I nodded. "I do a lot of therapy."
"But about us, are you sure? I mean, the timing—"
"Yeah, the timing sucks. Aaron and I have been discussing that."
"What does he think?"
"We talked about how dating will involve a lot of communication and honesty and minimal sarcasm for important moments.” I cracked a wry smile. “You know, a bunch of stuff I’m alreadysuper greatat.” Or the exact opposite. Still, “Aaron was cautiously optimistic."
He’d also said that in a perfect world waiting a little longer before dating would make him feel more comfortable but quickly added that he knew it had nothing to do with him and I didn’t have to talk about this with him at all, so I allowed him to give his opinion anyway. Despite the timing, he also respected that I did choose to discuss this with himandthat I planned to give myself some more time to get ready before we explored dating.
A relationship had the potential to go incredibly badly, but Aaron thought it also had the potential to do what Lysander already did for me, act as a source of support and strength. The only downside was that not even a year had passed since the basement. Not much time, but enough in my mind. I felt like a totally different person.
"I want more with you,” I said. But here was the hard part. “Not-not yet. Not right away. I’m not totally ready."
"Of course,” he said instantly. “I’ll wait as long as you need."
"Someday, maybe someday soon, I hope we can...” I hit my limit for honesty and sharing. “I hope we can you know, whatever."
Lysander only smiled. “Me too.”
He abandoned his pose long ago and got up, but I didn’t complain as we met each other in the middle of the distance between us.
"And you know, I think you were right about something. It’s a lot better to have something to fight for instead of searching for something worth fighting for.” I stepped even closer and this time my heart soared as he welcomed me into his space. “So is it alright if we give ourselves an incentive, something to look forward to?"
"What do you have in mind?"
I placed a careful hand against his chest, only needing to tilt my head a fraction until our lips were poised to meet. “Is this okay?”
He nodded fiercely and our mouths met. His palm cupped my cheek so gently like I was fragile or precious. Our lips brushed, a sweet fleeting touch that caused a spark inside my chest.
The kiss only lasted for a few seconds, but my lips tingled for a long time afterwards.
The moment gave me hope because not all the following days were easy. I dove into therapy with Aaron. Lysander went back to his regular work though we still kept in touch. I started working on all the necessary, annoying parts of being a human being like getting identification and the red tape of entering or reentering the world as a grown adult. I did simple, normal activities like going to the park and being around new people.
The movie of my life would show these moments in a montage with a catchy tune playing as I made progress and moved on. They’d show the days passing quickly but I took everything day by day. Until suddenly more and more days had passed until we were a few months down the road.
I kept making progress. I worked with Aaron. I attended more Being a Person lessons. I saw Lysander a few evenings each week. The task force chased the coven and put them on the defensive, so it seemed unlikely they’d go after me again. I had the occasional strange dream about powerful balls of flame consuming everything, but the waking world offered much more peace.
Then my future was starting. I was so ready and excited for it. Lysander and I even made plans. We had a date coming up. I figured that I was living somewhere in the happily ever after or at least happy enough that the screen faded to black, the promise of happily ever after hanging in the air.
Every single day wouldn’t be perfect or even happy but the major upheavals and unknowns were a thing of the past. Now came the amazing, ordinary blessings and challenges of just living a life, a fairly normal one, for a guy in the supernatural world at least.
And that might have been the end. Until he showed up.
Riding the elevator up to my floor, I was alone in the small space. Then he stood next to me. Frost, the angel and agent with no people skills, sought me out. That couldn’t be good.
"Max, we need to talk."
"What, is everything okay? Is Lysander—" He spent most days stuck in their office building but if an emergency happened and he got called away...
"Temple is fine,"
"The coven, are they…?" From what I understood, the noose kept tightening around their necks. But they were dangerous on a good day. They’d be even worse with the walls closing in.
"No, this isn’t about the coven."
"Oh, good.” My back hit the cool metal wall as I relaxed. “I’m not in danger."
