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Perry waved an unconcerned hand. “You’re right. He has no idea what he’s doing.”

“The only reason he’s gotten this far is mind control. And even then, it’s more like, ‘Hey, I’ll make everyone think I’m big and muscular and handsome.’”

Joan squeezed both of Mark’s shoulders. “We really don’t have to do anything but lay low. We just have to stay out of trouble.”

“And we don’t have to go to the Supers,” Perry added. “Thank god.”

They shared more nods and agreements. Part of her was glad they’d figured it out and wouldn’t have to form irritating alliances. But another part kind of wanted to do something that would get back to Sadie. The headline would readSpark aligns with Superheroes and proves she’s one of the good guys.

It was probably too little too late, but better than nothing.

“Then we’ll lay cautiously low.” Perry shrugged out of his jacket. “Are we having the heartbreak special of Chinese food and cheap beer?”

Mark snagged his phone off the coffee table. “On it.”

Joan slumped onto the couch. “It’s ten in the morning.”

“Oh, yeah.” He set his phone down. “I’ll order it in an hour.”

Perry sat next to Joan, covering her lap with the blanket. His preferred method of supporting her and Mark was exacting revenge on those who’d wronged them, so she said, “Don’t retaliate against Sadie. She’s not to blame.”

“I can’t blow the plants off her balcony?”

“She doesn’t have plants on her balcony because of a vindictive pigeon.”

Mark joined them on the couch. “Maybe in time, after we open Hot and Cold, you can show her you’ve changed. That we’ve all changed.”

Perry gave him a look, but Joan didn’t have the energy to work on him. Besides, what he’d said last night was true. “I’m always gonna be the scary woman who shoots fire,” she said.

“Maybe you could be the woman who heats up sandwiches with that fire,” Mark said. “Who, I don’t know, helps firefighters with controlled burns, or?—”

“And I’ll still be the woman who didn’t come clean. How can she trust me?” Joan slouched deeper into the cushions. “I can’t blame her. I was fooling myself that it could work, ’cause I just… I really like her.”

They sat quietly for a minute. Perry swiveled his head to look at both of them. “You know what I don’t understand about you two?”

Mark opened his mouth to give a smartass reply, then decided against it.

“You’ve tried to act like average people for years. Why would you want to be like everyone else? We’re remarkable, and that’s good. Don’t hide who you are, you dorks.” Perry mussed up Joan and Mark’s hair, making them both groan and shove him off.

“It’s not about being like everyone else,” Joan said. “It’s not wanting to freak people out. Just have them be a little more understanding. Not vilify some of us while putting others on a pedestal.”

“I mean, the general thievery doesn’t help our case,” Mark said. “But yeah, the Supers aren’t much better than us.”

“Sanctioned larceny and destruction,” Perry grumbled.

Joan closed her eyes, steeling herself for the image of Sadie’s sad, beautiful face. Hopefully, she’d heard all Joan had said about their quasi-benevolent villainy. At least it would help dull the ache if Sadie understood they weren’t trying to hurt anyone.

There was a good chance they’d see each other again. What would it be like? Would Sadie ignore her? Want to talk? Rip her a new one again? Whatever it was, Joan would respect her wishes. Finally take responsibility.

“Are you sure it’s too early for Chinese food and cheap beer?” Mark said.

“No,” Joan said, and pulled the blanket up so she could hide under it.

CHAPTER18

The clock on the wall behind Sadie had inched all of nine minutes since the last time she’d checked. It was official. This was the slowest Sunday in recorded history. Possibly because she’d spent the past however-many hours in misery before forcing herself to get up and shower and go to work.

Her sweet Joanie Maloney wasn’t so sweet. Sadie had gone for the bad girl again. Only this time, a whole new level of bad. Supervillain bad.