by Sarah Biglow
I wasn’t sure what gave me the resolve to tell Spencer and the others, but I felt if I didn’t do it now, I’d never do it. And if I could handle telling them, breaking the news to my parents didn’t seem quite as scary. I needed a safe place to do it though. Somewhere I knew no one would bother us. So, I sent the three of them a text to meet in our old base of operations.
The longer I waited without the three of them in the high school’s basement computer room, the more my confidence dissipated. Finally, the door opened and all three piled in.
“What’s going on? What’d you do to your hand?” Tina asked. At least she sounded more awake.
I glanced down at my bruised knuckles. “It’s not important.”
“He’s got something to tell us, though,” Spencer said before ducking his head at having read my mind without permission.
“He’s right. I do.” I sunk into one of the plastic chairs and tried to collect my thoughts. It had seemed simpler in my head without all of them staring at me.
“Take your time,” Marisol said. She had to sense what was coming, even if she was the only one who already knew the truth.
“I, uh … have been keeping something from you guys for a while. It’s kind of a romance thing.”
“You’re gay,” Spencer blurted, earning a sharp smack on the arm from Marisol.
“Seriously?” Tina snapped.
“Not exactly. I mean I like guys. But I like girls, too. Sometimes one more than the other and I can’t explain why.”
“Is that why you wanted me to track Henry this morning? Did he hit on you or something?” Tina probed.
“Yes and no. We went on a couple of dates. Well, one and then I ruined the other. But we sorted it out.” I looked at the row of computer monitors. It was easier to explain how I felt without watching them judge me.
“Look, this doesn’t change how I feel about you guys. I know I didn’t say it much but you two made me feel like I wasn’t weird with all the power stuff.” I wanted to tell Marisol how much she meant to me these last few months, but by the small smile on her lips, I knew she already understood.
“So, you never thought about me romantically? Like not even once?” Leave it to Tina to make this all about her.
Spencer snickered into his hand. At least he understood why Tina was never an option. I sighed and said, “If you hadn’t constantly been horning in on things, maybe. But honestly, you aren’t really my type.”
“I wasn’t some stupid cheerleader?” she spat.
“No, you weren’t and I wouldn’t want you to be. You have skills and I respect that, but Tina, you are kind of controlling and bossy. Those aren’t really things I look for in a girlfriend.”
Tina looked like she wanted to say more, but she couldn’t find the right words. Given that Marisol had been silent this entire time, Spencer and Tina eyed her suspiciously. “You don’t seem very surprised by all of this,” Spencer commented.
“Well, I am an empath and we have been talking a lot this summer. It is hard for anyone to hide their feelings all the time,” she answered.
“So, hot-hands Henry finally got to you?” Tina asked.
“Yeah. I guess he did. I think there’s something real there, too. Even if our fights are more knock down drag out than I’m used to.”
“What did he do?” Tina wasn’t going to let it go. I caught the glint of mischief in her eyes.
“He told the nurse who stitched me up at the hospital that we were seeing each other. She gave me her number and we hung out.” Spencer’s and Tina’s mouths hung open. “What? She’s hot and rides a motorcycle.”
“Sounds hot,” Spencer agreed.
“What I’m trying to say is I’m bi and right now, I have a boyfriend. Are you guys going to be okay with that?”
Spencer stepped forward and clapped a hand on my shoulder. “Duh.”
I turned to Tina, but she wouldn’t meet my gaze. “Tina? Come on, we need you. You are the glue that keeps this damn team together. Besides, I thought you were busy chasing down that hot cop.”
One corner of her mouth twitched into the beginnings of a smile. “He is pretty hot, isn’t he?”
“Well, a little skinny for my taste,” I said.
She let out a small laugh and the tension broke in the room. They took up seats around me and it almost felt like we were back to fighting bad guys all on our own.
“Oh, apparently I heal really fast,” I offered, filling them in on the other big development of the week.
“So you aren’t just suicidal and rushing crazy guys with guns?” Spencer said with a smirk.
“Yeah, I guess it’s related to my super strength or whatever.”
“Does my mother know that?” Tina asked.
“Probably. Monica … said she had to tell them.”
“More secrets,” she muttered. Tina went quiet, a familiar look of determination on her face. “There are still some systems and files I can’t access even though supposedly I have complete admin privileges.”
“Elaborate, please,” I said, preparing myself for one of her epic conspiracy theories.
“We don’t know what other things they’re testing on us. Why do they need to know if you heal fast? I mean, that’s great for you but do we really know what the science nerds are doing? We go out and we help people, but what’s the bigger picture?”
Yep, there it was. Tina always thinking there was more to situations than there probably were. But her conspiracy theory about the origin of our abilities had led us to the company that had made us, so I couldn’t entirely discredit her. “I might have a way to find out,” I offered, recalling Henry’s question about making a difference. Another date was in order.
Chapter Twelve
Henry
I’d never been so happy to see my little apartment. My trip back from the factory building had taken me longer than normal and by the time I put my key in the lock my lip had started to swell. It didn’t hurt quite as much as it could have, but that wasn’t necessarily a good thing. I rummaged through the freezer, finding an ice pack and pressed it to my bruised cheek and eye. Declan had been right that it could have been a lot worse. I’d have a fat lip and a black eye, but no other lasting injuries. The iciness burned against my skin and I pulled it away with a hiss of pain. Part of me was glad Declan and I had worked out the issue of where his romantic interests lay. I wished it hadn’t involved him trying to break my face though.
Laying down on the futon, I closed my eyes, ready to let the pain lull me to sleep. I didn’t get that luxury, because my phone blared and I groaned. I wanted to ignore it. Whoever was calling could wait, but the ring tone signaled it wasn’t a call I could ignore. “Hello?” I mumbled, setting it on speaker.
“What happened to you? You sound awful,” a deep male voice commented, his concern was clear. It had been a long time since we’d spoken, of late we’d been only emailing.
“Got into a fight. I’ll be fine.”
“You need to tell me if things are getting too dangerous.”
I wanted to laugh, but I didn’t have the energy. “It isn’t that. It’s more of a relationship issue. Guess it is bad form to confront your boyfriend’s sort of girlfriend and tell her to back off. Boyfriend gets kind of punchy.”
“Ah, yes. Romance can be a delicate subject. Your paramour is why I am calling.”
I didn’t like where this was going. “What’s going on?”
“Based on the information we’ve gathered, well, frankly it is a little lacking. There is something we need from storage. You’re the best equipped to get it.”
“I don’t like the sound of that.” This could get me in way more trouble than just Declan punching me out of jealousy—maybe dead.
“I hate to have to ask you to do it. But you are the closest we have.”
“What do I tell them?”
“Whatever you think they need to hear. Sooner is better.”
I sighed. “I’ll see what I can do.” I ended the call
and tossed my phone on the floor. I was not thrilled with what was being asked of me. I understood the need for expediency, but I couldn’t make my body move. Maybe a little rest was just what the doctor ordered.
The sun was low in the sky when I woke up. Apparently getting sucker punched by the equivalent of a steel rod does that to a person. My face didn’t hurt nearly as much as it had. The ice pack was mostly limp and, watery now, it had started to bubble too. I set it back in the freezer and checked my face in the bathroom mirror. It was still obvious I’d been in a fight, but hopefully anyone who asked wouldn’t probe too deeply.
The library parking lot was deserted and the side lot for employees and covert operatives was as equally barren. The tiny hairs on the back of my arms stood on end. This doesn’t feel right. I considered using the less obvious entrance inside the library, but time was of the essence. I tapped my badge to get into the building and turned down the first branch off of the main hallway. I passed conference rooms and exam rooms until I found myself in cold storage. The scientists working under Lena were nothing if not thorough and meticulous in their organization. I took stock of what was around me, hoping I could get what I came for quickly and without interruption. The drawers were arranged in date order. I had to try and remember the number I needed without logging onto any computers. I’d left enough of an electronic trail already just by using my badge.
“Come on, think,” I muttered opening drawers that sounded right. Finally, on the third try I found what I needed, but there was just one problem. I knew from listening to the team talk, they did a daily data check.
Thinking on my feet was a skill I liked to pride myself on having. But as I stared at the drawer in front of me, I had no clue how I was going to get what I came for without tipping anyone off. Sweat prickled on my upper lip and dripped down, hitting my hand with a soft hiss and with it, an idea started to take shape. It was crazy and probably wouldn’t work if they checked too closely, but it was worth a shot.
I searched the nearby cabinets for what I’d need. The fact I was able to locate all three items in about thirty seconds should have been a warning sign, but I was in a hurry. I didn’t have time to worry about the easy access. It was frankly a miracle no one had caught me, yet. I pushed my sleeve up, swabbed the crook of my elbow with an alcohol swab and did my best to find a vein. “Please let this work,” I prayed.
The needle point pierced the skin of my forearm, but no blood came out. I eased the needle free and hastily searched the drawer where I’d found the other supplies for something to use in finding a vein. I finally came across a worn-out rubber band in the back of the drawer. Wrapping it around my upper arm and pulling it tight with my teeth, I tried again, aiming for the pulsing blue vein right below the joint of my elbow. It stung more this time, but I got what I needed. A flash of heat washed over me as the blood pooled into the vial. When it looked like it was full enough, I popped it out and tossed the syringe in a conveniently placed sharp objects receptacle.
Affixing the label and slotting it in place was the easy part. I had just secured what I’d come for in my pocket when the door opened behind me. I turned to find Reese blocking the exit.
“What are you doing in here?” he asked, his gaze narrowed in suspicion.
I pointed to my face. “I thought they’d keep some heavy-duty ice packs in here. I tend to turn the normal ones to mush in about ten minutes,” I lied. At least there was a use for the disagreement between Declan and I.
“They’d be in the medical area. Not in here.”
Shit, he’s not buying it. “Of course they are. My head’s still a little fuzzy.”
He approached me and probed the swelling in my lip with his fingers. I winced. “You and your boyfriend get into a fight?”
“Something like that. He didn’t appreciate my direct approach with Monica.” At least that part was true.
“Come on, let’s get you what you’re looking for.”
I followed him out of cold storage, realizing too late that a tiny bead of blood had rolled down my arm under my shirtsleeve and hit the floor. I couldn’t do anything about it now. Hopefully he wouldn’t notice and it wouldn’t matter when people that could do something about it were the wiser.
“I’m thinking maybe this whole relationship thing isn’t going to work,” Reese commented as we strode into the medical area.
“I don’t know. I mean, couples fight,” I muttered.
“Yeah, and when one of them ends up with bruises and black eyes, that’s when we get called.”
“It was just one punch.”
“You realize how you sound, right?”
“We had an argument. It happens. Save the lecture, I’m not in the mood for it.”
“I’m just saying, a guy like that with the power he’s packing, you say or do the wrong thing, it could be more than one punch next time.”
“I don’t pry into your private life, do I?” I snapped.
“That’s because I don’t have one.”
I rolled my eyes. “I know, I know, you haven’t found the right girl yet.”
“She’s out there. I can feel it.” He handed me an ice pack. “Heal up, H. We can’t have you sidelined.”
He had to know Tina was interested in him. But, Reese was very much about duty and he had more to lose by messing with the boss’ daughter and his commanding officer’s niece.
I pressed the pack to my face, waiting for him to leave me alone again. The last thing I needed was a shadow. He watched me in silence for a few minutes before clapping me on the shoulder. “See you around, Henry.”
“See you.”
I watched him retreat and I sighed in relief. It could have been so much worse. I needed to make a quick exit before anyone realized what I’d done.
Chapter Thirteen
Declan
Telling Tina and the others what I’d been hiding went better than I’d expected. Well, minus Tina making it all about her. Besides that, it had given me some much-needed validation that they were still my friends no matter who I wanted to date. That just left my parents. The thought still terrified me, which was probably why I was hiding in my room. A knock at the window made me jump. I half-expected Henry to be trying to crawl in, but it was only Marisol. I waved her inside. It was mostly open already.
“I am proud of you,” she said once she was inside.
“Figures Tina would try to make it all about her,” I answered.
She snickered. “Tina does not like to admit how lonely she is. She was more upset that you did not feel you could confide in her sooner.”
“Does she know you read her like an open book?”
“I know better than that,” she said. After a pause, she asked, “Are you going to tell your parents?”
“I want to but I’m nervous.” I sucked in a breath, preparing myself for the admission I knew was coming. “I know they can handle the super powers thing. I mean, they weren’t thrilled about it, but they agreed to it. But being bi, I still don’t know if it’s because of what they did to make me super strong or if it was how I was always gonna turn out. I don’t want them to think they screwed me up. I already live with that fear on a daily basis.”
“You are not screwed up and they love you. They will not think that about you either.”
“Have you made any progress with your dad?” Talking about someone else’s issues was a nice distraction.
“No. I have given up trying. He worries if he says anything, someone will come to our house and hurt him.”
My brow furrowed. “How exactly does someone express all that in one emotion?”
Her cheeks darkened as she blushed. “I may have had Spencer try to read his mind. It makes me worry even more that there is something I do not know about all of this but I know if I push him too hard, it will end badly.”
“We’ll figure out whatever he’s hiding. It might take us a while, but I know we’ll get there,” I told her.
“I believe that,” she agreed.
“At least someone does.”
She reached over and took both of my hands in hers. “I feel you are ready to let your parents in on the weight you have been carrying. It will be so much lighter when you have others to share it with.”
The way she put it, it almost felt like what Spencer had done during the home invasion. Pushing just enough to get the other person to comply. It wouldn’t surprise me if she was able to do something similar. “I’m going to do it.”
She hugged me. “Text me if you need me. And let me know how it goes.”
Something told me she already knew how it was going to go. She retreated through the window and I waited until I slid the window pane back in place before taking a deep breath. It was now or never.
I found my parents like so many afternoons in the living room. The TV was off for once, both were nose-deep in books. I stood there in the middle of the room silently, without being noticed for a solid minute before I finally cleared my throat. Mom looked up first and set her book aside without bothering to mark her page.
“What’s wrong, sweetheart?”
Not how I wanted this conversation to start. It was enough to get Dad’s attention, too. He dog-eared the page he was on and set his book down on the side table. He looked at me, his mouth pressed into a thin line.
“I need to talk to you about something.” My voice cracked in the middle of the sentence.
“You know you can tell us anything.” Mom perched on the edge of her chair, no doubt ready to pull me into a motherly hug if needed.
“Is this about that internship?” Dad asked.
“No. Not really. Uh, I mean … kind of.” It had been so much easier to say the words to my friends. “I’m bisexual.”
They both stared at me without moving for what felt like hours though it was only a moment. “So, you’re gay?” Dad asked.
“No. It means he likes both sexes,” Mom corrected.
“Yeah, what Ma said.”
