“Thanks. I think?”
“Don’t mind me,” she said, backing up. She spoke while smacking her gum. “You two get on with your date.”
The heat rushed to my cheeks, and I forced my powers to keep them from glowing red. I wasn’t sure if I should tip her extra or demand that her father fire his daughter. I continued wiping my palms on my jeans. At this rate, I’d have a wet spot.
“It’s okay, pookie.” Booker’s grin turned devious. “He gets flustered about his love life.”
Becky just about squealed. “I get it. Danny’s the same way.”
She went back to where her father shoved a pizza into the oven. My eyes narrowed. As embarrassed as I might be,I’d rather deal with this than delve into my emotional state at Cypher’s apartment. Fine, Becky got a big tip.
“Bring me out for pizza and solving corporate espionage—” He held up the two papers. “You’re such a romantic.”
If I didn’t know better, I think he enjoyed my discomfort. “Pookie?”
“It looks like you’re stuck with me for a little longer.”
“I guess so.”
He pulled the papers away as Jake worked the pizza tray between us. From the kitchen, Becky stared at us as if she were heavily invested in this ‘date night.’ Whatever had been rattling around in my brain vanished as I inhaled the delicious mixture of cheese, pepperoni and?—
Booker gasped. “That’s enough mushrooms to choke a man.”
Yes. Yes, it was.
8
Booker: I ate too much pizza.
Drew: Said no man ever.
Booker: I’m going to dream of mushrooms.
Drew: …
Booker: Get your mind out of the gutter!
Drew: I’m going to file a complaint with HR.
Booker: Not my worst “date.”
The steam escapedfrom the top of my coffee mug. I had gotten to work early, but instead of heading to the office, I lingered in the Synergy lobby. I rested my elbows on the table as employees walked in by the dozen. They held briefcases, checking their watches as they picked up speed toward their desks. I knew Synergycontinued to expand, but I hadn’t realized how many people worked in the building.
Any of them could be our secret informant. The man in the green tie and matching socks. The woman in the sensible black skirt and nude pumps. Even the man in black pants and brown shoes… no, he was probably the villain in this investigation. Did he get dressed in the dark, or did he not understand how to match his colors?
I wondered how many of Synergy’s employees had a dual identity. Most of Secret Identities had at least one alter ego. Some of us more. But how many of them came here, hiding secrets, compartmentalizing their identity to make themselves more effective? Or protecting themselves from the judgment of their peers?
I pivoted on my stool, watching the line for the coffee shop grow longer. These employees, even as they stared at their watches, wouldn’t be deterred from their morning caffeine fix.
A man in line casually reached out, grabbing the ass of the woman in front of him. As he gave her a squeeze, I resisted the urge to break at least one of his fingers. A second later, I caught her reaching back, cupping his package.
“Oh.” Perhaps they didn’t wear masks in the workplace.
“People watching, huh?” Orion took the stool on the other side of the small bar table. He gave a slight tip of thehead. “Guy in the fedora, obviously working for the Illuminati.”
I fought from rolling my eyes. As the employee walked by, I spotted the tattoo on his neck, poking just above his collar. It wasn’t the assassin’s trident, but it did say membership sigil. Could Orion be right about another conspiracy? If I suggested as much, we wouldn’t hear the end of it for weeks.
“Don’t worry, they’re not selling company secrets,” he assured me. “He works here so he can afford his porn addiction.”
