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Her parents murmured to each other the way they’d done Sadie’s entire life. Deciding what was best for her. And Joan agreed with them! She really was dating someone who wanted to shelter and suffocate her.

Sadie crossed her arms. “Stop it. You know I hate being told what to do. The more you push, the more I’ll rebel and do the opposite.”

“We care about you,” Joan said.

That was a gut punch, coming from her. “You’re the one person who knows how much a little support means to me.”

“Of course I support you.”

“You don’t leave me alone for five minutes. You have to trust me.” She looked at her parents. “Everyone’s been telling me what I need and what I should do, and it’s driving me up the wall. What I really need is for you to trust me and let me make my own damn decisions for myself.”

Her pulse pounded, every beat urging her to get more off her chest.

“I know this is all jumbled and the last thing anyone needs right now, but I’m tired and frustrated and upset.” She went over to the kitchen island, then turned to Joan. “If you’re that worried about me not being able to take care of myself, why don’t you teach me how to fight?”

Joan shot a look at Sadie’s parents.

“You know how to spar from your old job. At the gym. Teach me a few things.”

“You can’t fight someone with superpowers,” Dad said.

Mom started to say more of the same, only Joan said, “You’re right.”

Sadie started to say damn well she was right, only Joan’s whole demeanor had softened.

“I haven’t been giving you enough credit. You consistently show everyone how capable you are.”

“Thank you,” Sadie said.

“I’m, uh… This relationship stuff is new to me. At least a healthy relationship.”

“Me, too.”

“I’m not great with feelings.” Joan glanced at Mom and Dad. “Sorry, I don’t know if you want to hear all this.”

They weren’t bothered—they were a pretty open family about most things. “We love to see Sadie in a healthy relationship,” Mom said.

“We’re working on our communication,” Sadie acknowledged. “I’m clearly still bottling things up when I should be expressing them.”

“You know you can always talk to me,” Joan said.

“Yeah, but you’ve been so busy lately with everything.”

“I’m never too busy for you.”

Sadie tried to communicate with her face But Supervillains are attacking you.

To her parents, Joan said, “Sadie helped a bunch of people get to safety today.” A small smile tugged at her lips. “You were so brave. You did really good.”

“Thanks.” Sadie’s frustration lessened in slow waves. “Joanie helped with the other food trucks. She saved lives today. I’m so proud of you.”

“Thanks, honey.” Joan walked over to her. “I’ll teach you a few things. I didn’t know that was something you wanted.”

“I don’t think I knew until I said it. But I would like that.”

“Of course.” Joan rubbed her knuckles against Sadie’s. Sadie linked their pinkies. “Anything else you want to get off your chest?”

Yep. “Not tonight, no.”

Eyebrows quirking, Joan said, “That’s a yes. Come on. What is it?”

“No, it’s been a long day.”

“I can handle it. Tell me.”

Well, she’d asked for it. “Can you maybe be a little more, uh, patient with me around here? I’m working on putting my dishes in the dishwasher and stuff.”

Mom unzipped her quilted midnight-blue coat. “Oh, is she being messy? Leaving her art projects all over the place? She does that.”

“Not helpful,” Sadie grumbled. “And not your business.”

Joan chuckled. “I’ll be more patient.”

“It’s just…” Sadie stared down at their joined hands. “I live here, too. I mean, I moved into your place, but it’s our place now. And I respect that it’s your home too, so I’m trying.” She looked up into Joan’s gorgeous face. “I really am trying.”

“It’s okay. I know you’re trying. I’m trying not to be such a butthead about it.”

“You can be a little bit of a butthead.” Sadie glanced at her parents taking off their coats. Guess they were staying. “As someone suggested, I have a habit of not picking up after myself.”

Dad hung his and Mom’s coats on the back of a barstool. “Habits can be unlearned.”

Mom gave him a look. “Does that mean you’ll stop leaving your gardening supplies in the back porch?”

“When you only have one basket of yarn next to the couch.”

“It doesn’t all fit in one basket. And where would I put what I’m crocheting?”

Sadie giggled with Joan. “We’re looking into our future,” she murmured.

“Fine with me,” Joan murmured back. The warmth in her amber eyes said it truly was. She really was the most amazing woman. More amazing than Amazing Woman.

“You are my favorite butthead.”

“You’re my favorite slob.”

Sadie gasped and pretended to punch tiny jabs at Joan’s stomach.

Joan gently took one fist and readjusted her thumb so it rested over her fingers. “You don’t want to tuck your thumb in so it doesn’t get broken.”

“Starting our lessons already,” Sadie said. A twirl of excitement danced up her chest. “I love it.”

She copied the proper thumb position on her other hand. If she learned a few moves, maybe Joan wouldn’t worry about her all the time.

Mom straightened the pile of pink and red craft paper on the island where Sadie had planned on making a string of hearts for Valentine’s Day. “Any self-defense training would be useful. Even if there weren’t these Villains running around starting earthquakes, the city is still a dangerous place.”

Dad rested a hand on her shoulder. “The superpowered people are the ones you’re really mad at.”

Mom snorted. “Those people. A menace is what they are. Every one of them.”

Joan stiffened. That had to touch a raw nerve. How painful for her girlfriend’s parents to think she was a menace. Had her own family said things like that around her when she was young?

“They’re like any group of people,” Sadie said. “Some good, some bad.”

“Mostly bad,” Mom scoffed.

“There were so many of them today,” Dad said. “The ones we thought were gone came back.”

“Spark and Ice? Yes. They were helping the Heroes.” Sadie squeezed Joan’s hand.

“That’s all we need,” said Mom. “More of them wreaking havoc.”

“Spark and Ice stopped the havoc. They did this thing with steam to conceal the food trucks. And Race, the Hero? They stopped Smash from doing any more damage.”

“I saw Lunk and Catch fighting off the Villains,” Joan said. Her slightly pained expression spoke volumes about how hard it was to give them credit.

“Things would’ve been so much worse if Spark and Ice hadn’t stepped in,” Sadie said.

Dad’s mouth twisted doubtfully. “So now they’re reforming Villains?”

“Why not? Anyone is capable of change.”

Joan looked like she wanted to make a break for the sliding glass doors and blast off into the sky. Sadie rubbed her lower back.

“Things are gonna be okay,” she said. “Vector City will bounce back.”

“I still wish you’d move,” Mom groused for the hundredth time.

“I’ve built a life here.” Sadie touched Joan’s sweatshirt. “We’re building a life in our slightly messy apartment full of love.”

That made her girlfriend smile.

“And I’m seeing that place on Monday that’s the perfect spot for my café. It’s something to be happy about, even in uncertain times.”

“I know, but…”

“This is my home,” Sadie stated so there was no confusion. “It’s where I’ve always wanted to be.”

“We’re excited about this possible café location,” Dad said, giving Mom a look like Say something nice.

“We are,” Mom said. “I liked that neighborhood when you lived there. It’s quiet, and…”

And less likely to have Super activity.

Dad pulled a fairly genuine smile. “We want to hear all about it on Monday.”

“Thanks,” Sadie said, her heart warming from their support, even if it was a bit reluctant. “That means a lot.”

“We know it’s what you want.” To Joan, he said, “And you’ll recover from this setback. Sadie tells us you’re very resilient.”

Joan nodded. “It just sucks right now.”

“You can get an even better food truck,” said Mom.

“Yeah.” Joan gave her a strained smile. There was something odd about the way she reacted every time that was brought up. Obviously, she was hurting and in shock. But still…

“Unless you want to do something else,” Sadie lightly prompted.

But Charming Joanie was back, putting on her disarming grin. “I’ll be busy helping Sadie’s Café get up and running.”

Sadie smiled back and accepted the sweet kiss Joan dropped on her cheek.

The focus turned to a late dinner. A solid meal before Joan had to shower and sleep. Tomorrow she was planning on doing whatever it took, as Spark or not, to make the city safe for these dreams.

Sadie studied her strong, powerful, superpowered partner. Her dreams were coming true. What if Joan’s were changing, and all of this was steering her toward what she was meant to do?

Perry always said Spark was a part of her no matter what. What if Spark could be as good as the woman inside the bodysuit?