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Alex had begun making her way up to the rooftop when she heard a soft knock. She hesitated for a moment before turning on her heel and heading back down the stairs.
Standing before the door, she took a deep breath. One, because that’s what you’re supposed to do when you injure your ribs. And two, because she needed a second to collect herself, fearful of who she might find on the other side. She just wasn’t ready to face the world. Not yet.
Not when there were so many people out there whose lives she’d turned upside down. Some might even say ruined.
Was Charlotte right? Was Haven Springs truly some kind of paradise before Alex showed up? Before Alex, the outsider, forced her way in and meddled?
Maybe she was overreacting. Or as Dr. Lynn liked to put it, catastrophizing. And as much as Alex despised that woman, she had to admit there was some truth to her words. Namely, her tendency to withdraw into herself and overthink everything entirely. It’s what always happened whenever she was left alone for too long.
But the time for that was over now it seemed.
Alright…here goes, she thought before pulling the door open.
“Ryan…” She breathed out.
Of course. Her first visitor just had to be the number one person she’d been avoiding. Her intent had been to give Ryan his space. Time to sort through any mixed feelings he might’ve had over what went down last week. A chance to decide how to deal with everything. Even if that meant cutting Alex out of his life completely. Not like she could blame him. Trouble seemed to follow her wherever she went. First, the death of his best friend. And now, the loss of his father. There were so many bad memories attached to her.
So whatever his decision, Alex promised to understand and respect it entirely. No matter how much it might break her heart.
Alex opened her mouth to say as much when the man surged forward, sweeping her into a hug she immediately melted into.
It was surprising how natural it felt, arms wrapped around his shoulders, face buried in his neck. She would’ve given anything to feel this way last week. When Jed was more than ready to murder her in cold blood and discard her body hundreds of feet into the earth. Forgotten in the darkness beneath the world.
Ryan’s arms tightened around her protectively, as if sensing her unease.
She hissed in pain.
"Shit!" He backed off, purple blazing around him. "Are you okay? I forgot you…"
"Fell down a mineshaft?" She supplied helpfully, offering a weak smile as she clutched at her side.
"Yeah...that. Sorry," He finished lamely.
Honestly, the kicked puppy look was kind of adorable on him. But only when he was afraid of getting teased over his boy-scout hobbies. Not over…this.
"Why? It wasn’t your idea to kill me….or was it?" She squinted at him, feigning suspicion.
Okay…
Maybe she needed to take it easy with the painkillers.
He gave a nervous, slightly pained laugh. “I’m going to take it as a good sign that you’re feeling well enough to joke about this. Not sure I could do the same. I mean, what my dad did…” He sighed, aura bleeding into red. “No one would’ve ever known either. People would have assumed you’d skipped town when in reality, you would’ve been…” He swallowed, eyes downcast, unable to finish the thought as the red faded to blue.
The experience was pretty fucking traumatizing, that was for sure. One that would haunt her dreams for years to come. But oddly enough, none of that seemed to matter right now. Not when Ryan was so obviously suffering, seeped in his own rage and despair.
“Hey, I’m here now. I’m okay,” she assured.
He looked back up at her. “Are you seriously the one trying to comfort me right now? After all you’ve been through?” He shook his head in disbelief. “You never cease to amaze me.”
Alex glanced away. She figured anyone would do the same in her shoes. But it was still nice to receive recognition for her efforts, especially from someone who truly knew the lengths she went through to help others.
“I think it’s safe to say that you’ve been through a lot too…which reminds me. I wanted to thank you.”
“Thank me? For what?”
“For believing me,” she shrugged. “I was too afraid to ask you at the town meeting because I didn’t think you would…but you did.”
Ryan stood there quietly for a moment, mulling over her words.
“I didn’t want to,” he confessed finally. “It’s hard to believe my own father was responsible for so many horrible things.”
“Well, for the record, I wouldn’t have held it against you if you didn’t believe me. I mean, he’s your dad, someone you’ve known your whole life. I’m just some girl you met a few months ago.”
“Is that what you think you are to me? Just some girl?” He asked in that soft voice of this. The same one that could very well coax all the secrets out of her one day if she wasn’t careful.
“Oh, you know what I mean,” Alex said. She had meant to absolve him of any possible guilt over doubting her. Instead, she had just turned the spotlight onto herself.
“No, I really don’t. Alex, what I said to you on the rooftop during the spring festival. I meant it. And I still do. You’re an incredible person. I feel like I’m realizing that more each and every day. Despite everything my father did to you, you still forgave him. I didn’t know it was possible to be that strong. And it gives me hope that maybe, one day, I can be that strong too.”
She blinked up at him, unsure of how to handle such a genuine compliment.
“Thank you, Ryan. That…that means a lot to me.”
The man certainly had a way of disarming her with his heartfelt words. Or maybe it was those blue eyes of his.
It was kind of crazy to think about. How she’d spent over a decade of her life having her own thoughts and emotions invalidated. Yet here Ryan was, looking at her as if he never wanted to miss a single thing she said. He not only treasured their moments together, but believed she was someone truly special and worthwhile.
Ryan took a step backwards, casting a casual glance around the room.
“So…what’s next for Alex Chen?” The question was supposed to come off as relaxed, nonchalant. But the purple aura said otherwise.
Please don’t say you’re leaving. No packed bags in sight. That’s a good sign, right?
“You thought I’d be leaving?”
The question seemed to catch him off guard, but he quickly recovered. “It’s just that, you came here because of Gabe and then stayed to take down Typhon, but now that that’s all done, I was wondering…what was keeping you here.”
“Really?” She smirked and raised an eyebrow. “You didn’t think there could be anything at all?”
He shrugged, looking hopeful.
He had a point. The majority of her time in Haven had been spent playing supersleuth, trying to uncover a mystery – in this case, exposing a corporate conspiracy. Now that this whole ordeal with Typhon was settled. Now that she had gotten the closure she needed with Gabe’s death. What was next? Beyond this was just a normal life awaiting her.
And why did that scare her so fucking much?
It had always been difficult for her to think about her future because for so long, she had convinced herself she would never really have one. Whenever she entertained the thought, her mind would just shut off, as if the concept of a future was an eldritch horror her brain knew she couldn’t handle.
But being in this small town had challenged that mindset entirely. Never in a million years could she have predicted how things would actually turn out. Being surrounded by people who sincerely enjoyed her company and appreciated her for who she was. People who knew and loved Gabe and who had no reservations about extending that love towards her as well.
“There are plenty of reasons to stay,” she began. “As corny as it sounds, I feel like I’ve found myself here. I learned how to use my powers to help people. To embrace my emotions instead of running away from them all the time. And I can finally say I know what it feels like to belong somewhere. That is…if everyone doesn’t hate me by now.”
“Hate you?”
“I know a lot of people were relying on Typhon for employment.”
“Listen, based on what I’ve been hearing throughout town, most people are relieved. They knew something was off about Typhon but felt like they were in too deep to back out. Plus, everyone who truly matters to you…they’re behind you one hundred percent. You saw so yourself at the meeting.”
Alex nodded to herself. “Yeah... you’re right. That makes sense.” She smiled softly at him. “I guess that means…I’m staying then?”
She watched as the tension left his shoulders. “That’s…that’s great news, Alex. I’m glad.”
He meant it. She could tell. But there was definitely something else on his mind, and Alex didn’t need to read his thoughts to know what that was.
“Actually, the more that I think about it, Haven Springs has been great and all, but…”
“But…?” He pressed.
“But what I loved the most about being here...was you.” She stepped towards him and gently took both of his hands. “The entire time I’ve known you, you’ve been so supportive of me, always believing in me, even when things got rough. I know we weren’t brought together under the best of circumstances, but the moments we’ve shared together…they’ve meant a lot to me. You’re the kindest, most thoughtful person I’ve ever met. And you even showed me what pure joy looked like for the very first time. I was only ever used to knowing people through their pain before, but then…that day up in the mountains, you were so happy, and it was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. It’s what gave me the strength to keep going.”
And just like that, a halo of golden light surrounded his body once more, just as breathtaking as before. She felt her knees go weak at the sight.
“Wow, Alex…I uh…I don’t even know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything,” she assured. “I just wanted you to know how much I care about you.”
“Well…message received,” he joked, managing to laugh a bit through his nerves.
It was quickly becoming Alex’s new favorite look on him. A completely flustered, stuttering mess. All because of something she said.
“But for real though, Alex,” he said, growing more serious now. “I know how you always talk about how much Haven has changed you, but…you being here, it’s changed me too. To the point where…I can’t really imagine my life without you.”
He reached out to cup her face, and she instantly leaned into it, closing her eyes at the feel of his hand on her cheek. Slightly calloused from his outdoorsman hobbies, no doubt, yet unbelievably gentle.
The day she first set foot in the music store, Alex knew she was done for. It was hard to believe how quickly she’d fallen. Charmed by someone she’d literally known for minutes. But in world where supernatural abilities existed, surely love-at-first-sight wasn’t so far beyond the realm of possibility.
Plus, could anyone blame her? The way he could sense her distress and immediately jumped in to help. The way he looked at her afterwards, eyes full of genuine concern. No one, absolutely no one, in her life had ever done anything remotely like that for her before. Without thinking, Alex had stepped closer to thank him, drawn to his kindness the same way one might seek refuge during a storm. It felt as natural as breathing.
Of course, nothing this great could ever happen to Alex Chen. So she waited. Waited for that ugly side of him to come out, as it always did with people. But it never happened. Instead, Ryan had done everything to prove her wrong. Pushed Gabe aside so he could be the one to cross the log. Fiercely defended him against Mac at his wake. Back when she was still in shock, too numb to react. Too caught up in feeling sorry herself. All Alex could think about at the time was just how typical it all was. That the day she thought she could finally have one good thing from her old life back, the universe suddenly decided she didn’t deserve it.
And that was that.
But then Ryan stepped in, pulling her out of her daze, asking all the questions surrounding the incident that no one else had bothered bringing up. Seeing someone so angry on Gabe’s behalf, it touched her deeply. But also, it woke her up. Kick-started her into action and ignited her need for answers. He even went so far as to offer his help, ready to stand by her side as they both took on a powerful and dangerous megacorporation together.
And if that wasn’t proof of his love and support, she didn’t know what was.
Can’t believe she’s staying because of me. It’s too good to be true. Hell, I would’ve left with her if she’d have asked me to.
“You would’ve come with me?”
He smiled shyly. “Only if you’d let me.”
“Ryan…you don’t know how much that means to me,” she said, eyes shining. “But this is where I belong. In Haven Springs. With you.”
He was positively beaming now.
“Plus,” she added, feeling playful, “I heard that Avalanche ice cream is rebranding and becoming Dragon’s Horde ice cream. How sick is that? I guess dreams really do come true.”
He snorted. “Right, of course. You know, I’m beginning to suspect that ice cream is your number one reason for staying.”
“You know me so well,” Alex laughed. “But…” she continued, her hands coming up to settle on his chest, smoothing over the material there absentmindedly. “You’re a close second?”
His hands moved to rest on her waist, more gently than before. “I’ll take it,” he whispered, leaning down to kiss her.