Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 62262 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 311(@200wpm)___ 249(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62262 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 311(@200wpm)___ 249(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
Suddenly, bad guys are closing in, and I find myself on the run with my coworker Sam--a big, loud ex-jock with more conspiracy theories than common sense. He says he’ll keep me safe, but how? I’m the one with a superpower, even if it’s total crap.
To complicate matters, there’s an undeniable spark of attraction between us. We don’t need the distraction, not when we’re running for our lives. But it’s hard to resist temptation when we’re stuck with each other day after day. And I can’t help but wonder if there’s more to Sam than meets the eye…
Do Sam and I have what it takes to stay ahead of a supervillain, protect each other, and keep the information we possess out of the wrong hands? It seems impossible. But maybe we’ll end up surprising ourselves--and each other.
*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************
CHAPTER 1
ANDY
As I sprinted up Telegraph Hill with about two dozen overly enthusiastic raccoons in hot pursuit, I muttered, “Not again.”
Even though I’d had a big head start, they were closing the gap between us. They wouldn’t hurt me if they caught up, but the thought of those creepy little raccoon hands climbing all over me sent a shiver down my spine.
My only hope was finding someplace to take cover. Home was still several blocks away, and since it was barely past dawn, most of the businesses in this neighborhood were closed. But a storefront with its lights on came into view as I rounded the crest of the hill, so I made a beeline for it.
Just as I reached the bakery, the lead raccoon got close enough to make a grab for my sweatpants. I had to execute a move worthy of an NBA star, pivoting and faking left before diving inside.
With no time to spare, I pulled the door shut and collapsed onto the floor, gasping for air. It felt like my heart was about to explode. A moment later, the raccoon horde thudded into the glass-fronted building, like a wave washing up onto the shore. As several of them stood on their hind legs, sniffing the air and pressing their hands to the glass, a voice behind me exclaimed, “What the hell!”
“I’m sorry.” The apology came out automatically. I adjusted my glasses and got to my feet, wiping my sweaty forehead with the cuff of my hoodie as I turned around.
The guy behind the counter looked familiar. He narrowed his eyes, studying me for a moment before announcing, “I know you. You’re Anderson Chen, right? You were in my brother Joey’s grade in school. You’re the guy who wrecked his graduation ceremony by summoning every seagull in San Francisco. It was like a freaking Hitchcock movie!”
“That was an accident. I didn’t mean to call the birds, just like I didn’t mean to call those raccoons.” I gestured over my shoulder, toward the squeaking sound of their little palms dragging across the glass. “And to be fair, I also wrecked my own graduation ceremony that day, not just Joey’s.”
“Accident or not, it was a total shit show. Literally. I and everyone else got crapped on like, a million times.”
“Sorry about that.”
He frowned and crossed his arms over his chest. “Can you send those raccoons away? They’re smearing my windows, and I just washed them.”
“No. All I can do is put out a signal that calls animals to me, but they don’t listen or follow orders.”
“That’s the worst superpower I’ve ever heard of. Seriously. I used to wish I had powers, but I’ll take being a regular guy over your shit any day.”
Same. It wasn’t like I’d asked for this. “Is it okay if I hang out here for a few minutes? Animals have a short attention span, and they’ll wander off soon.”
“Sure, as long as you buy something.”
I crossed the room to the display case and read the labels on the shelves. “Is everything gluten free?”
“Uh, yeah. What else would that mean?” He pointed to a sign on the wall, which read Off the Wheaten Path. I ordered a small cup of coffee, but he shot me a look and picked up a big, pink box. “I’m going to have to rewash those windows, you know. And what if a potential customer sees those vermin in front of my bakery and decides to shop elsewhere? I could be losing money.” I fought back a sigh and ordered a dozen bagels.
The raccoons had dispersed by the time I finished slowly doctoring up my coffee with hemp milk and monk fruit sweetener—the least objectionable of the choices offered. There was only one animal left on the sidewalk when I stepped outside, and he stared at me blankly before running away.