Page 108 of The Run Back Home

And that feels like a win.

Having Jace at all feels like running for that game-cinching touchdown—that single touchdown that Mage scored against Millstone all those years ago. And I'm doing a good job so far at not bracing for the impact of a hit from behind.

But it still feels like something much bigger and more dangerous is chasing after me—

My former self.

Jace says he's okay with this—wants it even. But there's a part of me still stuck back at eighteen who feels like there's an impending doom lingering that's entirely my fault. I'm leaving this time, not forcing myself to stay. But as if the guilt from the past doesn't still eat at me, now I know I have to relive it all over again.

Consciously this time.

The worry threatens to consume me in the same way my sister is chugging down her first drink. But Bridget's words replay in my mind as I watch her lick her lips of the alcohol.

Sometimes history doesn't matter as much as you'd think.

My head screams otherwise—that there's no way this ends well for either of us. But today, and for the next three weeks, I'm choosing to lean into her words and tuck our past back into the vault it used to live in.

"Where's the rest of our family?" I ask, another realization hitting me simultaneously—I haven't seen a single O'Reilly besides Bridget since we got here.

"Helping Mom at her booth at the end. Did you really not read her six emails? There was a whole itinerary."

With that, the faint sound of an off-key tuba rings out, and suddenly, I'm feeling more Billy than myself.

I reach for Bridge's cup, tilting it toward me.

"Hey," she squeals. "What are you—"

"Oh, man, you're empty," I say as if the news is devastating. "Better find you a refill."

Bridget cocks one brow. "Me or you?" she asks suspiciously.

"Well…" My eyes flick back to the lights by the street then to the last booth across the square. History matters, I think I know that—and so does the future. But maybe it's the present that counts the most.

"I guess one spiked one wouldn't hurt."

Jace