Page 86 of Fanning the Flames

Dad tugged on his hat, revealing his mostly bald head. “You always seem to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. First the coffeehouse, now the food truck being parked where there was a big attack.”

Not to mention the little kidnapping you don’t know about…

Joan joined them. “Hi, Mrs. Eagan.”

“Joan, can you please tell me why my daughter keeps putting herself in these dangerous situations?”

“Uh…”

“I’m not putting myself in danger.” Exhaustion from the day meant Sadie had no spoons left to deal with this.

“There’s a lot going on in the city right now,” Joan said.

“A lot of scary, unsafe things,” Mom said.

Sadie ignored them and focused on setting her bag on the floor and taking off the coat she’d borrowed from Beth-Ann.

Joan cleared her throat. “I understand why you’re upset. I’d be upset if I were you. Sadie’s very special. I don’t want anything to happen to her either.”

Sadie shot her a look that saidThat’s not helping.

“I’ve been protecting her as best as I can.”

“We appreciate that,” Dad said, and Mom agreed.

“I don’t need you to protect me,” Sadie muttered.

“You can’t defend yourself against…” Joan paused. She couldn’t say what she wanted: That Sadie was a poor, helpless norm at the mercy of the mighty superpowered, and Spark was the only one who could save her.

“I did pretty well by myself today,” Sadie snapped.

Joan shoved her hands in her back pockets and turned away. Probably worried about sparking in front of Mom and Dad.

Her parents murmured to each other the way they’d done Sadie’s entire life. Deciding what was best for her. And Joan agreed with them! She really was dating someone who wanted to shelter and suffocate her.

Sadie crossed her arms. “Stop it. You know I hate being told what to do. The more you push, the more I’ll rebel and do the opposite.”

“We care about you,” Joan said.

That was a gut punch, coming from her. “You’re the one person who knows how much a little support means to me.”

“Of course I support you.”

“You don’t leave me alone for five minutes. You have to trust me.” She looked at her parents. “Everyone’s been telling me what I need and what I should do, and it’s driving me up the wall. What I really need is for you to trust me and let me make my own damn decisions for myself.”

Her pulse pounded, every beat urging her to get more off her chest.

“I know this is all jumbled and the last thing anyone needs right now, but I’m tired and frustrated and upset.” She went over to the kitchen island, then turned to Joan. “If you’re that worried about me not being able to take care of myself, why don’t you teach me how to fight?”

Joan shot a look at Sadie’s parents.

“You know how to spar from your old job. At the gym. Teach me a few things.”

“You can’t fight someone with superpowers,” Dad said.

Mom started to say more of the same, only Joan said, “You’re right.”

Sadie started to say damn well she was right, only Joan’s whole demeanor had softened.

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