Page 39

One month later

Joan opened her car door and stepped over a small puddle, not wanting to get her hot-pink sneakers wet.

Or dirty. It’d been a risk wearing them with rain in the forecast (natural rain, not Villain-created rain).

Taking little chances like this were helping her get more comfortable with being visible.

She locked her doors and took in Hampton Street. Knollwood Village really did have Sadie’s vibe. The funky shops and art galleries. Older buildings mixed with carefully renovated structures. There was even a ramen place a few blocks down they couldn’t wait to try.

She moved to the sidewalk, switching the hand holding the white paper bag filled with Mexican pastries.

The ones Spark had acquired that morning because she was essentially always on call, ready to help whoever was in need.

That was still taking getting used to. Hell, everything was in her new occupation.

The For Lease sign was gone from inside the window at Future Sadie’s Café. Joan had only seen the space from the outside. With the sale finalized and the lease as good as done, Sadie now had possession.

Joan spotted her standing in the middle of the empty space, hands on the hips of a short, flowy purple dress. The overhead lighting highlighted her excitement but also her nerves.

She knocked on the glass door, waving when Sadie looked over.

Sadie skipped across the laminate flooring and unlocked the door. “Welcome to Sadie’s Café,” she said, then immediately started leaking happy tears.

Joan scooped her into her arms. “Congratulations, sweetheart.”

Sadie tugged her inside. “Come look at your investment. I can’t stop staring at everything.”

She took in the exposed brick and all Sadie had been talking about over the past few weeks. Sketches and craft projects and Perry’s paperwork were strewn about their home office, but that was okay. Not like Joan was using it anymore.

“A celebratory treat?” Sadie said, pointing at the pastry bag.

“Yep. Spark and Catch stopped a water main break from flooding a panadería. We sort of soldered the pipe back together. I didn’t know I could do stuff like that. Non-destructive stuff.”

“That’s great, babe.”

“Darlene suggested it.” Joan made a face that caused Sadie to snicker. Darlene was her assigned babysitter that week. Neither would ever, ever admit to it, but they were learning handy tips and tricks from one another. “The staff was cool and wanted to thank us.”

Sadie took the bag, then squeezed Joan’s hand. “Was that hard for you? Getting free stuff?”

“I insisted I would pay for them. Then they admitted they were day-old pastries that would probably just get thrown out.” Joan laughed. “They were honest about how people don’t always give Supers the best stuff.”

It’d felt good to help out a family-owned business and be able to talk openly with them. Spark and Ice were making it known they were not in it for handouts.

“Ooh, conchas.” Sadie closed the bag and held it to her chest. “Do I get first dibs since this is my special day?”

“Of course.”

“Thank you, my love. Look around. Tell me if you think a couch and coffee table can fit in that nook back there. I need to get to measuring.”

Joan wandered over to the far corner. A wistful tug pulled at her heart. They’d been this psyched when they bought the food truck. It seemed like ages ago, but had only been months. So much had happened since then.

Sadie and Per had done the lion’s share of tying everything up for Hot and Cold. Still a total bummer to go out like that.

With the coffeehouse, they had a perfect misdirection.

On the food truck’s social media, it now said that the owners “ have decided to focus on a brick-and-mortar café. ” They’d changed the account names to the café and not ruled out the possibility of having signature sandwiches available in the future. Anything was possible.

Such as the owners becoming Superheroes.

“Let’s take a selfie for my parents,” Sadie said as she walked over. “They want lots of pictures.”

Joan leaned into her and obliged. “Are we still telling them I started a restaurant investment group with Mark and Perry?”

“Yes, and this is your first venture.”

“I hate that you have to lie to your family and friends again.”

“It’s not entirely a lie. You did invest.”

“But they’re gonna wonder how I’m making money,” Joan said.

“If you’d like, we can casually drop the truth at Sunday night dinner at my sister’s house.” Sadie raised her eyebrows like Not a chance .

It would be kind of nice to let them know Joan was a good guy now. Maybe her own family even suspected it. Not that it mattered, but then again, what better revenge?

Sadie’s phone buzzed with an incoming text. “Nyah’s coming by in about an hour. She’s bringing champagne.”

“Nice. And yeah, a couch and table will fit here.”

The door creaked open. A moment later, Gus moved through the entrance. Perry tried to assist her, but she batted him away. “I’ve got it,” she groused.

Her healing had aged her about ten years, which she was none too happy about. Her mobility was back to normal, but she definitely had more wrinkles and a white streak in her blonde hair and aches and pains she’d staved off for a long time. Her sacrifice was still very much appreciated.

She peered through her glasses—ones she actually needed now. Sadie rushed over to give her a hug. “Welcome to your building!”

“Yes, yes.” Gus patted her with both hands. “It’s a big day.”

Sadie showed her around, pointing out what she had planned.

Perry joined Joan against the long white counter.

She’d gotten to know Gus at a few homecooked dinners.

She was as private as Perry, but they let things slip now and again.

Weirdly cute ways she teased him about snoring, and him about her use of old-timey sayings like dagnabbit and consarn it .

Joan had caught him holding her hand once in his condo, both insisting it was for additional support for her aging body.

Which was about as convincing as Mark and Zee saying they were just hanging out. Overnight. Arriving “separately” to HQ in the same clothes they’d been wearing the night before. Everyone had picked up on it, but only Joan and Kade were gleefully (and, okay, relentlessly) teasing them about it.

Sadie spanned her fingers along the back wall that blocked the small kitchen area. “On this wall, I’d love to feature work by local artists.”

Gus nodded in agreement. “I like that. Perhaps I can paint a little something for it.”

“Oh, I’d love that.” Sadie slid a knowing look at Perry. “A landscape, perhaps?”

“Perhaps.”

Perry pretended not to smile. He gazed at Gus like she was the most beautiful woman in the world. A few extra wrinkles hadn’t changed that.

Joan nudged him and said, “You know you’re allowed to be excited about this.”

“I am.” He pulled a thick roll of papers from his inside jacket pocket. “Sadie reads and discusses everything you and Mark ignored.”

“I meant Gus. Her being here.”

“I’m excited about that, too,” he said quietly.

“Perry has a good eye for arranging pieces,” Gus said.

Sadie glanced back at him. “I’ll definitely consult with him because I’m more about vibes.”

Turning toward the front windows, Gus crossed her arms and said, “I like this place and want to see it succeed. If there is anything I can do, just say the word.”

“Thank you, Gus. You’ve already done so much.”

“This could be a real neighborhood hangout.”

“Where friends gather,” Sadie murmured, getting that gleam in her eye that said a new craft project was brewing.

A SuperWatch notification jingled from Joan’s phone. She checked that damn app more now than ever before.

Ice and Lunk had been spotted signing autographs for a group of tourists checking out what remained of Friendship Park. Mark had taken to being in the public eye like an ice cube to lemonade.

Good for him. And Joan, since he took the heat off of her—though not literally. He liked being in control of his public image, and she liked avoiding meet-and-greets.

Locals were still wondering about the power-blocking tech that Padma had coached all the Supers not to discuss.

They didn’t want to give other Villains any ideas, nor give the norms a reason to suggest all superpowered individuals should be barred from using their abilities.

It was a hotly debated topic on late-night news programs, along with whether former Villains should be allowed to crawl out from the dark side.

Repairing and repaving what Quake had crumbled outside HQ had been a good distraction. And making good on a whole lot of damage claims. Plans were underway to bring Friendship Park back to its former glory. And seriously, what Villain would be foolish enough to come to Vector City now?

If they did, Joan was ready.

“Checking out all the comments about lesbian icon Spark?” Sadie teased.

“It’s so embarrassing,” Joan said, cheeks warming.

“It’s awesome.”

“Glad you think so.”

Spark didn’t discuss her personal life despite people wanting to know all about the two newest Supers. No Hero divulged that sort of information. She couldn’t even remember when it got leaked that the Villains Spark and Ice were gay.

Sadie had assured her more than once that Joanie Maloney was very much her girlfriend, and they had a wonderful, safe, private life together.

“I need to use the restroom,” Gus announced. “Dadgum bladder can’t hold anything these days.”

“This way,” Perry said, leading her toward the two small washrooms.

Sadie not so subtly reached for the pastry bag sitting on the counter. “My arms don’t hurt anymore after our workouts.”

“You’re getting used to it,” Joan said, peeking at the large round treats. “And getting good at it.”

“I don’t know if I’ll be up for it the rest of the week with everything going on here.”

“Of course.”

“I need to conserve my energy for a quickie or two in our busy schedules.” Sadie waggled her eyebrows.

Joan sighed. “I’m gonna miss regular morning sex.”

“Me, too. But I’m confident we’ll find the time.”

They laughed together. Joan kissed her cheek. There was a lot going on. Scary, yes, to both be starting new phases of their lives. But they had each other’s support as a constant.

Sadie pulled out a strawberry concha, making yummy sounds. These had been given as a joke, really. It wasn’t the same as expecting a freebie.

Things were gonna be different now. They were changing for the better, right? All good things from here on out: for Superhero Joan, for café owner Sadie, for them as a couple.

Right?