Page 85 of Breathless Recruiter

“Wyatt…” Orion leaned forward. “Wyatt Supreme rushed into danger and stopped an evil scientist? Buddy, that doesn’t sound like… well… you.”

The smile spread across my face. I tried hiding my fears, but these were the people who knew me best. I’m sure they uncovered my secret, even if they didn’t say it. Mr. Supreme, the scaredest hero in all of Vanguard… until now.

“I rushed inandsaved the day.”

“And you weren’t terrified?” asked Drew.

Dustin and I promised to keep our alter egos secret, at least for now. I wanted to tell them my hunky boyfriend had superpowers. The only person he agreed I could tell, had been Earth Mom. She had a stern talk with him about putting her baby in danger. Afterward, she confessed she was proud of me. We’d be flying north after work to have dinner with her.

“Of course, I was scared.” I tried removing the smile, but it held fast. I wasn’t happy as much as I was satisfied. “But every hero gets scared.”

Dustin taught me that. Knowing every hero in Vanguard experienced fear made it less scary. It hadn’t gone away, not in the least. It moved to manageable. I still didn’t know what my father meant. Somewhere on Earth, there might be something capable of hurting me. I suspected the ducks, but I’d never know. With this much to protect, I couldn’t live in fear.

“That’s very enlightened of you,” Drew said.

“I’m impressed,” Orion added. “Still think he’s working for the Illuminati. They’re probably trying to develop a super-soldier program. That’s how they’ll make an army.”

Arthur shook his head. “Super soldiers? Really? Now you’re talking nonsense.”

“We share a building with a bunch of people studying superheroes. Am I crazy, or are you being naïve?”

Arthur opened his mouth to speak and paused. “Fine, I’ll talk to Ricardo and make sure he’s not planning world domination.”

“That’s what makes you the best boss,” I said.

“Are we done talking about Wyatt, evil scientists, and the high rate of villains showing up on the property?” Janet knocked her hips into Arthur’s shoulder. “I have questions about his new man-friend.”

Arthur leaned forward, his forehead smacking against the table. “Why do we even pretend these are business meetings?”

“Wyatt, getting down to businessisbusiness.” Janet moonwalked into the break room until she bumped against the counter. She poured the entire pot of coffee into her thermos. “Arthur, are you not getting enough from RRRicardo? Is he not satisfying you…sexually?”

“I hate you,” he said, his cheek smushed against the table.

“Spill it, Wyatt. Give us all the juicy details.” Janet held the sugar over her thermos before giving it a quick stir. Despite the steam, she chugged it as if she were immune to scalding liquids.

“Dustin,” I smiled, “myboyfriendis doing great.”

Drew gave a slight clap. “Congratulations.”

“Do we have to come up with a couple name? Wystin? Dustatt?” asked Janet.

A couple name? Is that something they really did? I thought we only changed our names if we got married, and evenIknew it was too early for that. Though… a lifetime with Dustin wouldn’t be horrible. Maybe I’d ask him which of us was supposed to buy a ring?

“Are you happy?”

Arthur barely lifted his head for the question. He tried to act annoyed, but over the months, I learned he cared. As the boss, he tried to be professional, but with the number of times we drove him out of the break room with his hands in the air, he knew better. It was either admit defeat and join in, or storm around the office all day.

“Very,” I said. “I like him more than chocolate.”

Orion gasped. “You love chocolate.”

Janet pointed at him, mouthing “sarcasm.” I had gotten better at detecting it. Sitting upright in my chair, I puffed out my chest. “I love Dustin.”

“It’s too early for that,” Arthur mumbled.

Janet smacked him on the back of the head. “Hush. Just because you had to break up with the man of your dreams to figure out your shit doesn’t mean Wyatt can’t be in love.”

Earth Mom had mentioned I used the word quickly. “It’s only been a month,” she said.

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