t touch me, rich boy.”

I maneuvered Quanta’s fingers so she could grab my sleeve. If I swept her into my arms like I wanted, Darren would appear in seconds. Now her vitals were going crazy, pulse spiking, and I doubted it was because of me. You need to rest. It’s too obvious that something’s going on.

No. Her mental voice was firm. If we don’t get to that lab now… Quanta tugged at my sleeve. This is the only chance.