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She stepped away from Joan. Her body heat was getting too warm. “You don’t release nearly as much fire or ice as you used to. It’s probably all backed up in your bodies.”

“Probably,” Joan said.

“And it’s coming out in other ways.” Sadie pointed at Mark. “You’re hooking up way more than ever. And you’re…” She touched Joan’s shoulder with a finger. “A lot.”

“You’re right. We need to get it out.”

“Make use of the extra time we have tonight.”

“Yes, dear.” Joan gave her the grin that dissolved any lingering annoyance. She couldn’t help being born with the ability to conjure fire. And her internal warmth was usually great for their sex life.

“We could go down to—” Mark wiped at a glob of ranch dressing near the hem of his polo. “Seriously?”

He strode toward the small bathroom, pulling his shirt overhead.

Joan plucked at Sadie’s fleece, loosely pulling her back into her arms. “I’ll make you a deal. I’ll get rid of this extra fire if you use tonight to work on your plans for Sadie’s Café.”

An uncomfortable squish twisted Sadie’s gut. She avoided eye contact and mumbled, “It’s pretty late for that.”

“Honey, it’s time to move forward.”

“Hot and Cold is still in its early stages.”

“We’re doing fine.”

Sadie glanced up, grateful but uneasy from the genuine support softening Joan’s face. “But you need me.”

“I appreciate every single thing you do,” Joan said.

“And I really like working here. We have so much fun.”

“I love working with you. But the food truck was my dream, not yours.”

“It’s not the right time,” Sadie insisted. “I’m the face of the truck so you and Mark can lay low.”

“Mark and I can be less in the background. Enough time has passed. The Supers have seen we really did go legit.”

“I’m still the best for customer service and dealing with people.”

“I’m not bad with it,” Joan said.

“Hon, you were fired from a customer service job for melting your desk after a difficult phone call.”

“That was a long time ago. I’ve matured.”

Sadie stepped out of Joan’s arms. “Who are you gonna get to work with you? It’s not like you can hire just anyone with your unique cooking styles.”

“That’s not your concern.”

“Everything about the truck is my concern.”

“We can find a norm who got out of the criminal life,” Joan said. “An old associate who wants steady employment and understands keeping our former identities quiet.”

A shadow crossed over her face that she quickly shook off.

“Remember our deal, Sadie Eagan. You helped me get on the straight and narrow. I help you open your dream café.”

“I’m just…” Sadie gave a weak shrug. “I’m not ready yet. And whether or not you want to admit it, you need me to keep eyes on the money and things for Hot and Cold.”

“That’s what Perry does.”

“Yeah, but you two don’t listen to Perry.”

“We do. We just pretend like we don’t.”

That was pretty doubtful. Even with all her hang-ups and fears and anxiety about opening her own café, the biggest factor in not pursuing it was the need to make Hot and Cold stable and profitable.

Joan tilted her head. “Per said he’s been waiting to go over the research he’s done for you.”

Sadie uttered a sound she hoped sounded like words.

“He’ll meet you anytime.” Joan smirked. “It’s paperwork. His favorite.”

“Some other time. I just want to go home, have a warm cup of tea, and relax.”

“All right, but meet with him soon, okay? He keeps bugging me.”

Mustering up a smile, Sadie said, “I will.”

Joan enveloped her in a comforting hug. “I’ll be the first person in line when you open your doors. I’ll be so proud, I’ll tell everyone, ‘This is my girlfriend’s café. She’s amazing and can do anything.’”

“That’s sweet and slightly annoying.”

“I’ll be so obnoxious with my support.”

“Well, I can’t wait for that,” Sadie giggled.

Joan tightened her arms, filling Sadie with love.

Sadie did the same. She adored Joan and so appreciated her unwavering encouragement.

On one level, it made Sadie’s Café something within reach.

But the onus was still on Sadie to like, do the work, and make the big boss decisions, and have all the responsibility, and…

And what if I fail?

“I’m gonna go lock the truck,” Joan said. She dropped a kiss on Sadie’s lips.

Sadie wandered toward the window, suddenly chilled without Joan’s heat. The thick curtains that once blocked everything out had been replaced with less severe off-white drapes.

A strange green glow briefly lit up the outside. She pulled one of the curtains back to see if it was lightning.

Nothing shined through the overcast sky. She started to let the curtain fall, but it happened again. A pale green shimmer dancing through the clouds. Huh. Weird.

Well, it wasn’t Villain activity. Vector City had no Supervillains anymore. Three of them were imprisoned, however the Supers properly secured people with superpowers. And the other three were running an up-and-coming food truck. It was nice not to worry all the time about potential destruction.

Things were comfortable. Easy. Uncomplicated. Maybe even a teensy bit boring. But boring was good. Boring was what Joanie had wanted for a long, long time. Boring was…

Safe. And it was good to be safe.