Page 4 of I Dated a Retired Hero

“Sourcing?”

“Getting chemicals and new substances from around the world so that we can continue the research to provide specific actives with materials that will help them move through the world without being self-conscious or afraid of hurting those around them.”

Drin perked up. “That sounds like something I would like to be part of.”

They shook hands and got Drin dessert before they headed down to HR.

Litha had her assistant.

Two years after that meeting, Litha sat in her office and listened to Drin and one of her partners in the outer office. The second masculine chuckle made Litha sigh. Two of them. Lovely. She forced down pangs of jealousy.

Drin had joined the BDC after Litha had, but her metabolic activation was easier to find partners for. Litha was still stuck with one match who just wanted to take her on picnics and rides in the park.

She felt a little grumpy when a date request came up on her com. She jabbed a denial. The last time she had been out with him, he had rushed to help a bus load of children tipping over a bridge and had been shocked when she had sliced the hands off the men who had been trying to take the children hostage. It wasn’t so much slicing as burning the hands to ash so they couldn’t use their detonators.

Her patron had rescued the bus, and she summoned a lift back to the city as he left her alone to face the agents and peacekeepers.

She walked into the BDC headquarters and removed her mask. Zera was in the hub and doing some paperwork. “Wow, Litha. You look like hell.”

“Yeah, well, I think my foray into trying to find romance is over.” She walked to the change room and changed into her normal daywear.

“What if your patron calls for you?”

Litha sighed. “He can fuck himself or one of the other ladies on his roster. I am done. Done. Done. Done. I resign from the BDC.”

Zera came into the change room. “You are joking.”

Litha looked at the woman who had become a friend. “Not joking. I am so frustrated I want to carve an expletive on the moon.”

Zera blinked. “Please don’t. What’s really wrong?”

“Just what I said. I am so lonely my skin aches all the time, and there is no one willing to hold me.” Litha looked at her. “Don’t even tell me that you know what I mean. I see you and the team together, and I just want someone to hold me the way they hold you. It’s definitely desperation.”

“And howling loneliness. We have an escort who can give you a mental experience.”

Litha shrugged. “No. I don’t think that would be a good idea. My self-control is all that keeps me from scorching the city around me. You remember all the panels I had to go through when you imported me.”

Zera sighed. “I... hadn’t thought it through when I approved your patron.”

“Well, you can un-approve him, for me at least. He can find someone else to hang out with when he just doesn’t want to look like he’s solo.”

“I guess you two were a bad fit. You aren’t helpless enough for him.”

Litha turned to her friend and exhaled slowly. “No. I am not. You didn’t mention that in his dossier. Well, that explains the camaraderie that we have. I am just done.”

“Was there anything in particular tonight?”

Litha dragged in a deep breath. “A set of kidnappers. A bus was pushed to the edge of a bridge. I took out the detonators the guys had and their hands to the elbow. He got the bus back into position. We talked to the investigators, and he flew off.”

“He left you there?”

“Yeah. I am done. Done. Done. Done.”

She smoothed her hands down her work skirt and exited the space. “Consider this my official resignation.”

Zera paused. “From the BDC, right? Right?”

Litha looked at her. “I am going to think about it. I don’t know if I can continue to be around so many happy couples. It’s wearing on my nerves.”

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