“What about me?”
“Have you mended from all those hits? All the things that have happened to us? To Ben, Old Rossi, Ryder? All the things that have happened to you?”
“I’m fine.” It came out stiff, stilted. It came out hard, because all those memories crowded in, all those failures, all those fears.
All the times I’d failed the people in my town were still back there, somewhere in my mind, screaming warnings that it could happen again. That I could fail again.
“Delaney,” she said, soft but determined, knowing me too well, knowing me as only a sister could. “None of those things would have turned out any differently. We made our choices with the best information we had at the time.
“We’ve won, and we’ve lost. But we’re here, together. Even if it were legal to turn back time for a do-over, would you really want to make different choices?”
I cleared my throat. “I might.”
She gave me a level stare. “And if you did, do you think the outcome would be any better?”
“Maybe,” I said. “Maybe Ryder wouldn’t be the vassal to a petty god. Maybe I wouldn’t have lost my soul for a year. Maybe you wouldn’t have had your heart broken, and Jean wouldn’t feel like she had to get better at her gift just because she almost didn’t know the big troubles were coming until they hit.”
“Or maybe we would be right here, you and I, drinking coffee in a winter storm, trying to figure out who’s developed an industrial light fetish, and arguing over your inability to let go for a few days. Also,” she added, “eating really good cookies.”
I inhaled, exhaled. “They are really good.” I plucked another off the plate and popped the whole thing in my mouth. “How about this? I promise if I get the powers safely in Than’s hands, I will pack my bags and flee tomorrow. Before the next problem hits.”
She tipped her head to one side, then shrugged. “Will you promise me you will let go and have fun?”
“Yes?”
“Will Ryder?”
“I think he’s more than willing to let go. Have you seen him after a few beers?”
“The dancing,” she breathed.
“So white guy,” I agreed.
She grinned. “He knows how to have fun. I think he needs time away from this town too. You both need time away from your job and his job, and family and friends, and just… everything. He saw you get shot, Delaney. He saw you lose your soul. He saw you die. Was right here for all of it.”
“I was only dead for a minute.”
“Try telling Ryder it wasn’t a lifetime.”
I wasn’t dumb enough to tell Ryder that. We didn’t talk much about all the bad stuff. Not because we didn’t have time to rehash everything, but because we both understood that those things were a part of being the Bridge to Ordinary, a part of being the police chief.
I was going to take some hits.
It was my honor to make sure everyone was safe, to make Ordinary welcoming for people and beings of all manner of existence. I was proud of our little town. Proud of the people and supernaturals and others who made it their home.
Ryder knew my job was a part of me, as vital as the breath in my lungs.
But yeah. Getting away from this place was beginning to take the top slot in my genie-three-wish fantasies.
“Tomorrow,” I said. “I’m on vacation.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
My phone buzzed. I glanced at the screen and groaned.
“What?” Myra asked. “Ryder?”
