Aisha leaned back in her airplane seat and wiggled her butt in an attempt to get comfortable. Despite all these stupid super powers from the HRSP, she couldn’t stop the baby from abusing her internal organs. It didn’t help she felt squished between her husband and brother-in-law.
“You know, we both offered to get you a seat in first class,” Steve murmured.
“How is that going to stop your nephew from practicing his goal kicks on my lungs?”
The plane finally pushed back from the terminal. She glanced to her right. Rey stared out the tiny window. His knuckles glared white against the rest of his skin.
She laid her palm over his left fist. “Breathe, sweetie.”
“I can’t believe he’s afraid of flying,” Steve muttered.
“Not all of us grew with a silver spoon in their mouths,” Rey snapped.
“Stop it,” Aisha hissed. “Both of you.” She glared at Steve. “And it’s only when someone else is the pilot.”
“I don’t need you to defend me,” Rey growled.
Before she could call her husband on his crap, Steve said, “You’re right, Aisha. I’m sorry.”
If her brother-in-law actually meant his apology, she wouldn’t have the urge to smack him, too. He was merely trying to show up his twin. Not for the first time, she wished the guys could’ve worked out their sibling rivalry while they were kids, like normal people.
“I didn’t thank you two for coming up to Seattle with me for Thanksgiving,” Steve added. “So, thanks for that. I promise to behave myself at your parents’ home, Aisha.”
Okay, maybe he meant his apology after all.
She eyed Rey.
“I’m sorry for snapping at you, honey.” He raised her hand to his lips and kissed the back. “I promise to behave, too.”
“Thank you both.” After the year they’d all had, a week of rest, good food, and family fun would be a welcome respite from the superhero shenanigans in Canyon Pointe. She didn’t realize how much she was looking forward to a real visit with her relatives until now.
##
Rey would have rather sat with Aisha in the rental SUV, but Eric insisted she take the roomier front passenger. Not to mention Aisha’s nephew begged to sit next to his hero.
“Have you come up with a new name yet, Uncle Rey?” Even with his seatbelt on and snugly tucked between Rey and Steve in the backseat, Devon quivered with excitement.
“Hey, secret identity, dude!” Eric glared at his son in the rearview mirror.
“But we’re alone in the car, Dad,” Devon protested.
“It’s a rental car, and it can be easily bugged,” Rey said gently. “The last thing your Aunt Aisha wants would be for you to get hurt because you know my other identity.”
“But that’s why you waved your phone all over the SUV right?” Devon said. “To make sure it wasn’t bugged?”
“Yes, it is,” Rey replied. He didn’t want to mention he was also checking for explosive devices. “However, we all still need to be careful.”
“But Mom and Dad said the guys who are after yours and Aisha’s baby are in jail.”
“They are for now.” Rey didn’t want to get too far into the subject of Corvus either, but neither did he want to lie to the kid. “But bad guys can escape and sometimes, they can even beat the system—”
“You mean, because Cal’s an idiot, and he might screw up the prosecution’s case,” Devon firmly stated.
“Devon!”
What little of Eric’s expression Rey could see appeared totally appalled at his son’s blunt assessment.
In the front passenger seat, Aisha snickered.
“He is an idiot, Dad,” Devon proclaimed. “He blamed Aisha for not having any babies. And Mom said he was shooting blanks.”
Eric groaned. Steve and Aisha laughed out loud.
“Calvin was mean to Aisha after they both promised to love each other forever,” Rey said patiently. “That does mean he can’t do his job as a lawyer. These same bad guys threatened him and his new family. He understands that no one is safe if the bad guys aren’t punished for the things they did wrong.”
“You said you’d promise to love Aisha forever, too.” The boy peered up at Rey.
“I’ve only broken my word once—” Rey started.
Devon opened his mouth, but Rey held up his index finger.
“The only reason I broke it is because the monsters who were trying to kill me would have killed all of my friend Takashi’s colleagues,” he continued. “When to break your word is one of the hard things you have to decide for yourself as an adult. I hope you never find yourself in that position, Devon.”
“I hope not, either.” The boy nodded solemnly. “Can I ask you another question, Uncle Rey?”
“Sure.”
“What does ‘shooting blanks’ mean?”
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