Game On (Supervillain Legacy Project Book 1) by H.L. Burke

Author:H.L. Burke [Burke, H.L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: H. L. Burke
Published: 2024-05-24T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

After the trivia competition, Jake’s mom and Michelle Shelby had again offered to take everyone out to dinner. Jake, however, had told them to go without him, grabbed some takeout from the commissary tent, and headed back to his room. It had been too long since he’d gotten to more than text his family, and he’d needed to touch base with Jules.

He’d spent the last hour chatting with her, hearing her vent about her day, how superheroing with morning sickness really sucked, how much the kids missed him, and how they’d all been watching the competition’s livestream.

“You guys had me worried after the obstacle course,” Jules said over the weak speakers of Jake’s laptop.

“It was close, but Ruby pulled us out of it in the end,” Jake replied. “I’m proud of her.’

“I’m proud of her too. I know she’s not really my family, exactly,” she said.

“Of course she is,” Jake corrected her. “You know with us Powells, family is way more than blood.” The already collapsing paper straw in his to-go cup turned to mush in his mouth. He tossed the cup and the now empty to-go bag into the trash then carried the laptop into the bedroom.

“You’re right. Maybe I can feel proud of Ruby without being ridiculous. She did great.”

“Yeah, she’s sharp.” Jake kicked off his sneakers and sat on the bed with the laptop on his lap. He took in his wife’s face. “You’re cute right now, you know?”

“If by cute you mean drained of all life and ready to collapse as soon as the kids are in bed.” She glanced to one side. “They’ve been watching TV for almost an hour. I really should stop them. Arin’s too young for that much screen time.”

“Once in a while won’t hurt,” Jake soothed. “You’re killing this. I’m sorry I’m not there right now. I know it’s tough.”

“No, I’ve got it. I do have to get going, though.” She kissed her hand and held it out towards the camera. “You go get ‘em, Jake, okay? Win this one for all of us.”

“I will.” With that the call ended. Jake found himself sitting alone in a small room, lit only by his computer screen. The time away from his family was eating at him more than he’d anticipated. Other than a few weekend trips with Jules while his parents or hers watched their kids, he’d never been away from his kids for this long. Juliet, he couldn’t remember being apart from for more than a single night since their marriage.

I’m getting soft. Eighteen-year-old me jumped headfirst into four year long undercover mission with no contact with anyone ... Of course, it nearly destroyed me, so maybe I’ve always been this co-dependent.

He ghosted his fingers in and out of the laptop a few times, fiddling with his powers like another man might twirl a pen, before shutting it and placing it on the charger.

The team would be back soon. Maybe they should talk strategy, but he wouldn’t mind a day off.

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