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The past two days had been like the Vector City of old with news headlines filled with Super activity. Details about the trio of new Villains in town. Questions about what their Heroes were doing about them.

The last thing Sadie wanted was to pretend like everything was normal, but what else was there to do but keep on keeping on? Even Joan had encouraged her to keep her plans of visiting Vector City Coffee to see Nyah on her birthday.

So now she was standing behind the counter she used to work at with friends she used to work with, making drinks she used to make.

She glanced at the wall of windows at the front.

Those were in danger of getting crashed into again.

The last time she’d visited, there were tables and chairs against those windows. Today, they were shoved back.

The sky was a cloudy, eerie green, the air filled with misty moisture. Where was this rain last summer when they’d really needed it?

Oh, right—Ether hadn’t been messing with their atmosphere.

Sadie poured a steamed almond milk leaf design on top of a lavender latte to-go.

Her former coworkers laughed at how she’d stepped right in.

Amit’s wavy black hair was shaggier, and Nyah had recently gotten long sky-blue braids.

Both still had to wear those very drab dove-gray aprons that matched the white-and-gray color scheme of the place.

“You don’t have to do that,” Amit told her, as bossy as ever.

“I want to,” Sadie said.

“You came here for me, not to do unpaid labor,” Nyah said.

“I can’t help it. I like barista-ing.” She called out the order and set it on the counter. The young new hire guy gave her a look like Kindly get out of my workspace. Maybe he was the one who’d picked the slightly more upbeat indie music.

Amit shooed her from behind the counter. “How’s Joan?”

“Joan is great.”

“Still treating you well?”

“Like a queen,” Sadie said, smiling to herself.

“And the food truck?”

“It’s going really well.”

“If things go south, you can come back to work here,” Amit said.

Crossing her arms, Sadie said, “You just miss being all up in my business.”

“Never a dull moment in your love life.”

“Well, thank you for the offer, but it won’t be necessary.”

A few seconds passed where she was pretty sure Amit was thinking I highly doubt that . “Have you talked to Greta lately?” he said.

“I don’t really talk to her. She’s Joan’s friend.” And an active thief. “I think she’s in France.”

“Maybe it’s the time difference,” Nyah said to Amit.

“Do you need her help to get out of the latest jam in whatever game you’re playing?” Sadie said.

“Yes,” they chorused.

She shook her head and went to straighten up the condiment counter. She didn’t love that Greta hung out with them on occasion to talk gaming. That was probably all it was, and she was Joan’s best friend, so she probably wouldn’t do anything to Joan’s girlfriend’s friends, but still…

Nyah joined her to check the small milk carafes. Leaning toward her, Sadie asked, “How’s your aunt doing?”

“She’s okay. Not better, but not worse. She still needs her regular dialysis.”

“I’m sorry. But I’m glad to hear things are stable.”

“Everything’s so expensive, though. I’ve picked up some extra shifts to help her out.”

“You’re the best niece ever.”

“She’s worth it.” Nyah smirked. “How’s your mom handling the influx of Villains?”

Sadie rolled her eyes. “The daily texts are back.” Her phone buzzed in her back pocket like she’d summoned her mother’s check-in. Only it was Joan.

Just wanted to make sure you got there okay. LMK when you want to be picked up.

I’m here. I can walk to the truck when I’m done

“You weren’t kidding,” Nyah laughed.

“It’s Joan. The other person constantly checking on me.”

Let me come and get you. It’s raining.

Ugh, it was barely precipitating. Irritation prickled under her skin, but she understood. Joan didn’t like these new Villains. She didn’t trust them. Kind of like Sadie’s mother.

Oh, no. Was she dating someone like her mother?

If you insist. Come by in an hour

Thank you sweetheart. Love you.

Nyah read the text chain over her shoulder. “Aww, that’s sweet.”

“It’s…something.” Sadie reacted to Joan’s text with a heart.

“Joan’s worried about you?”

“She’s being overly cautious because of what happened the other night.”

“Guess you can’t blame her.”

“I guess. But I was perfectly fine walking around by myself when we had Villains before.”

Ny gave her a look. “You got abducted walking to work.”

“That was different.” Not that she could explain how.

“Yeah, that was different.”

Glossing over more potential questions, Sadie said, “Trick was about using people, and these guys look like they want to break things. So I’ll definitely not be hanging out by the front windows.

But yeah, it’s really nice to have a partner who cares enough about me to not want that to happen again.

I’m just prickly about this stuff because my mom’s so overbearing with her concern, y’know? ”

“I get it.” Nyah quirked a pierced eyebrow. “This must be tough for Joan.”

You have no idea. “It is.”

They moved over to let an older white man using a cane set his coffee down to grab some napkins. Nyah kept looking at Sadie with her usual amusement tinged with This girl .

Sadie slid her phone in her jeans pocket. “What sucks is that I was finally ready to take action on my café. But with the new Villains in town, I’m not sure.”

“Insurance won’t go down,” Nyah said.

“Nothing will go down. If anything, rates will go up.” Sadie gestured to the tables pushed away from the windows. “How soon did you move everything back after they showed up?”

“Before we left that night.”

“See? I’ve always been worried that I’ll open my café and it’ll get destroyed.”

“That’s too bad. I was hoping you’d find the perfect spot.”

“Me, too.” She glanced over at Amit taking an order and lowered her voice. “You know you’ll be my first phone call. I want you to be the manager.”

A wide smile spread across Nyah’s face. “You do?”

“For sure. I’d trust you to run it efficiently and keep with the friendly vibe I’m going for. And to hire the best employees and train them right.”

“Sure,” Nyah said. “Just say the word. I could use a manager’s salary to help my aunt more.”

Sadie gave her friend a side hug. “I’d love to be able to do that for you. A belated birthday present.”

“I’ll take it. Thanks.”

They side-squeezed before Ny went to assist behind the counter. She’d be a strong, upbeat manager for Sadie’s Café.

Ugh, it really was old Vector City again, being unable to make future plans because of outside forces. Even with financial assistance and support, opening a new business right now was a massive hurdle to…hurdle.

Was she up for the challenge?

* * *

Joan’s phone rang on the bedside table. Whoever was calling before nine a.m. could damn well wait. She rolled over into Sadie’s warmth and wrapped an arm around her. Sadie lightly stirred and hummed sleepily.

They’d just drifted off when it rang again.

“Noooo,” Sadie mumbled, tugging Joan closer.

“Sorry, honey,” she whispered, then kissed Sadie on the temple. She rolled back to her side to see an unknown local number. “It might be the propane guy calling back.”

She did her best to answer non-annoyedly.

“Joan,” said a slightly familiar voice.

“Yes, this is Joan.”

“It’s Zee.”

“Huh?”

“It’s Zee.”

“How did you get— Never mind. Why are you calling?”

“You need to come to Superhero headquarters,” Zee said. “Now.”

Her heart thwacked against her ribcage. Oh, shit. Shit. “Why? What happened?”

Sadie sat up and set a hand on Joan’s shoulder.

“We need to see you and Mark and Perry,” said Zee. “It’s urgent.”

Fucking shit hell. “What happened?”

“Nothing specific, other than the Villains who invaded our city.”

“We have nothing to do with?—”

“We know you have nothing to do with them. That’s why we need to see you.”

“I don’t understand?—”

“Get here within the hour. This is not a request to ignore,” Zee stated. “I’m calling your brother and Perry, so just get here.”

The call ended.

Sadie scooted closer. “What is it?”

Joan stared at her phone. “The Supers want us to report to their HQ. Zee wouldn’t say why.”

“Oh no.”

“They said they know we aren’t involved with the new Villains, so I don’t know if we’re in trouble, or…”

“I’ll go with you,” Sadie said, tossing back the covers.

“Stay here. Zee didn’t say anything about you. I don’t want you getting caught in the middle.”

“But I want to be there for you.”

Concern lines wrinkled Sadie’s forehead. Joan cupped her cheek and said, “I’ll feel better knowing you’re safe at home.”

She got out of bed before Sadie could debate her. Joan had no idea what she was walking into. A trap? A truce?

The Supers were probably fishing for intel. Not that the former Villains could share much more than the unhelpful factoid that Oceanview Villains liked to party.

She pulled off her tank top and sleep shorts and threw on pants with some give in them and a red flannel. Looser clothes in case action was required.

After splashing water on her face and quickly brushing her teeth, she went to put on one of the pairs of sneakers at the door. “Wait,” Sadie called, hurrying from the bedroom in her pink-and-white-striped pajamas.

She launched herself at Joan and hugged tight. “Be safe,” Sadie said.

“I will.”

“I love you so much.”

“I love you more than anything.”

“Let me know what’s going on when you can.”

“I’ll try.”

They kissed, and then Joan forced herself to pull away. She typed in the code to disarm the alarm. She hadn’t even realized she’d stopped setting it before all this new activity began.

Sadie watched her from the doorway until they lost sight of each other.

Joan took the stairs to the parking garage to jog off nervous energy. Knowing Sadie was safe was the one thing easing her mind.