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to want personal growth in your life, not just money or fame or the other misguided goals society puts in front of us.”
    I smiled. “That sounds like very good advice. Thank you, Sensei.” That was the name by which the public knew Lucas Harmon.
    He put his hand on my shoulder. “I fall just as short as you do, Mindy. I’ve been just as distracted by the glitter, not focusing enough on helping people,” he admitted. “We could all stand to be more honest with ourselves—and with each other.” He cleared his throat and looked away. “We should all make every day count.”
    “Now that is very good advice,” I agreed, and felt my hands shaking against the cool balcony railing. I had to say more. He was right, I had to be honest with him if I wanted any chance of finally being a grown-up about the way I felt about him.
    “Mindy—”
    “Luke, I need to tell you something,” I interrupted, turning to face him and not the skyline. “You know I had a crush on you when I was younger, right?”
    His smile of embarrassment and the way he ran his hand through his close-cropped black hair told me all I needed to know. He cleared his throat. “Well…”
    Fear of humiliation burned through me, and I wanted this over as quickly as possible. “Okay, so I made it obvious. We both know that. But…I just need to tell you that’s all in the past. I feel like it’s kind of kept us apart, you know?” I didn’t want him to be uncomfortable around me anymore.
    “It doesn’t have to keep us apart.” He moved closer, looking down at me with half-hooded dark brown eyes.
    My soul wanted him to be staring at me with love, but my brain told me that was impossible. This was only pity I saw; kindness. I was always going to be a surrogate kid sister to him. I had to stop living in the past, in my dream world. I had to move on.
    I steeled myself and said, “You’re right, it doesn’t. And I don’t want it to any longer.”
    He smiled, and my heart almost hurt from how gorgeous he was. He said, “Neither do I. I just didn’t know how to approach you about it.”
    I shook my head, embarrassed despite my resolution of honesty. “Yeah, I made it pretty awkward between us, didn’t I? I’m sorry for not saying something sooner.” I touched his arm, careful to keep it sisterly. “Thank you for being so understanding about this, Luke. I’m glad we can move on now and just be friends.”
    He straightened, back to business as usual. How sweet of him to try to make this less awkward for me. He had probably been waiting ages for me to put this silly tension between us to rest. So many uncomfortable years, and they were all my fault. “Yeah, no problem.”
    “Maybe we can actually work patrols together now,” I suggested. “Maybe we can schedule that, now that we’ve handled this. I think there’s a lot I could learn from you, since we’re the only two on the team who don’t have any specific powers.”
    “Sure, that can probably be arranged,” he replied. “I’d like that. Now that we’re actually doing patrols again instead of publicity shots at the latest celebrity hot spots.”
    “I hear that.” Thinking of the others, I looked inside and noticed how a lot of the guests were starting to leave. “Looks like they’re packing it in. We’d better get back in there.” Plus, that would end this somewhat humbling episode.
    He followed my gaze, looking inscrutable. “We should. Thanks for getting me out on the dance floor.”
    “My pleasure.”
    I took the arm he held out, and we headed in to say our good-byes.
    Just inside the doors, Lainey was in conversation with a glamorous woman whose flawless cocoa brown skin and dress made her look like she’d just walked off a fashion shoot. Her artfully arranged hair and simple but elegant makeup were perfection, and she had the air of someone who didn’t have to work hard to pull it all off. I fought a wave of jealousy.
    “Guys, this is my friend, Selena Curtis,”