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He shot me a wink. “We’ll see if you get that lucky, Mr. Martinez.”
“You haven’t told me what this poorly dressed man does for work.”
“Insurance adjuster.”
My jaw dropped. By night, he teleported about the city, saving people from evil. He could bench press me without straining. This hero had a desk job? Something about that just seemed off.
“We can’t all have flashy jobs to pay the bills,” he smirked. “I oversee the city’s claims department. With so many superheroes, you’d be surprised how often somebody calls because their car was thrashed by a super confrontation.”
“So you…” I snorted. Theo’s nighttime persona caused the damage, and his day job recovered the costs. “Well, damn. If that’s not job security, I don’t know what is.”
“My turn.” His brow furrowed, making him cuter. I don’t know how it was possible, but he had the perfect blend of boyish charm and sex appeal. I couldn’t wait to show him off to the guys. The thought happened before I could process it. I had never introduced Griffin or Xander to the men I hung out with. Even Bernard only met Dan once just before… nope. I wasn’t thinking about that tonight.
“Siblings?”
“Nope.”
“Parents?”
“Mi madre lives in Arizona. My dad is somewhere in Mexico, I think. We’re not close.”
“Why Vanguard?”
Good question and the answer bordered on comical. “I couldn’t stay in Mexico. I wanted to see the world. So I applied to Vanguard University. It became home. I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. It’s a weird city. Distrito Federal has a few superheroes, but not like Vanguard. This is the only place where you can have a city invasion by breakfast and see goblins raiding the streets by dinner. I wanted excitement, and I found it here.”
The band started as we bounced from one topic to the next. As this side of the bar slowly emptied onto the dance floor, we talked about our upbringings, learning to drive, and our inability to keep plants alive. With each word out of his mouth, I found myself captivated. For a superhero, he had no idea that I had lured him into a trap.
“I don’t know how to say this, but you are the worst dancer,” I confessed. “I mean, the other night, it bordered on painful.”
His confidence brushed off the insult. “You didn’t seem to mind.”
“Of course not. Have you seen yourself? I’d let you read stereo instructions, and it’d still put me in the mood.”
“So…”
He let the statement hang in the air. I turned to the crowd line dancing. Nearly two-dozen people finished spinning about, fingers hooked in their belts as they tapped their heels to the music. I turned back, deliberate, slow, giving him time to sort out the smile stretching from ear to ear.
“What? Out there? No way.”
“If the boot fits.” If I smiled any harder, it’d become permanent. “You can stop a snake woman, but a little line dancing scares you? And here I thought you were brave.”
I took a swig and walked toward the dance floor. The lead singer of the band started strumming when I looked over my shoulder to see Theo downing his beer in a rush. He stood, adjusting his bolo, and followed me onto the dance floor.
“I hate you right now,” he said.
“Let’s teach you some dance moves, and then I’ll show you a few more later.”
I took his hand, placing him in one line next to an older gentleman. “It’s his first time,” I warned his neighbor.
The man gave Theo a once over. “I couldn’t tell.” He smiled, revealing a silver tooth. “I’ll take good care of him.”
By the time I reached the line opposite him, the older man was instructing him. Theo tried to keep up, but it was obvious that without his portals, he lacked coordination. While he might not make the best dance partner, the determination on his face made it even more endearing. Powers or not, Theo had my attention.
The music started. Men bowed, tipping hats as the women dipped in a curtsey. As the line moved, the older man kept his hand on Theo's back to guide him. He might not have the footwork down, but at least he could spin to avoid causing a pile-up.
As the two lines converged, we were inches apart. I stole a kiss as I grabbed his hand, our palms pressed together. He missed the toe, heel and if it hadn’t been for my finger hooked on his belt loop, he’d have stepped in the wrong direction.
“I’m the world’s worst dancer,” he laughed.
