CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

LARA

By the time we got home, Dad was already standing outside the car, holding a set of keys in his hand. His expression was unreadable, but I could tell he was nervous about how this would play out. He glanced between Hades and me, then gestured toward the apartment building.

"Got the keys ready for you," Dad said warmly, handing them to Hades. “It’s not much, but it’s safe and comfortable. You can start fresh here.”

Hades hesitated for a moment, looking at the keys like they were something foreign. I saw the flicker of emotion in his eyes—gratitude, relief, maybe even disbelief. “Thank you, Mr. Kingsley,” he said quietly, gripping the keys tightly.

Dad smiled and turned to me. "Help them settle in, sweetheart. Then we’ll give them some space."

I nodded, already moving to the trunk of the car where some of the furniture and supplies Dad had insisted on buying were packed. Hades followed, his face still tense, but there was a softness in his eyes when he looked at me.

We spent the next couple of hours moving things into the small but cozy apartment. My dad had gone all out—new furniture, fresh bedding, a stocked fridge. It was the kind of support that Hades and his mom weren’t used to, and I could see it in the way they both tried to refuse, though their gratitude shone through.

His mom was quiet, clutching her purse tightly, and it was hard not to notice how fragile she seemed. She thanked Dad several times, her voice trembling, and I felt a pang in my chest as I thought of my own mom. I wondered if she would’ve done the same for someone in need.

When everything was in place, Dad glanced at me and nodded, signaling it was time for us to leave. "We’ll give them time to settle in,” he said.

I turned to Hades, unsure of how to say goodbye. The moment felt so… final. Like this was another step forward, another moment to mark how far we’d come.

Hades stepped closer, his expression unreadable for a second before softening. "Thanks for everything," he said, his voice low. “I don’t know how to…” He trailed off, his words fading, but I understood.

"You don’t have to say anything," I said, my voice just above a whisper. “You deserve this, Hades. Both of you do.”

And then, just as Dad was heading to the car, Hades leaned down and kissed me. It wasn’t rushed or hesitant; it was slow and warm, and it left me dizzy. I could feel the weight he carried lifting, just for a moment, and I couldn’t help but smile when he pulled back.

“See you tomorrow?” he asked, his lips quirking into the smallest smile.

“Of course,” I said, already feeling jittery and giddy.

I climbed into my dad’s car, watching Hades as we drove off. He stood at the entrance of the apartment building, his mom beside him. She still looked nervous, but there was a new lightness to her posture, and Hades… he looked like he could finally breathe.

As Dad turned onto the main road, I stared out the window and thought about how much had changed. My mom would’ve loved Hades. She would’ve seen the good in him right away, just like I had.

And for the first time in a long while, I felt like I was exactly where I was meant to be.

As soon as we got home, I practically bolted up to my room, shutting the door behind me. The day had been overwhelming, in the best way, but my thoughts were entirely consumed by Hades. I pulled out my phone and sent him a text, my fingers shaking with excitement.

Me: Did you guys settle in okay?

The response came quickly, and seeing his name on my screen made my heart leap.

Hades: Yeah. Thank you… for everything.

A warm smile spread across my face. Even in those few words, I could feel how much it meant to him.

Me: Always.

I stared at the screen for a while, my chest fluttering with a kind of joy I hadn’t felt in years. There was something about him, about the way he looked at me, the way he tried so hard to protect his mom even when he was the one who needed saving. I couldn’t wait to see him again.

I tossed my phone onto my bed and grabbed some clothes before heading to the bathroom. Turning the shower on, I let the steam fill the room, my thoughts still racing. I couldn’t stop thinking about his quiet smiles, the way his lips felt against mine when he kissed me goodbye.

As the warm water hit my skin, I couldn’t hold back the grin that crept across my face. Tomorrow felt too far away. I wanted to see him now, to make sure he was really okay, to hear his voice again.

By the time I stepped out of the shower, I was practically glowing with excitement. I felt like a teenager all over again, giddy and full of butterflies. This wasn’t just a crush anymore—it was something bigger, something real.

Pulling on my pajamas, I flopped onto my bed and stared at the ceiling. “You’ve got it bad, Lara,” I muttered to myself, but I didn’t care. Hades wasn’t like anyone I’d ever met, and I was all in.

Tomorrow couldn’t come soon enough.