Page 103 of Kiss Slay Replay

Whiskey sour shoots out of my nose. “Wait. What?”

“She’s a physics teacher at a charter school in DC. Has me reading Stephen Hawking.”

I search the crowd for Tanya and find her looking back at me. She excuses herself from conversation and crosses the lawn toward us.

“Have fun tonight, Rav,” I say, turning around and hurrying away before her arrival, before I’m forced to interact.

I need a minute to process.

Is this tonight’s horror? That my ex-fiancé’s new girlfriend might be able to help me? Might be the only one who can help me?

“How’d that go?” Evan asks when I arrive back at the couches.

“Um. I lived.”

“Good for you,” he says.

The pianist plays her jaunty tune, and I chug my drink, nearly choking on the cocktail cherry.

“On behalf of Stephanie and Jason, we welcome you to this celebration of their love. If you would please make your way to the lake and find a seat, the ceremony will begin shortly. Thank you.”

“I was convinced she was about to wrap it up with jazz hands,” Evan says, a little too loud.

I find the nearest end table and set my glass down beside a small flower arrangement in a mason jar. Pretty pink roses and baby’s breath. The rose petals contract, curl inward, then suddenly expand, like it’s blossoming right before my eyes. Like it’s breathing. The pistil wobbles, moves back and forth, back and forth—a tiny pendulum, or wagging tongue. It’s a strange motion, but before I can fully comprehend the gravity of its strangeness it’s over. The roses hold still.

“We should head over now,” I say to my friends, turning away from the roses. “Make sure we get good seats.”

4

I can’t focus during the ceremony. My eyes water, irritated either from the lack of sleep or maybe allergies? My eyelids are heavy, and there’s a whirring in my ears. Whiskey sloshes around my empty stomach as I fidget in my seat, unable to get comfortable.

With each passing moment, I become more certain that something’s off. It’s in the atmosphere. A sweet, sticky residue—like after you eat candy, and the sugar coats your teeth.

It’s warmer today than it’s been in the past. The colors of the world are dialed up vivid and bright. And it’s breezier. The wind hums a tune. It’s all too pleasant.

Deceptively pleasant.

Steph and Jace kiss, we stand and clap, then migrate back to the cocktail area for more drinks before dinner.

I go straight to the bar for a ginger ale to calm my stomach, and for something to do other than wonder how I could have ever possibly thought that I would get out of this time loop on good behavior.

While I wait for my drink, I keep my gaze locked in front of me, so it doesn’t wander onto something I don’t want to see, like Little Miss Physics.

I think back on my previous encounters with Tanya in the loop. She always seemed shell-shocked, muttering nonsense. I can’t remember anything she said, nothing specific at least. I wasn’t paying attention; I just assumed she was super fragile and not all that smart. Whoops.

When the zombies were closing in, she took off toward the woods. What does she know?

Tick, tock.

Every moment I hesitate is precious time wasted. It doesn’t matter if I don’t want to, I need to go find her. I need to ask. After everything I’ve confronted, how am I still so afraid of confrontation?

And why didn’t I order liquor? A real drink is required. Should I ask? I should ask. I should…

There’s a dead bumblebee on the bar counter. I don’t remember seeing any bees at the wedding before. I squint for a closer look. It’s…it’s in pieces. Split down the middle.

“Hey. What are you drinking?”

Danny.