Chapter 56 Wren
Wren
The town is smaller than I expected.
One main street.
Two stoplights.
A bakery on the corner that smells like cinnamon from half a block away.
And apparently—
Everyone knows Boone.
We step into the small diner just off the square, and the bell above the door jingles.
Immediately three people look up.
A waitress behind the counter grins.
“Well look what the river dragged in.”
Boone chuckles.
“Morning, Mary.”
Mary folds her arms on the counter.
“Thought you were off saving the world again.”
“Something like that.”
Her eyes slide to me.
“Well now.”
“That’s new.”
I feel Boone’s hand gently settle at the small of my back.
“Mary,” he says calmly.
“This is Wren.”
Mary’s grin widens.
“Nice to meet you, honey.”
Then she looks back at Boone.
“You finally brought someone worth introducing.”
Boone sighs.
“Mary…”
“What?”
“You’ve been single for years,” she says, with a wink.
“It was getting suspicious.”
I laugh before I can stop myself.
Boone shakes his head.
“This is why I don’t come into town often.”
Mary points toward a booth by the window.
“Sit.”
“Coffee’s on the house.”
Boone leans toward me as we walk to the booth.
“Sorry about this.”
“Why?”
“Small towns.”
I slide into the seat across from him.
“I like it.”
Mary appears with two mugs of coffee before we even ask.
“Here you go.”
She sets them down, then leans slightly on the table.
“So.”
She gestures between us.
“How’d you two meet?”
Boone doesn’t miss a beat.
“Work.”
Mary raises an eyebrow.
“That must be some interesting work.”
“You have no idea,” I say.
Boone kicks my foot under the table lightly.
Mary studies us for another second.
Then smiles knowingly.
“Well, whatever it is…”
“…I approve.”
Boone groans.
“Mary.”
“What?”
“I’m just saying.”
She winks at me again.
“He’s a good one.”
Then she heads back toward the counter.
I glance at Boone.
“You’re popular.”
“Unfortunately.”
“You’re respected.”
“That’s different.”
I take a sip of coffee.
“This place is charming.”
“Wait until the entire town hears you’re here.”
“That sounds terrifying.”
He laughs softly.
Outside the diner window, the town moves slowly.
People walking down the sidewalk.
A dog tied to a bike rack.
Someone watering flowers in front of the bookstore.
Normal life.
Boone watches me for a moment.
“You’re smiling again.”
“I am.”
“You like it here.”
“I do.”
He nods slightly.
“That’s good.”
I lean forward on the table.
“You belong here.”
“I guess.”
“You’re comfortable here.”
“I grew up coming here all the time.”
I glance around the diner again.
The wooden floors.
The soft buzz of conversation.
Mary laughing at something behind the counter.
“It feels homey,” I say quietly.
Boone studies me carefully.
“I’m glad you’re staying. You are staying right?”
“Yes.”
His expression shifts slightly.
Hope.
Careful but real.
“Are you sure?”
“I think I am.”
Before he can respond—
The bell over the diner door rings again.
A man in a sheriff’s uniform walks in.
Tall.
Broad shoulders.
Weathered face.
He spots Boone immediately.
“Well, I’ll be damned.”
Boone sighs.
“Morning, Jack.”
The sheriff walks over.
“Thought you were out of town.”
“I was.”
Jack glances at me.
Then back at Boone.
“Looks like you came back with company.”
Boone gestures toward me.
“Jack, this is Wren.”
The sheriff tips his hat slightly.
“Nice to meet you, ma’am.”
“Nice to meet you too.”
Jack looks between us.
Then grins.
“Well now.”
“Town’s gonna enjoy this.”
Boone rubs his forehead.
“I knew this was a mistake.”
I laugh again.
And for the first time in a very long time—
Life feels simple.
But as the sheriff walks back toward the counter—
Boone’s phone vibrates quietly on the table.
He glances down.
Then frowns slightly.
I tilt my head.
“What is it?”
He turns the screen toward me.
One message.
From a number neither of us recognizes.
UNKNOWN:
Your system woke up faster than expected.
Cold spreads slowly through my chest.
The quiet diner suddenly feels very far away from Los Angeles.
Boone’s expression hardens slightly.
“Well,” he says quietly.
“Looks like normal life might be over sooner than we thought.”