Free Super Secret Series (Book 1): Super Model by Princess Jones Page A

seat.
    “Wha—Um—How—” I stumbled, not quite getting a whole word out. “Coffee?” I don’t know why I said that. I’d already cleaned and shut down the coffee machine earlier. There wasn’t any coffee made. Please say no. Please say no. Please say no.
    Miss Fine gave me a stiff nod. “Sure. I’ll take it black, please.”
    I tried to hide my grimace and started a fresh pot of coffee. “I’ll just make a fresh pot. It will be just a few minutes.” We sat there in silence for a few moments before I thought to ask her the question that was burning in my mind. “What are you doing here?”
    “I’m here to see you.”
    “But I mean. . . why?”
    “Because I wanted to congratulate you on your test results. They were very. . . impressive.”
    Cold sweat sprouted on my brow. She knew. I just knew that she knew. And now she had come to take my memories.
    I didn’t say anything. I was too scared to formulate words. She didn’t wait for me to answer, though. “You’re trying to do what you think your father would want you to do, aren’t you?” She paused, to give me room to speak but I was still frozen in place. She went on. “Did you know I knew your father?”
    “No. He. . . never mentioned you.”
    “Dan and I went to the Academy together. We even dated a bit. He was always one of the good ones.” She cleared her throat, as if reminding herself to stay on track. “You look a bit like him. Definitely around the ears. I hadn’t seen him since school but I could see him in you.” The coffee machine made a little beeping sound behind me. “The coffee’s ready,” Miss Fine observed.
    I turned around and started to make her cup, hoping she couldn’t see my shaking hands. When I turned back to hand her the coffee, she took it without comment.
    She stirred it, even though she hadn’t put anything in it. Then she continued. “Your father was an optimist. He could always find the gray in a black and white world. He was quite stubborn about it, actually.”
    I nodded. That did sound a lot like him.
    “But the real world isn’t made for optimists. It’s made for realists, like me,” she added
    “Why did you come here?” I asked again.
    “Because it’s a good place to get a cup of coffee.” She reached into her inside pocket and brought out a picture. “And to give you this.”
    She slid the photo across the counter. It was a school photo with the crest of the Academy in the lower right corner. I recognized the younger version of my dad right away. I looked down at it for a moment before reaching for it. Just as I put my hand on it, she covered my hand with hers. It was as cold as ice. I yanked my hand away.
    “And I wanted to offer you the chance to back out now. If you fail, you’ll lose every memory of Supers and anything related to Supers. I don’t know if you know that will include a lot of memories of your father.”
    “I know,” I squeaked out.
    “If you give up now, I’ll still erase your memories but I’ll make sure to leave you a lot of good ones about your father.”
    She had offered it like she was doing me a favor but I could read between the lines. There were no favors being offered. “I want my memories, though. So, no thank you.”
    “Are you sure? You won’t even miss them.”
    “No.” I tried to sound firm, not scared. I failed.
    “Fine.” She rose from her seat. “I wanted to know all of your options. I owe Dan at least that.” Miss Fine went to the door. “Good night, Penny. And good luck.” And with a jangle of the bells on the door, she was gone.
    I took my first deep breath since Miss Fine had entered the diner. I looked down at her cup. She hadn’t even taken one sip.

Chapter 16
    What would your dad want you to do?
    I texted Audrey as soon as Miss Fine left. She texted me back immediately with a question I just didn’t know the answer to. I couldn’t say what my dad would do. I really just wished he were around to tell me. I finished closing up and