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)
A minute later, we heard the front door open. Moira had a key to our house, and this was her new version of climbing in my bedroom window at all hours.
She was accompanied by my mom and Julie, and as the trio breezed into the kitchen with casserole dishes and shopping bags, I said, “Hi there. Why are you up so early?”
My mom put a bag on the counter and crushed first me and then Sam in an embrace. “Because my boys are starting a new chapter today, and we’re so proud,” she gushed. “We decided to come and fix you both a hearty breakfast before work, to make sure you’re off to a good start.”
“That’s so sweet, but you didn’t have to do that,” I told her.
“Just go with it.” Moira placed a bakery box on the counter and opened the lid. “I brought bagels, as a tribute to your first day at SPAM all those months ago. Remember?”
It felt like another lifetime. “I do. Are they gluten free?”
“No.”
“Good.” I grinned at my best friend as I tucked a strand of her short bob behind her ear. She’d been going through a lot of changes recently, and one of them involved cutting off about two feet of her hair. She’d also started a new job with a civil rights organization, which she absolutely loved.
I could tell she was excited about something, so I asked, “What’s going on with you?”
Her eyes lit up as she blurted, “I was going to wait to tell you, because today is supposed to be about you and Sam. But I’m going to explode if I don’t say something!”
Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned to her, and Julie exclaimed, “Tell us already, before we die of suspense!”
“Qian and I set a date last night! Mark your calendars for December thirty-first.”
“Oh my god!” I grabbed her in a hug and asked, “What made you finally decide to take the plunge?”
“I’ve been doing a lot of soul searching lately.” She let go of me, and the sweetest, most lovesick smile spread across her face. “I adore Qian. I always have, but I was afraid of how my entire life would change after we were married. What you and Sam have shown me is that change doesn’t have to be bad or scary, and that sometimes it’s okay to jump in with both feet.”
Sam gave her a hug and exclaimed, “Congrats, sis! You two are amazing together, and seeing how happy you are makes me happy, too.”
“Thanks, Sammy.” She changed the subject, because she hated being the center of attention. “Anyway, we need to get going on breakfast. We can’t let you two be late for your first day back at work.”
The five of us sprang into action. As I pulled some plates from the cabinet, Roscoe jumped onto the counter and tried to take a bite out of one of the bagels. I told him to stop, and when he wouldn’t listen, I sighed and slightly tilted my head.
Moira watched as the cat jumped off the counter, and then she turned to me and asked, “Did you just do that with your powers?”
“Yeah. I’ve been practicing.”
“That’s a lot of progress,” she said. “Good job.”
“Thanks. I’m actually proud of myself.”
My power might never help me save the world, but it was a part of me. Coming to terms with it felt like a form of self-acceptance.
Sometime later, after we’d eaten and Sam and I had showered and changed, we said goodbye to my family and stepped out onto the back deck. He smiled at me and said, “You look fantastic.”
“Thanks. So do you.” I’d gone with a red button-down shirt and jeans, because I wasn’t trying to impress anyone, and Sam looked smoking hot in a track suit. He looked smoking hot in everything.
“Thanks, babe. Ready?”
I nodded, and we smiled at each other as he scooped me into his arms. Then he shot straight up into the air, propelled by the energy all around him. He’d spent countless hours practicing over the last couple of months, and he’d made great progress with learning to use his superpowers. The only thing he hadn’t been able to do was tap back into his ability to temporarily freeze time. Our theory was that it only came online at times of extreme duress.
Just like every time we flew together, I burst out laughing. Being a hundred feet up should have been disconcerting, but instead, it was so fun that it made me giddy. I trusted Sam completely, and that meant I could relax and enjoy myself.
I looked down at our pretty little house, and at our family. They’d rushed out onto the deck when we’d taken off, and they were waving and cheering. Seeing us soar always made them giddy, too.