Something was wrong with Cassidy. Sure, she was sitting on the couch next to Brandon, watching a movie with their friends, like it was just a normal Thursday evening, but he could tell by the absent look in her eyes she was really somewhere else.
Asking what was on her mind hadn’t gotten him anywhere. She’d just said she was fine, that she was wrapped up in the movie. But he could tell her eyes weren’t quite focused on the TV. He wished he had her ability to read minds for just a few minutes so he could access whatever was going on in her brain.
She hadn’t been quite herself for the last few weeks, not since Alex had died. Sure, he could also say it was because he had been gone for four days, sucked up inside of a portal. But the real change in her character hadn’t happened until after she read the message from Alex. Brandon should’ve read it before he gave it to her, but he hadn’t, trusting that whatever the ex-Patriot had to say, it was a private message meant only for Cassidy. Now, even though he still felt the same way, he wished he would’ve been a little nosier. Then, maybe he’d have an idea what was wrong with her.
“I’m gonna grab another soda. Anyone need a refill?” their friend, Dax Forest, who had also been in the portal with Brandon, offered.
“I’m game,” Heather said. She was the other Hybrid and had been trapped in the portal for over a century. She was sitting on the floor, leaned back against the couch near Brandon’s legs even though there was plenty of room on the furniture. She said she could never get used to being so comfortable.
Across the room, Dax’s girlfriend, Tara McCall, and Cassidy’s friend from high school, Lucy Burke, who had recently joined their team, had their eyes glued on the screen as Jason Momoa took his shirt off. “Hot damn,” Heather muttered, but all Brandon could see was that Cassidy didn’t even seem to notice at all, and he didn’t think it was because her own boyfriend looked so similar to the actor without his shirt on that she couldn’t care less about Aquaman.
Dax brought Heather a can of Coke and then reclaimed his seat next to Tara. “That’s gotta be CGI or something,” he said, shaking his head. “No one really looks like that.”
“Have you ever seen Aaron without his shirt on?” Lucy asked, only pulling her eyes away from the screen for a moment to look at him.
“No, but I’m sure he doesn’t look like that.”
“Better,” Lucy replied.
Tara agreed quickly. “Yep. Better.”
Dax opened his mouth to protest but didn’t go there and let the girls have their moment to drool. Once again, Cassidy’s expression didn’t change. “Does it not gross you out when the other girls talk about your brother-in-law that way?” he whispered in her ear.
She jumped like she had no idea he was even there. “Oh, uh, yeah. Gross.”
It was obvious she hadn’t even heard what the girls had said. Brandon sighed and settled back into the couch, hoping he’d have a chance to talk to her in private after the movie was over. Since she’d moved out of her parents’ apartment and had her own now, she could stay out later, but she always insisted on being home by 11:00, and Hannah still checked in on her fairly often to make sure she was there. Still, he should have a few minutes if everyone left quickly once Aquaman was finished saving the day.
The movie seemed to drag on, the only part he was really interested in was the battle, and that seemed like nothing compared to what he’d been through in real life. When it was over, he considered sending messages to the others to clear out, but they were already on their feet before he even opened his mouth, thank goodness.
“Guess we should be off,” Dax said, taking Tara’s hand. “Some of us still have training tomorrow.”
“I am some of us,” Tara mumbled. Dax was not.
“Me, too,” Lucy chimed in.
“Me, three.” Heather shot up off of the floor like a rocket, not having quite gotten used to her new abilities since Jamie had given her a round of Transformation serum the other night. Technically, it was her first dose because she’d Transformed naturally the first time. Now, she was able to levitate and had better control of her shield throwing ability, more like Cassidy. It occurred to Brandon that he might be able to get Heather to read his girlfriend’s mind to see what was bothering her, but he had a feeling Cassidy would know Heather was in there—not that Heather would do it anyway. She seemed to think of Cassidy as her best pal now that the cowgirl had found someone similar to herself.
“See you all tomorrow.” Brandon stood to walk them over to the door, ushering them out as quickly as he could without being rude. He just prayed his dad didn’t come barging in at that moment, but he had the idea Elliott would be out for a while since he’d gone to have drinks with some of the other team members who were in town having themselves turned into superheroes.
Once the door was closed, Brandon settled back into the couch. Cassidy shifted. “I should probably go, too. I’ve got a lot to do.”
“Actually, I was hoping you’d stay for a few moments. I’d like to talk to you.”
Her forehead crinkled. “About what?”
Inhaling through his nose, Brandon pondered how to answer that. “You know, just stuff. I was thinking... we haven’t talked a lot recently. I was wondering how it’s going, how you’re doing, that sort of thing.”
“Brandon, we talk all the time. What’s the matter with you? You’re being all weird.”
“I’m being weird?” Her hazel eyes enlarged, and he realized he’d stepped out of line. Raising a hand in apology, he said, “I’m sorry. It’s just... lately you’ve seemed super distracted, and I’m worried about you.”
“Distracted?” Cassidy folded her arms. “What do you mean? I’m not distracted. I told you I’m doing everything I can to figure out what’s happening over in Europe right now. No one else seems to be taking it seriously, so it’s kinda up to me.”
“But why? Why does it have to be up to you? Maybe they’re not taking it seriously because it’s nothing to be worried about.”
“Or maybe they’re just standing around while Armageddon is beginning because no one around here knows how to wipe their own ass without Aaron telling them how much toilet paper to use.”
It was Brandon’s turn to stare in surprise. “That was a little harsh, don’t you think?” He thought his tone was soft, so maybe she wouldn’t get any more upset than she already was.
He was wrong. “God, Brandon! I don’t want to talk about it, all right? Clearly, you also don’t seem to understand that we are letting Daunator build an army while we sit here and do nothing, so if you want to sit by and let him do that, fine, go ahead. But I’m going to do whatever I can to try to stop him.” She started to stand up, but he reached over and gently took her arm, pulling her back to the couch.
