Page 24

The crisp night air cooled Sadie’s cheeks after the longest day ever. Even longer than when she’d been abducted by Trick. Remnants of thick rain dripped outside the parking garage at their apartment building. The sky was still a funky green, though it was fading.

Joan met her around the back of the car. Sadie looped both arms around one of Joan’s, dropping her head on Joan’s shoulder. Joan nestled her head atop Sadie’s as they headed toward the elevator.

They’d been caught in the rain earlier at Friendship Park. Ether had made clean-up efforts more difficult and added to the destruction of the greenspace by turning the cracks and holes into muddy, mucky pools.

After unhooking all the potentially dangerous things, Hot and Cold (what was left of it) had been towed to the warehouse.

Her heart lurched every time she thought about its bright-blue paint marred, the logo completely gone, all their hard work smashed to pieces.

Joanie and Mark were in shock, or some kind of odd acceptance in a This is why we can’t have nice things way.

Perry had arrived to help Sadie deal with Hot and Cold while the twins watched from afar, hiding beneath Cajun Soul trucker hats in the rain. They couldn’t risk being recognized so close to the scene. She and Perry had used the “too distraught to talk” line with the press to be left alone.

The whole afternoon was a mental blur replayed over and over on TV, online, on SuperWatch. They’d all convened to the warehouse to scour the footage for anything that connected Spark and Ice to Hot and Cold or its owners.

“Anything new?” Sadie asked.

After quick social media posts that they were sad but safe, she’d had to turn her phone off. It’d been blowing up with concern from her mom, her family and friends, her sister Carrie, her mom. Mostly her mom.

Joan wrestled with her phone in the front pocket on her borrowed Powered by Plants hoodie.

Spark and Ice had been the focus of most media coverage.

The sudden return of the former Villains to fight the current Villains.

What did that mean? Were they working with the Supers?

Flight had given an interview where he hemmed and hawed about “consulting with Spark and Ice in an unofficial capacity.”

Zee would’ve told the truth, but they were recovering at Superhero HQ. They had a few bruised ribs but were otherwise okay, which Sadie knew thanks to Mark.

Fortunately, Smash was in custody—again. Hopefully for good this time. The Supers had been unaware he’d escaped from his transport. Quake must’ve paid a hefty bribe.

The important thing was that Spark and Ice were being seen in a mostly favorable light. Of course there were dissenting opinions, but every single food truck owner—even the annoying ice cream lady—talked about Spark and Ice being the real heroes of the day.

The four colleagues who’d protected Joan and Mark had also done a pretty incredible thing. Sadie was proud to call them friends.

Joan cracked a tiny grin at the latest SuperWatch chat post. “The owner of that helmet is excited Ice used it but would like it back if at all possible. With an autograph.”

Sadie forced a chuckle. Joanie didn’t seem to want to dwell on her dream literally being crushed despite the pain in her amber eyes.

“I wish we could erase people knowing Spark and Ice were there. Where’s Melvin and his mind control when we really need it?”

“Joan,” Sadie gently scolded.

“It occasionally came in handy.”

“Not funny.”

She guessed by Joan not responding that she hadn’t been joking.

“Why don’t you want people to know you were there?”

“It complicates things. We lurk about unnoticed.”

“You should be noticed for saving the day,” Sadie said.

“It wasn’t that heroic. We just didn’t want anyone to get hurt.”

“You’re not giving yourself enough credit.”

Joan busied herself with putting her phone back in her pocket as a compact car drove past.

Getting positive attention must’ve been so foreign to her. Her whole life had been people scared or angry at her for her abilities and doing crime. Today, she’d shown them Spark was more than that.

“Almost home, babe,” Sadie said. She laced their fingers and pushed the “up” elevator button.

“This has been the longest fucking day of my life,” Joan exhaled.

“I was just thinking that.”

“I am ripping off all my clothes the second we get in and taking a long, hot shower.”

“I hope I’m included in that plan.”

“You are an essential component of that plan.”

“Certainly the ripping your clothes off part,” Sadie said.

She adjusted the handles of her rainbow tote on her shoulder. Miraculously, she’d been able to finagle it out of the truck. They’d lost the cashbox and tablet, but at least she had all her personal effects. A small win.

“Tomorrow when you’re with the Supers, I’ll go out and buy you another Vultures hat.”

“That’s okay,” Joan said. “I have other ones.”

“But that’s your Hot and Cold hat.”

“I don’t have a need for a Hot and Cold hat.”

“You will in the future.” When Joan didn’t respond, Sadie asked, “Won’t you?”

“I can’t think beyond what we have to do to…” She trailed off as two brunette white women exited the stairwell chatting about lentil soup.

Of course they’d get a new food truck. They had to so they could park in front of Sadie’s Café.

Unless Joanie had bigger plans. Super plans. She and Mark were already committed to spending tomorrow at Superhero headquarters.

The elevator arrived to take them the few flights up. Sadie studied Joan’s weary face in the fluorescent lighting. “How are you really holding up?”

“By a thread,” Joan said. “I can’t believe we got spanked so bad. I can’t believe our truck is gone.”

“It totally sucks, babe.”

“And Friendship Park is all jacked up. That place is special. It’s where we had our first date.”

“Aww, that’s right.” Sadie leaned into her. “We had our first kiss there, too.”

“It’s also where you said you knew I was Catch, so…”

The elevator doors opened to the far side of the seventh floor. “Still my favorite date of all time. We’ll make more happy memories there.”

“I hope so,” Joan said.

“I know so. You’ll figure things out with the Supers. You’re good at plans.”

She gazed at Sadie with those sad eyes. “But we made plans.”

“We’ll get back to them when this is over.”

They dragged each other around the corner. “Almost there,” Sadie encouraged her girlfriend as much as herself. “That shower is within?—”

The words died in her throat at the sight of her parents standing outside their apartment.

Mom unclasped her hands. “Sadie Jane Eagan! Why haven’t you been answering your phone?”

“What are you doing here?” Sadie said.

“Checking on my daughter who was involved in a near-fatal incident.” Mom heaved her into a tight hug. “You stopped replying to calls and texts, and I got scared.”

“We just wanted to make sure you’re okay,” Dad said.

“I’m fine.” She almost asked how they got into the building, but no doubt her hysterical mother had made some poor resident let them in.

Mom pulled back only far enough to grasp Sadie by the upper arms. Her chestnut-brown hair was getting long, brushing her shoulders.

Joan started a handshake with Dad that turned into a semi-awkward hug. “Hello, Mr. Eagan,” she said.

“Hello, Joan.” Dad wore a knit gray cap that coordinated with his houndstooth coat. “Nice to see you again.”

Sadie reached as far as she could to pat her father’s arm. “Hi, Dad.”

“Where have you been?” Mom said. “When you didn’t return my calls, we worried something more had happened. So we got in the car and?—”

“I told you the calls and texts were getting overwhelming and I needed a break from my phone,” Sadie said. She unlocked the door so they wouldn’t bother their neighbors.

“Everyone has been watching the footage of that maniac crushing the food truck.” Mom walked in beside her even though they didn’t quite fit side by side.

“Luckily, we weren’t hurt.” Sadie slid her filthy blue sneakers off as Joan dealt with the alarm. “Mark’s okay, too.”

“Did you see Friendship Park? It’s eerily similar to what happened the last time Big Quake…”

“It makes sense. He said he wanted to finish what he started.”

“I can’t believe you were there. I can’t believe my baby almost…” Tears welled up in Mom’s brown eyes.

Sympathetic guilt twisted Sadie’s stomach. “Don’t cry. I’m okay.” She gave her mom a quick squeeze. “I shouldn’t have turned my phone off.”

Dad tugged on his hat, revealing his mostly bald head. “You always seem to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. First the coffeehouse, now the food truck being parked where there was a big attack.”

Not to mention the little kidnapping you don’t know about…

Joan joined them. “Hi, Mrs. Eagan.”

“Joan, can you please tell me why my daughter keeps putting herself in these dangerous situations?”

“Uh…”

“I’m not putting myself in danger.” Exhaustion from the day meant Sadie had no spoons left to deal with this.

“There’s a lot going on in the city right now,” Joan said.

“A lot of scary, unsafe things,” Mom said.

Sadie ignored them and focused on setting her bag on the floor and taking off the coat she’d borrowed from Beth-Ann.

Joan cleared her throat. “I understand why you’re upset. I’d be upset if I were you. Sadie’s very special. I don’t want anything to happen to her either.”

Sadie shot her a look that said That’s not helping.

“I’ve been protecting her as best as I can.”

“We appreciate that,” Dad said, and Mom agreed.

“I don’t need you to protect me,” Sadie muttered.

“You can’t defend yourself against…” Joan paused. She couldn’t say what she wanted: That Sadie was a poor, helpless norm at the mercy of the mighty superpowered, and Spark was the only one who could save her.

“I did pretty well by myself today,” Sadie snapped.

Joan shoved her hands in her back pockets and turned away. Probably worried about sparking in front of Mom and Dad.