“We could still tell her,” I suggest, my fear mounting as I realize how complex this scheme of Gravelle’s really is. Are we any match for him?

“That could be a disaster for us,” Theodora reminds me. “Even Jaeger agrees.”

“Jaeger,” I say, remembering. “Is he being careful? Where’s he staying?”

“Another Quarry-sanctioned apartment. Don’t have the address. No one does,” Pru answers.

I nod, feeling only mildly confident that this will work out. But it has to. Otherwise… The idea of a presidential candidate being a stand-in clone is unimaginable.

We regroup at our apartment for more pizza and agree we should go to bed early. The rally starts at noon, which means we need to show up at ten in the morning, giving us enough time to ensure we’re at the front, by the stage, where we’ll meet Jaeger.

It’s only eight o’clock now, but I’m so tired I can barely keep my eyes open, so I sneak off to one of the bedrooms to rest. I shut the door, kick off my shoes, and lie down on top of the bed, not even bothering to climb underneath the covers.

“Hey,” a voice says quietly.

I tense.

Levi’s here, in this room. I hadn’t even realized it.

And now, we’re finally alone.

Levi

“Hey,” I say back, sitting up on the bed and staring at Levi’s form in the darkened room. He’s sitting in the corner, propped up with his back against the wall, reading one of his paperback books. I squint to see it, but I can’t make out what it is in the low light.

“The Great Gatsby,” Levi says, supplying me with the title.

“A little escapism?” I ask him.

Levi nods. “That’s what reading’s best for, isn’t it? Being anywhere but in your own life?”

I nod, not sure what he’s trying to say—something deep and profound about us? Or am I reading too much into a simple phrase?

“Emma.”

Hearing my name in his voice, like I’m someone to him, like he knows me… I want to sink into the feeling of right now and never let go.

“I’m…” He pauses, running a hand through his long bangs.

I nod, worried I can’t trust my voice.

“You’re…” I finally say, dipping my toe in the water.

“What—” we both say at the same time. A beat of silence.

I feel blood rushing to my extremities. Stop beating like a marching band, heart!

“What if this is all a mistake, and we shouldn’t have come?” My words rush out in a torrent. “What if Gravelle’s on to us, and it’s a trap—”