“You have no idea.”
He didn’t know that she operated as a member of our superhero team. Janet didn’t let the lack of power deter her. More than once, she had taken down a supervillain as if it were just another Tuesday. We’d be hearing about this at tomorrow’s staff meeting.
“Authorities are on their way,” Orion said.
“Farewell, humans!” Wyatt shot into the air and vanished through the skylight. Orion gave a slight nod of the head before he followed. Janet, on the other hand, remained, doing a victory dance over an unconscious Paul. A few employees checked on the former hostages, but with the threat gone, they resumed their exit from the building as if nothing had happened.
I glanced down at Booker to see the smirk on his face. “My hero?”
I rolled off him quickly, looking away to hide the red in my cheeks. It was one thing to save the day when I wore the leather uniform, but in business clothes? Drew wasn’t a hero, not in the least. All the excuses came flying in at once, ready to explain what had happened. Instead of asking questions, he sat up, patting me on the back.
“We make a good team.” He stood. When he offered his hand, I paused. A simple gesture, and yet, it was the one I needed. For the first time, I felt wewerein this together. “Let’s make sure Paul isn’t getting away.”
He swept my rescue under the rug as if nothing had happened. His ability to dodge uncomfortable questions and move forward? Maybethatwas his superpower? Orion would call them suspicions, but with Booker, I had curiosities.
Eventually, I wouldn’t be able to ignore them.
10
Booker: This is all your fault.
Drew: Uhm…
Booker: I’m craving mushrooms.
Drew: I accept full responsibility.
Booker: It’s up to you to fix this.
Drew: Another clandestine meeting?
Booker: It’s a date.
I returnedto Rossi’s with the list of employees we still had to interview. At the pace we were going, I expected at least another month working with Booker. As I scanned, I noticed names and job titles, but I couldn’t see anything that set off alarms. How did Booker see this and make the intuitive judgment calls? Whatever skill hepossessed, I did not.
My phone vibrated, the screen flashing with the HeroApp™ signature warning. With a couple of clicks, it revealed a robbery a few streets away. Common crooks. With another glance at the stack of papers, I wondered if I was squandering my time. Booker might be a fun distraction during the workday, but was I letting it get in the way of myactualjob? If Hellion were roaming the streets, there’d already be a pile of bodies waiting for the police.
I stood?—
“You don’t have to get up for me.”
I glanced up to see Booker walking toward me. Black t-shirt with a reflective silver Centurion logo on the chest. He gave a chin nod before sitting across from me. It took a moment, then I could smell his woodsy aftershave mixing with the scent of pizza. If he hadn’t been standing there? Would I have bailed on my partner for a chance to work up a sweat? The guilt crept in, and I took a seat, forced to play the role of Drew a little longer.
“What’s that?” He pointed to the papers.
“I was trying to decide who was next on our list. I don’t know how you do it.”
He grew silent as he retracted his arm. “Oh.”
“Oh?” I don’t know why, but the heat rushed to my cheeks. I wanted to hide my face as if I had just made a fool of myself. The discomfort grew by the second.
“I thought—” I wasn’t the only one feeling it. “I meant it.”
“What?”
“It.”
His entire face turned red. He avoided eye contact. Had I done something wrong? Overstepped boundaries? I prepared an apology when he coughed.
