“You guys really saved Paris?” Cal asked as they walked together.
“Yeah, didn’t you see the news?” Sarah smiled. “We teleported over and stopped a helped after a major earth quake. Turns out it was Taq-Law related.”
Cal whistled, “If I knew we could go to Paris for free I wouldn’t have given up my stone.”
“Stop it,” Kathryn nudged him shaking her head. “You’ve been happy living the domestic life with Ben and you know it.”
“Yes I am,” he glanced down at his ring again and sighed. “Ben got a promotion. I’m in talks to help at a school. We’ve been talking about getting a dog.”
“The beagle right?” Kathryn asked.
“Beagles are so cute,” Sarah said quickly. “I almost convinced Marco and Jack to get a dog too.”
“The beagle’s my vote,” Cal continued. “But Ben’s dead set on getting a pittie and we are definitely not getting two of them. Neither of us are home enough for two dogs.”
“Hey I’d love to dog sit,” Kathryn said. “I’m great with dogs.”
“She’s never had a dog before,” Cal whispered toward Sarah.
“I totally have had dogs,” she said glaring at him then looking away slowly. “Just. Not in the house. Or actually owned by me. Shut up Cal.”
They laughed together and paused at the street corner. But they looked up and each of them paused. Jack stood on the other side of the street. His head had been down and he was disgruntled but as he looked up he saw the three of them. It morphed into one of his easy smiles but as he met Sarah’s eyes he frowned again.
The light changed to green and let them walk. Jack started to step forward as they did but paused and took a step back waiting on them. When they finally came over Jack waved, “Hey Cal. Long time no see.”
“Oh yeah. But you guys have been busy the past few weeks,” Cal said. “We don’t watch the news that much at home but you guys are our favorite story when it comes on.”
Jack grinned then, “Did Kat tell you we’ve been to space now?”
“What the hell?” he asked eyes going wide. “You’re in space now? And you were gonna tell me about that when?”
“Slipped my mind. Lots going on,” she shrugged nonchalantly. “How about I tell you about it and we let these two talk. Remember what we talked about.” She said to Sarah.
“Sounds like a good idea,” Cal waved. “Catch you later Jack. We can do lunch or something.”
“Sure. Definitely.”
“See you guys later,” Kathryn waved and then the two of them rounded the corner leaving them behind. That left the soon to be newlyweds together and staring down awkwardly.
Finally Sarah put her hands behind her back and looked at him, “What are you doing out?”
“Didn’t want to stay home alone. Marco’s still out with the guys. Place is too quiet,” he shoved his hands into his pockets. “Don’t worry. I wasn’t doing anything wedding related.”
“I didn’t say you were,” she said quickly.
“Just letting you know,” he said glaring for a second. “It’s your wedding right.”
She glared at him, “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It’s not like I get a chance to throw some input in there.”
“After the stunts you’ve been pulling? I have to make sure you don’t throw a wrench in things again.”
“Cause I’m an elephant, right?”
“God why are you being such a pain in the ass?”
“I don’t know why you a goddamn control freak,” he almost shouted. “I’m just trying to help. It’s our wedding, remember?”
“You’re acting like I forgot.”
“You act like you forgot. Like you don’t even want me a part of it.”
“Don’t put words in my mouth Jack.”
“That’s what it feels like Sarah,” he turned around putting his back to her. “Feels like this was a mistake.”
Sarah paused staring at him and her heart skipped a beat, “What was?”
“Nothing.”
“Don’t say nothing,” she said and moved around to stand in front of him.
He glared down at her and she glared back up at him her chest huffing. Before either one of them could say something, they’d heard the rumble in the air. Like a massive roll of thunder above their heads. They both flinched watching the shape zoom past them. A ship, smoke coming from the back of it in dark plumes.
Their eyes went wide watching it and instantly they started guessing at where it was going to crash land. It was going past the city straight toward the lake. It didn’t take long for it to pass the sky line.
“What the hell is that?” Sarah asked.
“No idea. Probably more aliens coming after the crystal,” Jack scowled.
Sarah shook her head slowly, “No. That smoke. That ship wasn’t coming here to invade. They’re coming here to crash land.”
“Then they might need our help,” Jack said.
“We need to be there before it crashes and causes damage,” Sarah said calling her stone to life. Jack did the same.
“Let’s go to work,” they said in unison, glanced at one another surprised and then looked away scowling.
Their bodies were covered in light in one swift motion. They donned their armor and then jumped, racing there as fast as they could. Whatever problems they were having in their relationship could wait. They had a job to do.
The Harlequin Library 