Sadie chuckled to herself. A year ago, she’d have swooned over Catch’s brave heroics. But the woman behind the navy-blue mask—Darlene—was pretty dull. All of Vector City’s Superheroes had visited Hot and Cold as their true selves. Checking up on Joan and Mark for sure. Darlene couldn’t hold a candle to Joan. Well, she could literally, but Joan would melt it just to spite her.
Speaking of Joan… She was finishing up the dishes in the truck, so this was a good time to catch Mark alone. “Hey, I wanted to ask you something,” Sadie said. “Joanie had another nightmare. It’s her second one this month.”
Mark’s eyebrows met in concern.
“She keeps telling me they’re nothing to worry about, but I know there’s more to it. Can you talk to her?”
“Of course.”
“I think… I mean, they started after the incident with Trick. I think she hasn’t dealt with what happened, and it’s coming out in other ways.”
Like how it was coming out in Mark by how he spent more and more nights on the town or at Sadie and Joan’s place. Like he didn’t want to be alone with his thoughts. But that was a conversation Joanie needed to have with him.
“I just know it’s easier for her to open up about that part of her life with you,” Sadie added.
“She worships the ground you walk on. That’s why she doesn’t like bringing that crap up around you. But I’ll ask her about it.”
“Thank you.”
Mark nudged her with his elbow. “Are you still doing okay after getting Trick-napped?”
“Oh, I’m fine,” Sadie said. “It was weird being under mind control, and I definitely needed Joanie to drive me to and from work for those few weeks afterward. But it got better. Knowing Trick can’t hurt anyone anymore really helps.”
“Good.”
Joan exited the truck, fitted flannel sleeves rolled up, hair tousled from wearing her hat. Her glorious forearms glistened with drops of water. Ungh, she was so hot. Literally, figuratively, and all points in between.
Dampness seeped through the cement floor and walls. Sadie went over to the long table to grab her magenta fleece off one of the plastic chairs.
“Are you cold?” Joan asked.
“A little.”
“Here.” She wrapped Sadie in her arms. A moment later, her body heat radiated out.
“Ahh. Thank you.” Sadie nestled closer and rested her cheek in the crook of Joan’s neck. The faint odor of canola oil from the flat-top and fryer clung to her shirt.
“We’ve got a lot of arugula,” Mark said around the sandwich in his mouth. “I was thinking of using it for pesto. Mashed chickpeas and shaved parmesan for a vegetarian option.”
“With sliced Roma tomatoes?” Joan nodded against Sadie’s forehead. “Sounds good.”
“I’ll see what’s in season at the farmers market on Saturday. I want fresh tomatoes.”
“Keep our standards high, chef,” Sadie said. The cherry tomato plant on their apartment balcony was not a fan of the cooler winter weather.
Mark started to say something, then cried out as a glop of ranch dripped onto his shirt. He swore and rushed to the sink.
Joan tilted her chin down. “So we’ve got some extra time this evening,” she murmured.
“We could watch the news and go to bed like a proper old couple,” Sadie joked. Though that sounded pretty good.
“We could. Or…” Joan’s hands slid lower. “We could use the bed for some different activities.”
“We’ll see when we get home.”
“I can thoroughly warm you up.” Joan squeezed her butt cheeks.
“You always do.”
