Chapter 40

I made sure to guilt-trip Valin through text on my way home. I tried my best to keep him from getting cussed out when his pervy side came out—yet he betrays me immediately?! The audacity. Worst friend ever!... even though he's technically my best friend.

When I arrived, Zai was waiting on the front porch steps. I parked the car, then made my way over to sit beside him.

"I'm sorry..." I started with an apology to show my sincerity.

"Your photoshoot is in three days... It's going to be out of town, so we'll leave a day early and get a hotel room. I want you to get plenty of rest." I placed my hand on top of his."I realize that no matter what happens, you'd always choose me—and I would choose you too. In every life, in all scenarios. I need you to understand that."

Zai chuckled softly."I was trying to just let it go and avoid the subject."

"I know! But you don't have to," I explained.

"Then tell me the truth... I never mentioned this, but I can sense lies and half-truths. You've been giving me a lot of them lately. I didn't want to say anything because... I thought it would cause a fight. And I don't want to fight with you."

When Zai said that, my heart sank. I knew I had to reveal everything—So I told him about my power, the rabbit, the other life I experienced, and the book that Smoke gave me.

"You never read it?" he asked, confused.

"When I got back, I was so caught up with you and everything else that I never had the time."

My excuse made him raise an eyebrow. Then he shrugged and laughed.

"I guess I never really gave you a lot of alone time when you got back... Let's read it tonight, together," Zai offered.

The relief I felt was unexplainable. I thought he'd think I was crazy if I told him the truth—but it seems his ability to sense lies came in handy for once.

We went inside and pulled the book from my luggage, then read through the pages together. The trigger is that I have to feel like I'm in extreme danger, with no hope of escape. The rabbit allowing me to jump through parallel timelines was likely triggered by some hidden indecision buried deep in my heart... I wish Zai didn't know about that part, but it's too late now.

There were only two other people with my powers, and they said they believed the rabbit would always "hop" them to a period where they could be happiest.

"Zai... after I finish this album, I think I want to take a break from music. I always wanted to share my songs—but I can do that from home. And after I get more exposure, I'd like to focus on our family. I realize that will make me the happiest."

After I said that, he closed the book and laid his head against mine.

"That's a relief..."

"RJ said you traveled a lot before... Are there any places you want to go? I'd like to take a trip together," I said while lacing our fingers.

"I can think of a few places I want to take you," Zai answered. His tone was suggestive, so I gulped before replying,

"By the way... tomorrow, I'm not going to remember my life with Valin anymore. So all this weirdness should be cleared away," I assured him.

"You mean your crush on Valin?" Zai teased in a mocking voice.

"I do not have a crush on him!"

Zai clicked his tongue and said,"It better be gone... or I'll have to fight him."

I gasped."You'd hurt him because I have weird time travel-related feelings?"

"I'd try—but Valin is a counter for me. If he decided to fight back... it'd be hard for me to hurt him. Still, I'd need to let my rage out somehow, and he'd be the best target."

I groaned."You won't need to fight him! I promise."

Zai kissed me, setting my body at ease, then dropped the book onto the floor and gently pushed me onto my back. We made love as if it were just a normal day.

When I opened my eyes, I was in the room with the mirror image of myself—who I knew was the rabbit.

"Has your mind been altered since we last saw each other?" she asked.

"My... no, this is the right path. Even if I could be happy with Valin, it would only be by ignoring and hurting Zai. And now that I'm here, I remember how things went with RJ... where I was weak and cheated on him, leading to my death. Under normal circumstances, I'd never ignore him—so we'd always end up together. Valin and I aren't meant for each other. It would be selfish to choose him. Zai is my only natural outcome."

She smiled at me and handed me a white poppy.

"I agree. Some things will be easier, and some will be harder—but there's no doubt this is the path you were meant to fall into. The others were only possible with my interference. I see I made no mistakes when sending you to that house," she declared, strolling away.

"I never thought I'd be living with Afarions," I muttered.

"I'm sure they weren't expecting to be living with a you, either."She chuckled lightly."It's time to wake up now."

My eyes shot open, and I saw Zai sitting up beside me—still naked, reading through the book. He was wearing glasses. Since when did he need glasses? It was like looking at another version of him, rekindling the awe I felt the first time I ever laid eyes on him.

"Good morning, handsome," I greeted.

He closed the book and smiled down at me.

"Hi to you too." He brushed my hair back from my face, then pecked my lips."How did you sleep?"

"I slept great! I feel full of energy," I replied, then sat up and threw my arms around him.

"Any strange dreams?" he asked.

I thought hard but couldn't recall anything."I can't remember... but I think I had a good one."

Zai gently pushed me back, looking into my eyes. Then he smiled and said,

"I did too... By the way, your phone's been vibrating a lot."

Curious, I picked it up from the nightstand and saw a missed call and a text from Lisa.

"Apparently, Valin and Sarai slept together before we became a couple. Which is fine—I have no right to be mad about that. I am, but I'll get over it.

ANYWAY, she showed up at the gym today and saw us together! She basically made a scene in public, yelling at me. We've been friends for two years and I don't know what to do. I'm mainly just venting but if you have advice, I'll happily take it!"

Wow... looks like Sarai is way more sprung than I thought. What did Valin do to make her act like that?

I scrolled down and saw Lisa had sent a video, captioned:"Someone caught it on camera. It already has over 100 views! I pray it doesn't go viral."

I hit play and moved closer to Zai so he could watch too. The video showed Lisa standing with some of her friends, Valin holding her hand. Sarai was confronting them.

"You move on quick," she said accusingly toward Valin.

He didn't respond, as expected. It was hard to see his face in the video—to make out his expressions—but I was sure he was annoyed.

"You need to know what kind of scumbag you're with. He cut me off for no reason and now he's with you?!" she yelled at Lisa.

"Don't talk about my boyfriend like that!" Lisa shouted.Wow—she's quick to defend him.

"I came to him heartbroken and he! He took advantage of me! Do you really want to waste your time with a guy like that?!"

The crowd around them started muttering—they must've been really entertained.

That's when Valin finally spoke:"Actually, you're the one who took advantage of me... And show respect when you're talking to her, or I'll be the one in here making a scene."

He stepped between the two girls.

"I've been trying to contact you. Did our night together mean nothing to you? I just want to talk... please."Her voice softened when addressing him directly.

"There's not much to say. I'm not interested in you, and I'm in a relationship. Move on."

At that moment, a guard walked over to the filmer and said,

"You're not allowed to record in here."

"Sorry," they replied.

That's where the video ended. There were at least ten people—besides Lisa's friends—watching in the background. Sarai looked disheveled, like she hadn't slept in days.

Maybe I should ask RJ and Val what exactly happened with her. I'm suddenly way more invested in the story than I was yesterday...

Knowing them, though—they won't tell me anything.