Page 102 of Fanning the Flames

Sadie rubbed her back, murmuring reassurances that racked Joan with more tears.

After a minute or so, Sadie said, “Can you tell me what happened? Is this because of that thing with the management company? I told her off good about that disgusting superpowers rider.”

“No,” Joan snuffled. “Gus said… But it’s not true. I don’t want it to be true.”

“What did Gus say?”

“I don’t know what I’d do if…” She drew back from the security of Sadie’s arms. It was too painful to say this while touching her.

Joan closed her eyes and admitted her single biggest fear to Sadie, to herself.

“I’m terrified I’m going to lose you.”

“Oh, Joanie.”

“I’m afraid what happened with Melvin will happen again. That’s why I’ve been so clingy. I feel so damn guilty you had to go through that. I want to protect you from anything bad, even though I know I can’t be there every second of every day. That doesn’t stop me from wanting to be.”

She risked opening her eyes to find Sadie’s brows drawn together, sympathy written all over her face. “I’m not going anywhere,” she said, touching Joan’s cheek.

“We made all these plans. I’m supposed to park Hot and Cold in front of Sadie’s Café. We have this perfect quiet life. But the truck’s gone. You can’t get your ideal location. You might not want to be with me if we don’t have all that.”

“Of course I want to be with you.”

Joan chugged in a shaky breath. “You lost out on your café because of your connection to me.”

“Honey, I wouldn’t have signed that lease even if I’d never met you. I don’t want to work with people who restrict who can come to what’s supposed to be a safe space.”

Okay, that was true, but… “I wanted to be there with you today, and I couldn’t because I’m, well,me. Still Spark. Always and forever Spark.”

“That’s okay,” Sadie said.

Joan dropped her face in Sadie’s lap. She didn’t want to lose her. Couldn’t lose her. She looked up and whispered, “What if I want to do something else?”

“Do you mean work with the Supers? Like all the time?”

Joan nodded.

“I think that’s wonderful.”

“But it changes everything.”

Sadie skimmed a soothing hand up and down her back. “You might recall I thought you were a Superhero when we first met. You were so kind, and looked out for everyone you cared about. As far as I’m concerned, you’ve always been a Superhero.”

“Even when you found out I was Spark and had been lying to you?” Joan huffed.

“Okay, maybe not right then. But I knew you were a hero deep down.” She gave Joan a beautiful, earnest smile. “I fell in love withyou, Joan Malone. I want you to do what you truly want. And I think that’s something bigger than running a food truck.”

Wrapping her arms around Sadie’s hips, Joan said, “Even if it might pull us apart?”

“Why would it?”

“It’s something Gus said.”

Sadie snorted. “I can’t wait to hear this.”

“She said Supers can’t have relationships with norms because they never work out. I’d always be worried about your safety, which I already do. That it’s too hard.”

“Since when have you been afraid of a little hard work?” She rubbed Joan’s shoulder. “And also consider the source. And she also didn’t factor into the equation how absolutely head over heels I am for you. And alsoalsoI’m about to become a lean, mean fighting machine.”

---