Page 149 of Wherever You Are

Willow moves closer to me to whisper, “You deserved to win. Your superhero was the best.” She says it like it’s so simple.

A while ago, Lily and Lo gave every Superheroes & Scones employee a chance to create a new superhero inThe Fourth Degreeuniverse.

The Fourth Degreeis a wildly popular comic book series from Halway Comics. Vic Whistler (Extent) is the main character, but they’re diverging to new lines and opening up the entire world for more heroes, antiheroes, and villains.

The whole thing has been plaguing me ever since the winner was announced. I just…I don’t see how I won out ofeveryonewho works there. People were making flow charts for this shit. It was a big deal.

If Lily was the judge, maybe I’d think she was taking pity on me, but no one in the store has ever talked to Belinda and Jackson Howell, the artists and creators ofThe Fourth Degree. It’s not like they could have played favorites.

Compared to the other employees, I shouldn’t have won. I barely read comics. Barely know the lore. I’m doing better than when I first showed up, but I’m not a walking encyclopedia like most of them.

My throat is dry. “I don’t know. Carter had a cool superhero.”

Willow’s face scrunches up. “His was basically a rip off ofX-Men. And Maya was right when she called it a Walmart Pyro. You know, Maya even said if she had a vote, it would’ve been for Sorin-X. So it must be good. If you don’t believe anyone else, you have to believe her taste at least.”

Maya Ahn would have voted for my superhero…

Damn.

That hits me. Because Willow’s old roommate is the last person to feed you bullshit, and she probably has the most comics knowledge at Superheroes & Scones. More than anyone.

Sorin-X.

My creation is going to be an actual superhero. Or…more like anantihero. At least, that’s how I pitched him. He has teleportation powers linked to the proximity of the girl he loves. He can’t teleport more than four miles away from her. And he’s a recovering alcoholic.

Lo never gave me shit for it, since it’s kind of obvious I drew my inspiration from him. So that’s something.

I tap my computer screen. “This shouldn’t take me long. Maybe just tonight.” Daisy’s ex-friends have been finding ways to get her phone number, even after Daisy blocked them. They’ve been harassing her enough that she asked me for help. Hence, the laptop.

It sucks that the price of fame can be so cruel. Like past shitty friends coming back to make your life hell. Jealously eats people up in different ways, I guess. I wish that Daisy’s ex-friends could find their chill, take a hint and stop texting her.

Willow pushes up her glasses. “It’s nice that you’re doing this for Daisy, but…are you sure you want to? Isn’t it illegal?”

“Yeah, but is itreallyillegal if I’m doing it to help someone else?”

Willow ponders this for a second. “Um…that sounds like a trick question.”

Damn, she really is an angel. I lean in to kiss the top of her nose.

“Mother of dragons!” Lo yells at the Cobalt’s mansion.

We’ve been waiting for what feels like forever for Connor and Rose.

Dressed in a navy blue, silver, red Thor costume and a winged helmet, Daisy outstretches her plastic hammer towards Lily. “You stoleth thy lightsaber, you pesky fairy.”

Lily looks even ganglier in her Tinker Bell costume, green tutu dress and wings. She whips out a blue plastic beam. “Prepare to meet thy doom, Thor.” Lily and Daisy are grinning as the plastic weapons make contact.

Ryke gave Lily his lightsaber, and he also lent Daisy his blackish-brown robe. So now he’s just dressed in a tunic and pants. I nudge Willow’s shoulder and nod towards Ryke. “He still look like Anakin Skywalker to you?”

Willow grimaces and shakes her head. “Lo’s going to be upset.ButDaisy is pregnant, so maybe he’ll understand that Ryke is trying to keep his pregnant wife warm.” Willow beams at the wordspregnantandwife.

Daisy went through hell and back trying to get pregnant, and Willow’s happy for her best friend. Hell, I’m happy for Daisy. It’s hard not to want joy for someone who brings so much joy to other people.

It’s why I’m confused whenever anyone wantsmeto be happy. You know, why want that?

I point to my laptop screen, catching Willow’s attention. “I’m going for it.”

“I’ll bail you out of jail if anything goes wrong,” she says softly, smiling.