“Well. I’ve got a chance to try normal for a little while. So that’s what I’m doing.” She made a broad shrug, dismissing the topic.
His short-cropped hair was more gray than black now. She couldn’t recall when that had happened.
“You are one stubborn kid,” he said.
She hugged herself and looked away.
“At least take your folks’ limo. It’ll be warm, and it’ll get you right to your doorstep.”
And it would have something to drink in the minibar. “Okay.”
“I’ll call down to the garage for you.”
“Thanks.”
Togethe
r, they went through the door, to the foyer of the penthouse, to the elevator. She stepped in and punched the button for the parking garage.
He held his hand over the door to keep it from closing. “It’s normal to call your parents once in a while, you know. They miss you, Celia. Do you think you could at least come home for Christmas this year?”
She shook her head before he’d even finished. “I’m not ready. I’m sorry, but I’m not ready.”
“Will you ever be?”
She couldn’t explain it to him, that it really was getting better, that being on her own—out of the middle of the madness that was her parents’ double lives—had brought the world into focus for her. She looked in the mirror now and saw herself. A little more time, and she’d start to see the road before her, and it wouldn’t seem so murky.
“Yeah, I will. I think. But it’s going to take time. I’m sorry. Tell them I’m sorry.” It was the first time she’d ever apologized or expressed sympathy, even indirectly.
She touched his hand, squeezed it, pushed it away from the door, and held his gaze until the doors closed.
* * *
Breezeway was something of a lone wolf. His getting involved meant the superhumans had been in conference, which meant they thought this was serious. She was almost flattered, but she couldn’t help but feel like they were wasting their time. She wasn’t the target. She wasn’t where they’d strike again, not really. She was a red herring.
Once on the bus, she called her mother’s cell phone.
“Celia, what’s wrong?”
“Why does everyone always assume something’s wrong when I call?”
“Because you never call unless something’s wrong.”
“That’s not true.”
“Celia—”
Okay. It was true. “I’m sorry, Mom. I just think you guys should call off the surveillance on me.”
“No. Absolutely not. In case you haven’t noticed, the Strad Brothers tried to kidnap you during both their robberies. They’ll try again.”
“I know, that’s just it. They’re using me as a distraction. While you guys are busy worrying about me, they get away with another robbery.”
“I’ll worry about you over a fish any day of the week. Celia, this is serious, it’s not like we’re following you around on a high-school date.”
Except that they would be following her on dates, the next time she and Mark went out. Hell, Mark was probably in on it.
No need to get paranoid or anything.