Page 88 of Fanning the Flames

“It doesn’t all fit in one basket. And where would I put what I’m crocheting?”

Sadie giggled with Joan. “We’re looking into our future,” she murmured.

“Fine with me,” Joan murmured back. The warmth in her amber eyes said it truly was. She really was the most amazing woman. More amazing than Amazing Woman.

“Youaremy favorite butthead.”

“You’re my favorite slob.”

Sadie gasped and pretended to punch tiny jabs at Joan’s stomach.

Joan gently took one fist and readjusted her thumb so it rested over her fingers. “You don’t want to tuck your thumb in so it doesn’t get broken.”

“Starting our lessons already,” Sadie said. A twirl of excitement danced up her chest. “I love it.”

She copied the proper thumb position on her other hand. If she learned a few moves, maybe Joan wouldn’t worry about her all the time.

Mom straightened the pile of pink and red craft paper on the island where Sadie had planned on making a string of hearts for Valentine’s Day. “Any self-defense training would be useful. Even if there weren’t these Villains running around starting earthquakes, the city is still a dangerous place.”

Dad rested a hand on her shoulder. “The superpowered people are the ones you’re really mad at.”

Mom snorted. “Those people. A menace is what they are. Every one of them.”

Joan stiffened. That had to touch a raw nerve. How painful for her girlfriend’s parents to think she was a menace. Had her own family said things like that around her when she was young?

“They’re like any group of people,” Sadie said. “Some good, some bad.”

“Mostly bad,” Mom scoffed.

“There were so many of them today,” Dad said. “The ones we thought were gone came back.”

“Spark and Ice? Yes. They were helping the Heroes.” Sadie squeezed Joan’s hand.

“That’s all we need,” said Mom. “More of them wreaking havoc.”

“Spark and Ice stopped the havoc. They did this thing with steam to conceal the food trucks. And Race, the Hero? They stopped Smash from doing any more damage.”

“I saw Lunk and Catch fighting off the Villains,” Joan said. Her slightly pained expression spoke volumes about how hard it was to give them credit.

“Things would’ve been so much worse if Spark and Ice hadn’t stepped in,” Sadie said.

Dad’s mouth twisted doubtfully. “So now they’re reforming Villains?”

“Why not? Anyone is capable of change.”

Joan looked like she wanted to make a break for the sliding glass doors and blast off into the sky. Sadie rubbed her lower back.

“Things are gonna be okay,” she said. “Vector City will bounce back.”

“I still wish you’d move,” Mom groused for the hundredth time.

“I’ve built a life here.” Sadie touched Joan’s sweatshirt. “We’re building a life in our slightly messy apartment full of love.”

That made her girlfriend smile.

“And I’m seeing that place on Monday that’s the perfect spot for my café. It’s something to be happy about, even in uncertain times.”

“I know, but…”

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