Paradox (Travelers Series Book 2) by Claudia Lefeve

the Four Seasons.”
    “The hotel?” I can’t imagine anyone living in a hotel, or being able to afford something so fancy.
    Cooper smiles. “The one and only.”
    “Why do you suppose she lives there? Doesn’t she live with her parents?”
    He shakes his head in response. “Not in that reality. Her parents died in a bombing incident when she was young. Her father was a very influential politician in Mexico and was the victim of an assassination. Unfortunately, her mom was with him when the bomb went off. Jenny’s been on her own ever since.”
    “And shacked up at the Four Seasons.” I guess the Mexican version of social services have better things to do than to look for rich orphans living in luxury with no supervision. You could probably get away with it here in the U.S., but it’d be only a matter of time before somebody ratted you out.
    “Her mother’s sister took her in after her parents were killed and brought Jenny up as her own after the incident, but about a year ago she decided to leave and live on her own.”
    “Must have been hard for her,” I muse. “So, what’s the plan? We travel to alternate reality Mexico, grab Jenny, and then head back?”
    “Something like that.
    “Okay,” I say, not quite making sense of things. “So, do I need to pack a bag or what?”
    “Not necessary. We should be able to find Jenny easy enough at the hotel and convince her to join us rather quickly. I don’t think we’ll be in Mexico more than a day.”
    “You’re sure of that?” I know what version of Jenny Cooper’s been acquainted with these last few years, but I know two separate Jenny’s. She hates me in every reality in which we’ve met. Something tells me it’s not going to be as easy as Cooper makes it out to be.
    “Oh, she’ll help willingly. Once she hears what we have to say, she’ll be easily persuaded,” he assures me.
    “If you say so,” I say, still unsure of the situation.
    When we finally get to the airport, we find out the flight to Mexico City is overbooked, but Cooper manages to get us both on board, taking the last two seats available. Fortunately, they’re first class seats. I’ve never been on a plane before, so this is a double experience for me. I’m sure any other flight I take in the future will pale in comparison. My dad’s pretty well-off, but not the first class kind.
    Immediately, the flight attendant takes our jackets and shows us to our seats. “Would you care for something to drink? Champagne? Water?” The attendant asks.
    She isn’t what I expect a flight attendant to look like. I imagine someone taller with long blonde hair. At least, that’s what they look like in the movies. Our attendant, on the other hand, is pretty, but plump, with short curly brown hair. She looks to be in her forties and smiles while taking our drink orders.
    I take a side glance at Cooper. It’s not like they check ID’s at the door. A little champagne can’t hurt. Besides, I’m treating this as a mini vacation. Aside from traveling to another reality, I’ve never been anywhere before. So, why not indulge in a little bubbly?
    “Don’t even think about it,” he says, reading my mind. Isn’t there a rule that says you can’t read the mind of your love interest? Or maybe I just read it somewhere.
    I turn to the flight attendant. “Coffee, please.” At least I can have that. “Oh, and some cream,” I say as an afterthought. I don’t mind taking my coffee black, but I have a feeling they don’t purchase the same coffee beans they do at Battle Grounds. The cream should cut down on the burnt bitter taste it’s no doubt going to have.
    “And I’ll have a water,” Cooper tells the attendant.
    I nestle back into the seat and stare out my window overlooking the tarmac of Reagan National Airport. You’d think it’d be a larger airport, considering it’s so close to the District, but it’s not. I watch the other planes roll down the runway and think about what lies ahead