Page 108 of Secret Spark

“I’ll drive you to and from the café. Every day. I’ll hang out there and work on plans for the food truck if you need me to.”

She glanced up and smiled at Joan. “My sweet Joanie Maloney.”

Joan yawned, fatigue settling around her like a thick fog. Sadie yawned too, and they both laughed.

“Why don’t you get comfy and we’ll relax?” Sadie tugged on Joan’s shirt. “We can talk more after a good night’s snuggle.”

Snuggling sounded like the very best soothing balm. Joan pressed a kiss to Sadie’s temple. Sadie studied her face.

“What?” Joan said.

“You look worried. What’s wrong?”

She met Sadie’s beautiful brown eyes. “I was scared this might never happen again. That we wouldn’t…”

“Don’t worry.” Sadie kissed her cheek. “We will.”

“Thank you for giving me a second chance.”

“Don’t blow it.”

“I won’t.”

They shared a grin. It was such a relief to not have to hide anymore.

Joan started for her bedroom. She paused, spying the keypad on her office door. Sadie needed to know everything. Had to be let into the world she was now a part of.

“I want to show you something,” Joan said.

She typed in the code and opened the door. Flipped on the overhead light she rarely used, preferring the room be kept dimly lit.

Sadie stepped cautiously inside. It didn’t look intimidating—just a table with two large computer monitors and a locked metal trunk in the corner. Joan went to the closet to reveal her large safe and pile of extra Spark gear. Gloves, boots, an unused wig that was even more annoying than her current one.

“That’s the First National Bank of Malone,” she said, gesturing to the safe. “Sorry, that’s a terrible joke Mark started years ago. I know it’s not funny.”

Sadie averted her gaze. “Don’t open it. I don’t want to see what’s in there.”

She gingerly picked up the wig. She eyed it, then plopped it on her head. Her curled red bangs poked out from the front. Smirking, she snagged one glove, then another, then put them on. She held up her fists and did a karate kick.

“I’m a badass Supervillain,” she growled, kicking her other leg.

“You’re too sweet to be a Villain.”

“That’s my superpower. I disarm people with my kindness.” She punched the air a few times. Right now, her bouncy untethered breasts were an extremely disarming superpower.

Sadie noticed the wear and tear on the gloves. She held the palms up and appraised them. “Does it hurt when you create fire?” she asked quietly.

“No, it never does.”

“Can your Spark suit really absorb most hits?”

“Mostly.”

Her lips curved into a smile. “How does it feel to fly?”

“Pretty cool. I can take you sometime.”

“Maybe.”

---