“I know, but…being here with you, like this… To someone on the outside looking in, it probably doesn’t look like I’m taking it seriously.”
She leaned over and took both of my hands in hers, then looked me in the eye. “Look, if all goes according to plan, you and I are going to have very dangerous jobs in a few years – as will a lot of our friends. That being the case, we’re bound to lose people at some point. People close to us. People we care about. Knowing that, and having been around the League my entire life, I’ve learned that you have to take the little joys where and when you can.”
“You really believe that?”
“Absolutely,” she said with conviction, then kissed the back of my hand. “Remember our last little adventure, when we needed Vestibule’s help to save the planet?”
“Yeah,” I said with an uncertain nod, not sure where this was going.
“Just before she left for her part of the mission, she kissed you,” Electra stated, now looking a bit stern. “I didn’t like it, but she had the right idea. There was no guarantee that any of us were coming back or that the planet would survive, so – even though I wish she hadn’t focused on my boyfriend – I don’t fault her for trying to snatch what little joy the situation offered.”
“Well, in that case, why didn’t you kiss me then as well?” I asked.
“Ha!” she snorted derisively. “I’m supposed to kiss you after you’ve been swapping spit with Vestibule?”
“There was no spit,” I countered fiercely. “Just a little tongue…”
“Shut up!” Electra screeched as she reached out with a grin and grabbed a handful of chips, then shoved them at my mouth. “Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!”
Chuckling heartily, I reached for her hand as she – laughing as well – pressed the chips around my mouth, grinding most of them into crumbs that went showering down onto the table and my lap.
“On second thought,” I said, making an exaggerated chewing motion, “your chips are a little bland. They could use some salt.”
There was a set of salt and pepper shakers on the table; I reached for the former – and then froze. Almost of its own volition, my head suddenly spun around – towards the kitchen’s rear door, which led out to a patio. The door was mostly glass, covered with a set of blinds that were currently open. It was dark out, but after telescoping my vision (as well as cycling it through the light spectrum until I could see almost as well as in daytime), I caught sight of what I expected.
“What is it?” Electra asked anxiously, following my gaze to the door.
“Nothing,” I said, trying to keep my voice emotionless. “But I have to go. I just remembered something I need to do.”
“Huh?” she murmured incredulously. “You just got here.”
“I know, and I apologize. I’ll make it up to you.”
“You’d better,” she huffed.
“You have my word,” I declared as I came to my feet. I then gave her a quick smooch and teleported.
I reappeared about a block away, with a clear line of sight to the back door of Electra’s house.
Waiting there for me was Jack.
Chapter 73
Wearing a pair of khakis and a light jacket, Jack really wasn’t dressed for the weather. However, if he could tweak his bodily systems like I could, he could make himself comfortable in any clime.
“I see you got my message,” Jack said with a smile.
“Stop,” I interjected heatedly. “We’re not doing this here.”
Jack suddenly looked confused. “Doing what?”
“Whatever you call this. Meeting, chatting, congregating… We’re not doing it within shouting distance of my girlfriend’s house.”
“Okay,” he said. “I’m fine with finding another spot to powwow. I can teleport us some place, but I don’t think you’d let me. And needless to say, I’m not keen on you teleporting me.”
“Maybe that’s an indication that there’s nothing for us to talk about.”
“I’m not so sure about that,” he countered. “Plus, I think I can find us an alternate venue. Follow me.”
With that, he went floating straight up into the air. I was momentarily caught off guard – I’d forgotten he could purportedly fly – but then I quickly followed suit, rising up after him.
We moved up to a height of about fifty feet, and then Jack zipped away laterally. As before, I followed close on his heels, noting that he had impressive flight speed.
“This should be good,” Jack declared after about half a mile. “High enough to avoid notice from anyone on the ground, but low enough that we don’t have to worry about bumping our heads on any planes. And, of course, out of shouting distance of Electra’s house. Any complaints?”
“It’ll do,” I grumbled.
“Now, I was asking if you got my message.”
“If you mean the salt shaker, then yes, I got it. Would I be here otherwise?”
Jack smiled. “You have to admit it was pretty clever, though.”
I grunted, but didn’t immediately say anything. When I had reached for the salt shaker on Electra’s table, I had seen it floating – just as I’d seen happen earlier in the day at the grill. I’d immediately known that it was Jack’s doing – that he was around and probably had a direct line of sight to us. Once I looked out the glass door, it hadn’t taken me long to peg him.
I gave him a frank stare. “Look, I’m going to make this perfectly clear: stay away from Electra. Stay away from my family. Stay away from my friends.”
He smiled. “Why would I do that? They’re my friends and family, too. So what’s the issue – you’re afraid they’ll prefer the upgrade over the original?”
“The issue is that you’re dangerous and unpredictable. I don’t know what you’re going to do, like what happened in the teen lounge today.”
“Oh, that,” he scoffed. “That was nothing – basically just horseplay.”
“So you’re not looking to get even with anybody about that
