Page 2 of Infamous Heart

“Not to change the subject.” Alejandro was about to say something inappropriate. It was his only predictable trait. “Do you think Zipper is fast to the finish line in the bedroom?”

Everybody turned to look at the door. The question hung in the air and now it became a game. Who would break the silence to answer his question? I bet on Xander. Despite his dislike of superheroes, he wasn’t a prude in the bedroom. I bet he thought—

“I’m more interested in how fast he’s ready for round two.”

Bernard saying something inappropriate? The burly man raised an eyebrow as he returned to his coffee. Alejandro’s eyes darted to Xander, and me, shocked that the big man had joined in a racy conversation.

“Bernard,” Alejandro whispered. “Have you,” he checked to make sure Chad was out of ear shot, “hooked up with a Centurion? Basher? I can see you on all fours…”

The coffee shop filled with the sound of cell phones ringing. I reached for my phone and opened the HeroApp™. Thanks to working at the magazine, I had met plenty of superheroes, but it was always more exciting to see them in action. Several blocks away, a villain had broken into a warehouse. The app came in handy when deciding which streets to walk on my way to work. No point in stumbling into an alien invasion or a cyborg army trying to overthrow the government.

“Gentleman, it looks like I have to get to work.” Bernard waived his phone. Whenever the HeroApp™ went off, it meant the Centurions needed him. “I need to make sure there’s a statement ready when they blow up another building.” He crafted the lies so well, I almost believed him. Bernard really needed to get to the secret lair, suit up, and protect the city. It was almost cute that he played average citizen.

“Me, too,” Xander growled. Whenever superheroes went into battle, there were bound to be injuries. When a hero needed medical attention, it was up to Xander and his team to make sure they were bandaged and ready to go back into the world.

“While you suckers are at work, I have a date.” Alejandro pulled out his wallet, leaving a tip under the mug.

“Of course, you do.” There was no point in hiding my eyes as they rolled backward. “Just make sure this time they don’t steal your wallet.”

“Nothing left to steal,” he thumbed through his wallet. “Maybe I’ll try that trick and tie him up.”

“And with that…” Bernard gave a wave as he and Xander exited the coffee shop.

“Oh, look.” Alejandro inspected his phone. “Looks like Crimson Knight is responding to the alert.”

I flipped to the detail screen. There was a little check mark in the top right corner, reminding me I had snapped a photo of the hero in action. The others mocked me for my love of superheroes and my determination to up my score in the HeroApp™.

“I never shagged a Knight.” Alejandro did everything but lick his lips as he spoke.

Okay, so maybe I wasn’t the biggest hero chaser amongst this group. My love of heroes didn’t end with their capes on the bedroom floor as I added another notch to my bedpost. But to be fair, the Crimson Knight had a five o’clock shadow I wouldn’t mind feeling—

“Ha!” Alejandro laughed as he got up. “You’re thinking about it now, too. You haven’t experienced sex until you’ve hooked up with a superhero.”

Thanks, Alejandro. Now that image was going to be in my head all day. I guess it could be worse.

* * *

If the superhero showdown wasn’t so far out of the way, I’d have taken a peek. I was only two superhero sightings from leveling up on the HeroApp™. It sounded foolish, but being a hero was a childhood fantasy. Unless I found a magical amulet, or sold my soul to a demon, spotting them in the sky was the closest I’d get to wearing a cape.

A flag above the comic bookstore whipped back and forth in the wind. The giant “open” letters appeared and vanished as the breeze attempted to tear it from the holder. The storefront was fairly thin, perhaps a third the size of the coffee shop. New posters had been hung, providing teasers for a massive crossover event occurring later in the summer.

“Griffin!” Lydia waived a hand from inside the store, barely visible above the posters. Usually, I’d spend the rest of my morning debating the best hero, or most useless super power. After today’s bad news, I really just wanted to wallow until I had to be at my desk. She detected my hesitation.

Cursing filled the comic shop, a cardboard cutout of a comic character toppling as she tried to speed past it. Lydia was hands down my favorite geek. Her recommendations always hit the mark, and her love of art warmed my heart.

“Don’t act like you didn’t hear me. Everybody hears me.” This was a fact. “I have the newest issue ofDie, Hero, Die.You’re going to lose your mind when you get to—“

“Spoilers!” Yeah, she tended to get caught up in her excitement and give away the cliffhanger in every comic I purchased.

Standing just over five feet, she should be near invisible. The black t-shirt with a supervillain holding the severed head of a hero would swallow the average person. But the neon blue hair, gathered in pigtails, and the spiked choker, marked her as something other than average.

When she sped back inside, I followed. The smell of comic books bordered on arousing. Contained within twenty-six pages are endless possibilities. Once upon a time, I wanted to be a professional artist and create my own comics. Unfortunately, I also needed to afford rent and make sure my pizza delivery guy got paid.

“Is it wrong that I have naughty thoughts about Ricardo?”

Getting hot and bothered by a fictional character in a comic? Yes, but that made two of us. “I’d lick the sweat off his chest.”

“You’re nasty. I love it.”

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