I heard Mace laughing softly behind me.

Vance spoke into the phone. “Luke,” pause, “you got a visitor.” I could hear the smile in Vance’s voice even though his face was turned away. “Says her name’s Ava Barlow.”

“Just hang on one tick,” Shirleen said, getting up, waving her hands to dry her nails, “I’ll just talk to the boys in the back. Maybe they know where he is.”

In the surveillance room, Vance said into the phone. “Looks scared as a f**kin’ jackrabbit. She’s about to take off.” Immediately, his eyes sliced to Mace and he did a flick of his hand, index finger pointed to the door saying, “Luke’ll be here in five.”

Mace disappeared and seconds later we saw him hit the reception area and move to block the exit.

“Luke just called in,” Mace lied to the staring Ava (it was hard not to stare at Mace, especially upon first sight of him). “He’ll be here in five.”

I could swear I saw Ava’s face grow pale.

“I’m thinkin’ Ava Barlow don’t have a prayer,” May whispered to me but she was looking at the monitor and her whole body was shaking with laughter.

I found myself hoping Ava Barlow was good enough for Luke Stark and thinking that was a tall order.

She liked Green Day though so I figured that was a start.

Vance put down the phone and sat back, picking up his calzone. His gaze moved to me and mine moved to him.

His eyes were amused but soft and sweet and he had that “mine” look on his face. These days it was less intense, less raw, more settled, more content and I liked that.

I liked it a lot.

Home, I heard Auntie Reba say in my head.

I know, I said back.

My pug puppy curled up in my mental lap and sighed a happy puppy sigh.

My eyes still on Vance, I smiled.