Oh, I’ll suffer, I promised her. I could already feel it coming on. Just like before…

She was flipping through my thoughts as fast as she could. Jamie?

That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you. He needs you.

Then why aren’t we with him?

Because he’s probably a bit young to watch this kind of thing.

She searched through some more. Wow, Ian, too. I’m glad I missed that part.

I was so worried. I didn’t know what to do.…

Well, c’mon. Let’s go.

“Mel?” Jared asked.

“She’s here. She’s furious. She wants to see Jamie.”

Jared put his arm around me and helped me up. “You can be as mad as you want, Mel. Just stick around.”

How long was I gone?

Three days is all.

Her voice was suddenly smaller. Where was I?

You don’t know?

I can’t remember… anything.

We shuddered.

“You okay?” Jared asked.

“Sort of.”

“Was that her before, talking to me—talking out loud?”

“Yes.”

“Can she… can you let her do that now?”

I sighed. I was already exhausted. “I can try.” I closed my eyes.

Can you get past me? I asked her. Can you talk to him?

I… How? Where?

I tried to flatten myself against the inside of my head. “C’mon,” I murmured. “Here.”

Melanie struggled, but there was no way out.

Jared’s lips came down on mine, hard. My eyes flew open in shock. His gold-flecked eyes were open, too, half an inch away.

She jerked our head back. “Cut that out! Don’t touch her!”

He smiled, the little creases feathering out around his eyes. “Hey, baby.”

That’s not funny.

I tried to breathe again. “She’s not laughing.”

He left his arm around me. Around us. We walked out into the tunnel junction, and there was no one there. No Ian.

“I’m warning you, Mel,” Jared said, still smiling widely. Teasing. “You better stay right here. I’m not making any guarantees about what I will or won’t do to get you back.”

My stomach fluttered.

Tell him I’ll throttle him if he touches you like that again. But her threat was a joke, too.

“She’s threatening your life right now,” I told him. “But I think she’s being facetious.”

He laughed, giddy with relief. “You’re so serious all the time, Wanda.”

“Your jokes aren’t funny,” I muttered. Not to me.

Jared laughed again.

Ah, Melanie said. You are suffering.

I’ll try not to let Jamie see.

Thank you for bringing me back.

I won’t erase you, Melanie. I’m sorry I can’t give you more than that.

Thank you.

“What’s she saying?”

“We’re just… making up.”

“Why couldn’t she talk before, when you were trying to let her?”