“It’s been four days, Ryan. There has been no evidence anyone knows who I am or where I am. Maybe no one is as interested in this story as everyone fears.”

“They’re interested. Trust me. Both the media and protesters are still parked outside the compound day and night. Waiting.”

Emily leaned against the window in her suite bedroom, staring out at the darkened parking lot in front of the hotel entrance. She had gotten brazen in the last few days. Even though she hadn’t left the suite, nor had her parents, she no longer bothered to avoid the fourth-floor window. Nothing out of the ordinary ever caught her attention in the parking lot. No protesters. No loiters.

She glanced around for the millionth time. There were cars that had been there all four days, but that wasn’t weird. Any number of people could be staying in the hotel for a week or longer. “General Levenson’s announcement was perfect. I’ve seen it a dozen times on every news channel. She even asked for the public to respect my privacy.”

Ryan groaned. “Don’t get complacent. Not yet. Please.”

She wasn’t sure how long the government or even Ryan expected her to keep up this charade, but it was getting old. “My parents need to go home, Ryan. They took two weeks off work. They have jobs. We’re only staying here two more days.”

“I understand.” He sighed. “Just…be careful.”

She changed the subject. “How is your dad?”

“Same as yesterday. No change. His progress is on par with where you were at the four-day mark. I’m hopeful.”

“I’m so glad, Ryan. I’ve been keeping him in my thoughts. So have my parents.”

“Thank you. Now tell me what you’re planning to do next.”

“Next? You mean like after I hang up the phone?” she joked as she moved away from the window and flopped down on the bed. “Sleep? It’s after eleven.”

“Ha ha. You know what I mean. In two days. Next week. Next month. Have you thought about it?”

“Yeah, but I don’t have answers. In fact, it’s frustrating. I keep thinking I’ll wake up one day and it will come to me. It hasn’t yet.” She wasn’t exaggerating. Her life was at a standstill. It was annoying as hell. Almost two weeks with her parents was more than enough time. She was restless and growing bored and claustrophobic.

“Don’t worry. There’s no rush.”

She sighed, closing her eyes as she rolled onto her side. She wasn’t telling him the full truth. Although she had no clue what she might want to do for work or where she wanted to live, what she did know was that she missed him like crazy.

They had these chats every night, and though they usually talked for over an hour, they never discussed their relationship or where it was going. At this point, Emily was growing concerned whatever she thought was happening between her and Ryan was in her imagination and he didn’t feel as strongly for her as she did him.

Just because he’d met her in Omaha for a night didn’t mean he intended to get down on one knee and propose. It was preposterous. They’d kissed. It didn’t have to mean anything.

Except it did. To her.

He consumed her thoughts to the point of distraction. How the hell was she supposed to make major life decisions when she was falling for a man in Colorado whose life was committed to a job she wasn’t at all sure she was interested in continuing to pursue?

So, no. It was untrue that she hadn’t thought about her future. She simply couldn’t get past the fact that what she really wanted was to head straight back to Falling Rock.

She squeezed her eyes closed. Somehow her life had turned into a Nicholas Spark’s novel. One in which the reader had no idea if the couple would end up together in the end or if one of them might die.

One of the best parts about waking up ten years after going to sleep was that the world was filled with thousands of new books to read—one of life’s simple pleasures she hadn’t had nearly enough time to indulge in the first go around. This new life of hers permitted her to read an entire book every day if she chose.

She found she enjoyed escaping. It made her feel more alive. More real. Most of the time she felt like she was having an out-of-body experience. As if she were watching her life unfold, hovering above herself, floating through the days. She couldn’t seem to find sure footing on the ground. Everything was surreal.

“You still there?” His voice was low. Sweet. Caring. It always was, but what he never did was suggest she come back to Falling Rock. And that made her more nervous than anything else.

Had she read too much into their relationship? Maybe he had simply come to see her in Omaha because she asked him.

Shit. It was her turn to speak. “I’m here.” I miss you.

“Have you looked into taking some classes? You could sign up for something online if you aren’t ready to physically register somewhere. Get a feel for what interests you.”

She hated that she couldn’t read between the lines when he spoke to her. Was he trying to get her to move on with her life without him, or was he simply being supportive and not wanting to pressure her?

“You’re quiet tonight,” he continued, prompting her to realize she hadn’t responded again.

She sighed. “Sorry. Guess I’m just tired. I can’t think about taking classes right now.” She shuddered at the idea, especially if it meant moving in with her parents twelve hours from Ryan and never seeing him again.

“That’s okay too.” Why did he have to be so damn agreeable and understanding? She wanted to shout at him to insert some feeling into their conversation. Their relationship had been far less awkward before they kissed. It was strained to the point of uncomfortable tonight.

She pursed her lips, concern about his level of interest in her bringing tears to her eyes. The last thing she wanted was for him to hear her crying and question her about it. She didn’t have a good lie handy.

There was no way she would come right out and say what she was thinking. She had no right. For one thing, she didn’t want to pressure him. He had too much going on in his life for her to add to his stress. He needed his full attention focused on his parents, not some woman he met several weeks ago and spent one night watching television with.

“Emily?”

“I’m here.”

“We can hang up if you want to go to sleep.” Did he sound disappointed? It was enough to perk her up.

“No. I’m sorry. My mind keeps wandering. It happens a lot lately.” Mostly because I can’t stop thinking about you. “Tell me about your dad. What was he like when you were younger?”

Ryan chuckled. “He was fun…when I saw him. Both of my parents were. I’ll give them credit for one thing—when they were with me, they were fully present with me. I didn’t see them every day. They often stayed at the bunker and left me with my grandmother, but they almost always came home on Sundays.”

She smiled. “I bet you were precocious.”

“I so totally was. I got into everything. By the time I could stand or walk or speak, my parents had to work hard to entertain me. My grandmother wasn’t into science. She was more of a history buff. But when my parents were home, we did science experiments that would knock your socks off.”

Her smile broadened at the passion and love she heard in his voice. When he stopped talking, she filled the void. “You’re going to see them again. I can feel it.”

“I hope you’re right.” He sighed. “I should get some sleep. I want to get up early and check on my dad’s progress. I can’t believe this is really happening. I can’t see him yet, of course, but I know he’s in that chamber, warming up, reanimating while I wait.”

“I bet it was stressful watching me come back.” The entire time Ryan would have been praying for the optimum results in order to instill hope that he could obtain the same for his parents.

“You can’t imagine. I didn’t sleep more than a few hours at a time for weeks. I was so worried. I didn’t breathe easily until you opened your eyes that first time and smiled at me. Best moment of my life.”

Her breath hitched. His tone made her think he was somehow invested in her specifically as though they had been long-separated lovers. That wasn’t the case at all, of course. His interest had been in ensuring Emily survived to prove it would be possible for Tushar and Trish to also be resuscitated. Nevertheless, the way he said those words warmed her.

Perhaps she was living in an imaginary world. A dream.

Maybe she wasn’t even awake at all but rather still suspended in that cryostat in an underground bunker.