“This is my home,” Sadie stated so there was no confusion. “It’s where I’ve always wanted to be.”
“We’re excited about this possible café location,” Dad said, giving Mom a look likeSay something nice.
“We are,” Mom said. “I liked that neighborhood when you lived there. It’s quiet, and…”
And less likely to have Super activity.
Dad pulled a fairly genuine smile. “We want to hear all about it on Monday.”
“Thanks,” Sadie said, her heart warming from their support, even if it was a bit reluctant. “That means a lot.”
“We know it’s what you want.” To Joan, he said, “And you’ll recover from this setback. Sadie tells us you’re very resilient.”
Joan nodded. “It just sucks right now.”
“You can get an even better food truck,” said Mom.
“Yeah.” Joan gave her a strained smile. There was something odd about the way she reacted every time that was brought up. Obviously, she was hurting and in shock. But still…
“Unless you want to do something else,” Sadie lightly prompted.
But Charming Joanie was back, putting on her disarming grin. “I’ll be busy helping Sadie’s Café get up and running.”
Sadie smiled back and accepted the sweet kiss Joan dropped on her cheek.
The focus turned to a late dinner. A solid meal before Joan had to shower and sleep. Tomorrow she was planning on doing whatever it took, as Spark or not, to make the city safe for these dreams.
Sadie studied her strong, powerful, superpowered partner. Her dreams were coming true. What if Joan’s were changing, and all of this was steering her toward what she was meant to do?
Perry always said Spark was a part of her no matter what. What if Spark could be as good as the woman inside the bodysuit?
CHAPTER16
Joan flicked sparks off her fingertips onto the shiny lobby floor at Super HQ. Mark did the same with a burst of snow. Either the Supers were too busy to turn on that power-blocking thing, or more unlikely, they thought it was no longer needed. Once Perry got there, they were supposed to go over some new information the Heroes had gathered.
Her brother shifted his weight, drumming his hands on his thighs. “So Sadie’s parents hugged you when they left last night. What’s the big deal? Aren’t they huggy people?”
“They like, really hugged me. Hugs that said they appreciated me looking out for their daughter. It was nice.”
“I’m glad they warmed up to you.”
“I think they like me.” Joan rolled her eyes. “As long as they never find out I’m Spark.”
“Yeah. Sades said that would be the worst thing imaginable for them. Good thing we’ll get the truck up and running so you have a cover again.”
And therein laid the heart of the problem.
She really did like working at Hot and Cold. She wanted everything she and Sadie had talked about since their first date. But she couldn’t ignore this strange pull to do something more. Something that would drag her back to the world of superpowers and secret identities and lying. But doing it for better reasons this time.
Only that could mean losing everything she’d built with Sadie.
Kade lumbered in with Darlene, both in their Super suits. Darlene pulled her facemask back so it dangled behind her neck. Kade did the same. He had a couple of short scratches around his eyes and mouth not unlike the one healing beneath Joan’s eye. Gifts from his tussle with Prowl.
“My ears hurt,” he said loudly.
“Squawk?” Joan guessed.
Yanking her blue gloves off, Darlene said, “We need to invest in something to dampen the noise.”
