through the tiny apartment for too long, and I’m dying to try them.
“What is the maximum number?” I call back.
“The limit does not exist!”
“Okay, then, I’ll take them all.”
“All?” He walks into the living room with sugar-dusted fingers and lips. “You wouldn’t leave any for me?”
I consider this. “Well, maybe one. If you’re good.”
He smiles. “Whatever you say, boss.” He takes a seat on the floor, a plate piled with cookies between us. We’re both essentially dressed in our pajamas: oversized T-shirts and cozy flannel pants. After all the excitement, neither of us are really psyched to go out into the world unless we have to. Besides, we have a lot of work to do here.
“So, what’s the plan?” he asks, chocolate eyes surveying the strips of paper strewn across the hardwood.
“Well, I’m going to take all these long pieces and weave them together into a heart,” I reveal. “Not, like, a valentine shape, but a human heart. Because what’s stronger than that?”
Matt laughs to himself, shaking his head in disbelief. “That’s awesome. How do you think of this stuff?”
“I don’t know. How do you turn invisible? You just do it.”
“I guess.” He shrugs. “But your thing seems cooler. You’re putting stuff into the world. All I can do is disappear, and…I don’t want to do that anymore.” When Matt told me he was quitting Warrior Nation, I didn’t believe him at first. Even after everything that happened, I figured he’d bounce back and snap into action like he always does. Never cease, never cower, and all that. But something about seeing one of his own turn evil changed him, and as soon as he was done reassuring the public that he was safe, he turned in his cape for good.
I supported this, of course, but told him not to do it because of me. Resentment hardens deep in the bones, and I don’t want that for him—for either of us. As the weeks have passed, he’s talked about going to college and planning for life after he’s no longer super. He says he wants me to be in it.
My phone lights up with a text from Claire:
Hey what u up to?
Art stuff. Matt is here.
WHAT
Calm yourself, fangirl
can’t help it. I ship it!
I’m really glad that everyone walked away safely from Siege, but the best thing to come out of this adventure has been my friendship with Claire. It’s been a long time since I had a real friend; I don’t know what I’d do without her.
“Claire says hi and that she wants us to make out,” I tease Matt, who is immediately on board.
“You know, I really like that girl.” He leans in at the suggestion, the scent of honey drawing me closer. “But not as much as I like this girl.” Our lips lightly touch, just enough for me to taste him. To see if this is what I really want. I’m not going to blindly jump into his world again, letting my needs play second string. If Matt and I find our way back to each other, it will have to be on an even playing field. Both our stars deserve to shine; never again will I be a damsel in distress.
After all, if I’m not the hero of my own story, who is?
When I first got the idea for Super Adjacent, I had no idea where this journey would take me, but being in the headspace of heroes for the past several years has shown me all the different sides of heroism and what it means to exude bravery.
Heroism is pulling a stranger from a burning building, and it’s also finding the strength to get out of bed. It is sharing your voice to change the world, and it’s living a quiet yet fiercely truthful existence. You don’t have to have muscles or powers to be a hero; leading a life that reflects what’s in your heart is the boldest, most powerful act of heroism there is.
I dedicated this book to my mom because she was the most incredible person I’ve ever known. A single mom who ran a small business, battled cancer, and raised two girls all on her own, she fought wars without ever making my sister or me feel like the world was about to cave in. My mom taught us to fight for what we want and never give up, even when things get hard. Her bravery shaped me into the person I’ve become, and I carry her spirit with me every single day.
My life is filled with heroes. Heroes like my editor, Kieran, who pushed me through the complexities of this story to make it the best that it could be. Your insight and support never fails to astound me, and your advice to embrace my inner Xander to help the non-supers save the day made all the difference.
The entire Hyperion team is packed full of heroes who go above and beyond to keep everything on track. Thank you to Jamie and Jasmijn for your incredible book designs, and to everyone who has touched this book and continued to believe in me.
Jess, you never gave up on this story, and for that, you will always be my hero. I will never stop being thankful for having you by my side.
I live with several heroes, like Todd, who keeps me supplied with love and Tater Tots; Molly, who warms my heart with bouncing and drawings; and Autumn, one of the very first readers of this book, who constantly inspires me to be brave and try new things.
Thank you to all my friends and family who keep me going even when I start feeling lost. Whether I’m slurping milk shakes with Cheryl, eating biscuits and pie with Stephanie, fangirling with Meghan, singing with Natalie, having a sister date with Tiffany, or sharing a laugh with any of the incredibly special, talented people in my life, all of these moments fill my heart with love, and I am so grateful.
And you, dear reader, are quite an amazing hero yourself. Thanks for following me on these journeys of make-believe and magic. May you embrace all your unique superpowers and share them with the world in remarkable ways.