”Sandra winked and added, “We can’t wait to get you there when it is done.”Glen wasn’t sure what they were promising, but he knew that when ...hey got into this mood it suggested that he would enjoy it. He turned to Cliff and, in a very serious tone of voice, said, “I hate to be a downer, but I need to talk to you for a minute.”The twins glanced at each other and then went into the house. They knew that tone of voice and what it meant when Glen used it. It always meant that he was going to give. The party was ancillary to a United Nations event, so there were many dignitaries there. I managed to avoid him for most of the night. When I finally did meet him, I liked him. He looked like he was about my father’s age. He had graying, almost shoulder-length hair that cascaded down around his face, the trustworthy face of a politician. He was immaculately dressed, of course, but he was also very polite in a very skillful way. He managed to speak to me with appropriate respect without. “Disruptor pulse?”“Low caliber from a vented blaster. Right in the heel,” Wicked Sharp winced. “Where’s our Noxo?”“Oh, I had to use it on Nighthawk. He was getting all twisted up about being afraid of needles. What a pussy.”“I’m going to kill you, Jefferson Grant!” Crimefighter was just longer than Xie Zhi Ren’s reach away. “You run and I’ll hunt you. You stay and I’ll be quick.”“That’s darker than the shit Arrogant God says,” Doctor Nightmares had an arm around both women and just looked. “Well, I was thinking, our kids are upstairs and probably having sex… ““And you thought that we…”I didn’t let her finish, but leaned in to kiss her on the mouth. I pulled back just a fraction of an inch and Jen moved her lips forward to touch mine. Our heads pressed together and our mouths opened. No COVID here, I hoped, then lost myself in the taste of her lipstick and the swirl of her tongue. Maybe her mention of that picture of Ashley and me gave me a push, but mostly it was just being close.