"Oh," she said, waving away the thought like a gnat, "Steven thinks I'm off with the girls. If I'd told him I was visiting you, he'd want to come along, and then we'd have to make up some outlandish story about why Paul is here." She turned to Paul, who was lounging on the sofa. "You know, it would be so much easier if you could just –"
"I know, I know," Paul said impatiently. "It's on my list. I promise." He tugged Ace down to the seat next to him and tucked him under his arm. "Just let me enjoy this calm before the s**t storm a little while longer."
Mmmm. Me too, Ace thought.
For all the steps Paul had made – a couple of shopping trips in Lawrence, dinner at a sports bar in Kansas City, one furtive trip back to Sparks – he and Ace were still essentially hiding from the world. Specific
