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He pulled out a bag of gummy worms and then two cups of Top Ramen. “Be right back. I need some hot water.”

He walked right into the back door of the station then returned with both cups steaming and a fork poking out each side.

I took my cup and grinned. “I haven’t had Top Ramen since… well, since high school.”

“You mean you don’t often challenge your body by using up two days’ worth of sodium just so you can have a noodle-fest? That’s not normal.” He grinned over his cup. I could almost feel it, the tether we used to have, trying to snap between us and hold tight.

And then he looked away.

And it was gone.

“I’m more of a quinoa-type of girl,” I admitted.

He jerked his gaze to mine. “Please tell me you still eat meat.” He looked pale.

I nodded. “Still eat—” I choked out “—meat,” when my eyes accidentally fell to his crotch then back up again. Freaking well done!

His eyes widened before he coughed out a laugh. “Good to know you don’t discriminate.”

Someone shoot me.

We finished our soup in companionable silence before he grabbed a set of matches and winked at me. “You ready for this?”

“Jason, I don’t—”

He lit the firecracker and tossed it into the dumpster behind the station.

The second it set off…

We ran like hell, hand in hand, to the front of the station where several cop cars were sitting.

Jason grinned then dashed into the station and right back out. He unlocked the closest car and jumped in.

I followed, my teeth chattering, as he sped off and turned on the siren.

I sunk into my seat. “Please don’t tell me we just stole a cop car.”

“Eh, Chief won’t care.”

I paled. “The chief? We stole his cruiser?”

Jason burst out laughing. “No, we stole mine, but I’m not supposed to be working, so we’re still living on the dangerous side there, Candy Lips.”

My heart sped up.

Candy Lips.

I’d loathed that nickname.

He’d said I tasted like candy.

It was so romantic — yet embarrassing — when he referenced it around school that I’d started calling him Candy Lips, too. His friends gave him hell; he said they were just jealous they only had their right hand and Victoria’s Secret, while he possessed the real thing.

Jason accelerated. I let out a squeal as we pulled into the old high school parking lot. It was nearly empty since it was the beginning of July, and people were out of school already. Though there were a few sparse cars littered around, probably because of summer practices and camps.

“Let’s see what else this magic backpack holds.” He grabbed it, and we stepped out.

“Wait…” I leaned over the cop car, “…you didn’t pack it?”