“Kiss me.”
“Let’s live in a different time together.”
“Who hurt you and where do I find them?”
“I wanna leave my wife and time for you because you’re worth it.”
But all of those words would have changed fate. Images of my parents with me one minute, then a future without them flashed into my mind. I leaned down to tuck my head against her neck and breathed her in. We stayed wrapped together on that park bench into the morning hours. Our arms were a safe haven from the troubles that waited, our breath and steady heartbeat the only tie to reality. In our little bubble, everything was ok. We were worthy of comfort, and we found it in each other.
When time finally came to untangle, I felt ease and knew I wasn’t going to give Chasity what she wanted. If anything, I felt strong enough to release myself from that trapped life.
“I’m going home to sleep for a few hours before work.” She remained close and glanced at my lips. I wanted to give in. But I had to do things right.
“I’ll drop by for lunch again. I’ve gotta take care of some things.” Like my future.
Chapter Twelve
Emily
“So, I have powers.” I raised my eyebrows.
“Yeah. Wild, right?” When I got no response, I hurried to explain.
“It doesn’t change anything about our friendship. I just found out that, when people feel all warm and cozy around me, it isn’t just my natural calming effects. It’s like a thing.” I bit my lip before continuing, “I’m confusing you. You look confused. I’m confused. One minute I was normal me, and now I’m like a superhero? Although, I don’t know what I bring to the hero table, but I’ve been invited to sit at it… Ugh, I sound like an idiot. He’s going to think I’m nuts,” I groan to the pink-haired girl staring at me in the bathroom mirror.
I’d been rehearsing how I’d tell Vincent about my conversation with Phillip. It felt weird keeping something like that from him. I didn’t have all the answers yet. Phillip knew everything and all the futures, and he knew he wasn’t the one to tell me certain things. I’d have to wait for Draco to come down from the mountains to take a look at me.
My thoughts drifted to the future that flashed into my mind when Phillip touched me. Which apparently hadn’t happened before. When he explained those were flashes from various futures, I patted him on the shoulder and walked back to the elevator of the secret underground headquarters. The Hero Society headquarters was under my favorite Italian restaurant! He pleaded with me to stay and continue to hear him out.
“The future can always change. One single act takes it in a different path. You saw glimmers of the future where I see all futures and the likelihood of them happening.” He sat me down in a cozy living room-ish space. The couch was well worn but still comfy, and you could tell the other heroes liked this room the most. It had pictures, art, water marks from cups on an end table. Not messy but lived-in and appreciated.
I wasn’t one of those people who wanted to know the future. Whenever the girls in school would ask that question, I’d quickly say no. I had shitty control over my mind on a good day, let alone if I actually KNEW what would happen. I shut the images out as soon as they tried to enter. Vincent still had a wife and a life. I wouldn’t jeopardize our friendship for whatever future I saw with us together.
“Don’t be a chicken. He deserves honesty.” I gave myself the meanest glare I possessed and grabbed my backpack with waters and snacks. Chastine was out with her friends, and besides telling her that dinner was ready and go to school, we hadn’t talked. So when Selene mentioned something about taking her kid to the zoo and invited me, I did a little excited dance. I loved the zoo and hadn’t been in ages. She said I should invite letters guy, and I did.
Vincent said he’d try in our last letter, so I was hopeful. I knew him to be true to his word. If he said he’d try, then he’d try. The future of us holding hands flew past me again, and I shook my head to clear it out.
“No, no, no.” I cursed as I closed up the apartment and noticed a family down the hall staring at me.
“Morning!” I waved and hauled ass. I had animals to adore and friends to laugh with. No doubt Vincent would be a hoot at the zoo.
Selene waited for me at the entrance with her little bundle in a black stroller. My little emo baby niece.
“It’s your favorite Aunty Emily!” I sweetened my voice to greet two-year-old Bella. The toddler squealed and pointed at the big Seahill Zoo sign that had a variety of animals painted on it.
“We’re going to see tigers and bears and—”
“Howler Emilys. I mean howler monkeys,” Vincent’s voice teased from behind me, and I ignored him.
“Don’t listen to the big guy. We are going to have all the fun and eat snacks and buy stuff at the gift shop!”
“You spoil her.” Selene chuckled while handing us tickets and introducing herself and the kiddo to my friend.
“Nice to meet you. Emily talks about you a lot.” Vincent smiled and waved to Bella, after which I ignored the tugging feeling in my uterus. Selene pushed the stroller toward the entrance while talking about how she’s my best friend and she’ll fuck him up if he hurts me. To which he leaned in to whisper something in her ear, and she nodded once, then shut up.
Weird, but I wasn’t going to let it get me down. We had animals to see, and I needed this day off so badly.
“Where to first?” I grabbed a map and scanned it for the best strategic path. Whenever we were out and about, I tended to be the mom of the group, making sure everyone had what they needed, could find the bathroom, ate snacks, and didn’t get too overheated. Selene was used to it, but I wondered if Vincent would get annoyed.
