Their final destination was a newly opened theme park.

Located on the outskirts of the city, the grounds were swallowed by the pitch-black night, yet the park itself was a blaze of electric color. Neon signs at the entrance, spinning carousels, a glittering Ferris wheel, and mascots wandering about turned the place into a fantasy realm.

Arianna had heard her coworkers mention this place, but she had never been. She certainly hadn’t expected Maxwell to bring her here.

She followed him inside. Most of the rides had already stopped for the night, leaving them as dark, skeletal silhouettes against the glow of the few remaining lights—the roller coaster, the drop tower, the pendulum, the pirate ship.

Next to the drop tower stood a massive animatronic dinosaur. It was easily three or four stories tall, its giant jaws snapping open and shut with rhythmic, guttural roars, accompanied by the clanking of its heavy, mechanical tail. In the shifting, half-lit shadows, it looked genuinely unsettling.

Arianna stayed close to Maxwell, treading carefully.

Suddenly, the dinosaur let out a deafening roar. Its eyes flashed a violent green, its head dipped low, and it lunged forward, directly toward her.

The sheer weight of the sudden movement caught her off guard. Terror flared, and she bolted, stumbling blindly forward before colliding with a solid, warm chest. Her forehead cracked against him, sharp pain radiating through her skull.

She hissed, stumbling back while clutching her head.

Before she could retreat further, a hand clamped onto her arm, pulling her back into his embrace. Maxwell’s hand rested on her shoulder, his head bowed as he inspected her "injury." His brows were furrowed deep, his expression far more anxious than her own.

"Are you okay?" Maxwell asked, his voice low and laced with concern. His long, graceful fingers hovered in the air, trembling slightly, afraid to touch her and cause more pain. "Does it hurt? Should we go to the ER?"

The ER seemed like a bit of an overreaction. By the time they arrived, the bump would probably be gone.

"No," Arianna said, pressing a hand to her forehead. "No need for the hospital. I just need to rub it out."

Maxwell gently pulled her hand away. He leaned in, peering closely at her skin under the flickering lights. "It’s a bit red, but there’s no blood." He pressed his palm against her forehead, his voice softening to a murmur. "Let me rub it for you."

Arianna felt a surge of confusion. The sudden, intimate concern was disorienting. She instinctively tried to pull back, but Maxwell, anticipating the movement, cupped the back of her head, drawing her back in. His touch was firm, yet gentle—a subtle, undeniable demand for her to stay put.

"Be good," he whispered, as if coaxing a child. "Don't move. I'll be gentle."

Whether it was the softness of his tone or the way his hand anchored her to him, she didn't know, but the resistance died in her throat. She stood there, silent and still, letting him soothe the ache in her brow.

The park was deathly quiet, save for the occasional mechanical roar and the heavy swish of the dinosaur’s tail. Yet, Arianna felt the terror receding, replaced by the warmth radiating from him.

Maxwell stayed bowed, their eyes locking in the dim light. He was so close that she could count the lashes fringing his eyes, notice the upward curve of his lips, and see her own reflection in his dark pupils. He looked at her like a man gazing into a deep, silent lake—or a whirlpool capable of pulling her down into the depths.

He was still massaging her forehead with dedicated precision. As he worked, he noticed the tips of her ears turning crimson, the heat spreading down her neck until the skin glowed like a rose in the darkness—a color meant to be plucked.

Maxwell’s eyes darkened, and his Adam's apple bobbed. Arianna remained outwardly composed, though the effort was killing her. Maxwell watched her for a few seconds, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. If he kept this up, he wouldn't be able to keep his composure much longer, so he pulled his hand away.

"Any better? Does it still hurt?"

"Much better," Arianna replied. "Thank you."

"Arianna, we’re friends. There’s no need to be so polite."

Arianna froze. "Right. Of course."

So, that was it. Just a friend caring for a friend. It made sense—Maxwell had always been good to his circle, whether it was Cameron or her. She felt like an idiot for letting her imagination run wild; she could have written a whole season of a soap opera in her head in those few seconds.

She let out a quiet sigh.

They walked further until they reached a vast swan lake. Several white swans floated on the water—some with their heads tucked under their wings for a nap, others gliding gracefully with their long necks arched, and one standing on a single leg on the bank.

The carousel lights reflected off the water in ripples of light, and a small sightseeing train chugged past, playing a jaunty tune. It was all so beautiful, so surreal, that Arianna felt as though she had stumbled into another dimension.

"It’s so quiet," she noted, looking around. "Why are there no other visitors here?"

Maxwell gazed at the shimmering water and lied with a straight face, "Everyone must have headed home. It is quite late, after all."

Arianna checked her phone. One minute to midnight.

"I guess you're right. No wonder—"

She was cut off by a sudden, thunderous *boom* that echoed across the park.

On the far side of the lake, a fountain of golden light streaked into the sky, erupting into a cascade of brilliant fireworks. The night air crackled, the sky turning a blinding, magnificent white as the park was bathed in a display of colors.

Arianna gasped, completely stunned.

The fireworks cascaded down like a waterfall of sparks, replaced instantly by new patterns, a chaotic and gorgeous symphony of light. Even the swans poked their heads out from their wings, watching the show with curiosity.

Maxwell turned his gaze to Arianna. She was staring upward, her face illuminated by the dancing lights, her eyes sparkling like they held the reflection of every star in the sky.

Maxwell’s lips curled into a gentle, genuine smile as he watched her. He whispered a silent message to her, meant only for the wind.

"Happy birthday, Arianna."

"May you always be free. May you always be happy."

"And know that I have loved you for another year."

By the time they started toward the restaurant, Arianna was still in a daze, completely lost in the memory of the fireworks. Maxwell chuckled, waving a hand in front of her face. "Earth to Arianna. Where are you?"

Since the dinosaur incident, the distance between them had shrunken. She didn't flinch at his touch anymore.

"I was just thinking about the fireworks," she said, her eyes shining with residual excitement. "They were so beautiful!"

Maxwell nodded. "They were. We can come back next time if you like."

"Is the show always at this time?"

Maxwell didn't actually know. "I suppose so. It’s my first time here, too."

"Your first time?" Arianna asked, surprised.

"Hm?"

"You seemed so comfortable here. I thought you came all the time."

Maxwell kept his tone reserved. "No, truly. First time."

He certainly wasn't going to tell her that he had spent the entire day pacing these paths, checking every detail with the managers, memorizing the timing and color codes of the pyrotechnics.

The only thing he had failed to account for was a faulty, overgrown electric dinosaur that hadn't gotten the memo that it was supposed to be off-duty.