Page 79 of All Superheroes Need PR
“Is that legal, Charlie?” Margerie sasses my brother in a way that makes me tense. Nobody sasses Charles.
But Charlie surprises me by quirking his lips, giving Margerie a heated look—one that I’d hazard to callflirty—and saying, “Nothing you wouldn’t do, I’m sure.”
“I am a law-abiding citizen, sir.”
“And I’m a former marine, ma’am. Nothing but a dedicated servant to this country and the people in it.” He leans back in his chair, his legs and arms both spread as he ogles Margerie in a plain and appreciative assessment from her sneakers to the neat bun on top of her head.
Margerie always has a witty retort. Always. Until now. She swallows andblushes, and when she lowers her forearm without breaking Charlie’s gaze, her purse hits the ground on its side, a cluster of folders cascading out because, like me, she brings her work everywhere with her. As she makes a soft sound in the back of her throat, Luca and I share a look. Luca isgawking, and I’m about to bust out in hysterical laughter, despite the circumstances, when the doorbell rings.
“Good grief, who is it now?” I say as I turn toward the door.
Luca stops me. “You go stop ... whatever that is. I’ll get it.” He heads to the door while I cross the living room and bend down to help Margerie shove her folders back into her purse.
“Please don’t tell me you told Mom or Dad about this,” I call over my shoulder.
“No, but it might be David and Mani.”
There are some loose papers that take longer to arrange back into a pile. Margerie moves to help me. “Why don’t you go shower and getcleaned up? Not that I don’t love this look on you or anything, but you do smell like sexa lot.”
My cheeks burn, and I shoot her a glare.
Her face softens. “I’m sorry about Roland. I’m sure that there’s a reasonable explanation. I mean, how could a superhero gettaken? He’s seriously powerful. I’m sure he’s handling himself, wherever he is. I mean, if Three can teleport, what’s the worst they could do to him? Drop him off in Siberia? He can fly. Granted, it’ll take him a little while to get back to you, but he will. Not a doubt in my mind.”
I smile softly, my lips trembling a little even as her words soothe some of the razor blades in my belly and the thorns around my heart. “Thanks, Margerie.”
She touches my forearm through the soft, puffy sleeve. “You know I’m not just your colleague. I’m your friend. Just so you know, I’ve gotten, like, twelve other job offers since we’ve been working together. I like the work, sure, but the reason I stay is for you.” Her voice is soft. “I thought you knew that, but I want you to know for sure.”
“I don’t know what I did to deserve a friend like you.”
“Friendship goes both ways, Vanessa, and you were there when I needed you most. I love ya.” She winks, stands up, and offers me her hand.
“I love you too,” I tell her, feeling shy as I say the words out loud. They’re sticky on my tongue and accompanied by a spoonful of guilt because I didn’t get a chance to say those words to Rollo before he left. I can’t decide if I should be glad or sad about that.
I stand and offer her the pile of papers, but as I do, my gaze catches on the one on top. “Margerie, what is this?”
“This?” The paper on top is facing down, but thick, dark lines are still visible through it. As Margerie flips it over, I read the words printed on top at the same time she echoes them aloud. “Old Sundale Airport. For the photo shoot.”
“Yes, but what is this? I’ve seen the blueprints, but this isn’t that ...” I snatch the paper out of her grip and turn it upside down. I tilt my head, my eyes bugging. “Oh my God. These lines. Are these the ...”
“The runways, yeah. I outlined them in Sharpie so I could chart how far he’d be flying and how many cameras we’d need and how best to place them since the runways will be operational for the first time in years. Monika asked for it.”
“This is the map,” I squeak.
“The what?”
“The map!” I’m shouting now, racing for my phone on instinct, though I have no idea who I’d tell. No one is freaking answering! “This is the map! I have to get ahold of Mr. Singkham. Can you try the COE again?” I shout to everyone who can hear me.
“What’s going on?” she says, rifling through her gigantic purse with one hand while the other clutches her phone to her face.
The phone at my ear goes straight to voicemail, and I shout up at the ceiling in frustration, “What is happening?!”
“This is important. I know you’re her brother,” comes shouting from the front door. And then more loudly, “Vanessa! Vanessa, are you here?”
“These guys wouldn’t take no for an answer,” Luca says, annoyed as he leads Dan and Jeremy into the room.
“Oh, thank God,” Dan says, falling over Jeremy as Jeremy comes to a hard stop. “Have you turned on the TV today?” Rushing forward, Dan trips over the foot of the couch, falls onto the footstool stomach-first, grabs the remote from where it’s fallen onto the floor, and just like that, starfishing on my velvet ottoman, he points it up at the TV.
“Uh ... yes?”
