The lights were still up by the old shed where Austin, Ally, and Mr. Dawson had put on their impromptu concert weeks prior, but now instead of a rug on the slab of pavement there was a picnic table. The tiny lights shone in the night. The contents of the picnic basket Chuck had packed had been rummaged through and tossed to the far end of the table.

Trish licked the last bit of chocolate frosting from her thumb then tucked the cupcake wrapper into the plastic bag tied to the end of the bench.

"I have a surprise for you," Chuck said, excitedly rubbing his hands together. He reached into the giant duffel bag on the bench beside him.

"I admit, I was weirded out that you had a heavy, black bag with you on our date," Trish said. She narrowed her eyes at him. "Should I still be weirded out?"

Chuck chuckled then flopped a huge file on the table. It was a manila folder that barely covered the stack of papers stuffed inside the seam. Trish gasped, hope showering over her and pooling in her gut. She carefully pulled the file toward her like it could explode at any second. Her fingers barely touched the sides as she slid it closer, keeping her eyes on Chuck.

"Is this what I hope it is?" she asked. Images of her mother and father and brother, happy and safe back together with her flashing in her mind.

He gave a proud smile and tugged on his fancy suspenders. "I got to know what the lady wants, if I want to be her man. And I am your man, so I know what the lady wants."

She couldn't even roll her eyes. She was too excited. Not wasting another moment, she flipped open the file.

"We're closer to going home!" Her shoulders dropped when she realized the photo in front of her was of Kira poolside in a designer bikini. She furrowed her brows and tossed the print over her shoulder. The next page was a list of tweets from Piper. She shoved the messages aside. The next page was a print of Trent on stage at a music festival. Her head shot up.

"What's this, Chuck? What does this have to do with me or my parents?"

Chuck released his suspenders. "Trishy Poo, what are you talking about? These files are from your social accounts. I got access to them and printed these off. So you could know the goings ons of your kingdom, my princess."

"Explain," Trish sighed, confusion all over her features. She shook her head and shoved the file to his side of the table.

Chuck reached across the table and cupped her hands in his own. His eyes shined with admiration as he spoke to her. "I knew you were a powerful and cruel woman when I met you. It was the first thing that attracted me to you."

Trish sputtered. Her usually quick wit failed her and her thoughts fluttered around like old dollar bills in a wind machine at a tacky casino.

"Red told me everything. You were so Mean Girl popular, and now I'm sure I'm falling in love with you."

Trish yanked her hands away and settled them in her lap. Her mouth still hung open and her eyes were wide and fixed on him.

"I knew someone like you couldn't truly be happy without her tools to reign," Chuck continued. "So, I got all the dirt you need so when we get this whole witness protection mess over with you can pick up right where you left off." He batted his well-cared for lashes behind his glasses. "Tell me how fabulous I am, now."

Trish's mouth snapped shut. She took a deep breath and let it out through her nostrils as she gathered her thoughts. All that time I wasted on superficial things when I could've been telling my mom happy Mother's Day. Or thanking my dad for working hard so I can have nice things. Or going to my little brother's baseball games. I was too busy making Miles cry in the bathroom stall and making fun of Dez.

"This isn't going to work out," she said finally.

"I don't follow," Chuck said, unfazed and still shooting googly eyes at his date.

She motioned her hands between them. "This. Any of this. I mean, it's k.i.l.l.i.n.g. me not to devour these files and have enough dirt to fill the Grand Canyon on these clowns."

Chuck tapped the stack of papers and said gleefully, "I've got medical records in here. Guess where Jace has a rash?"

Trish leaned forward, her eyes shining. "Oh my gosh, tell me!" She shook her head and pressed her hands to her face. "No! Shut up!" She tossed her head back, her curls spilling over the bow tied at the back of her dress, and loudly groaned.

Chuck removed his cowboy hat and placed it on the end of the table. "Darling, you're not telling me how fabulous I am and it's kind of a bummer."

Trish sat up and put her hands on the table. She picked up some of the papers and lifted them.

"Yes, I'm a queen bee at my school. Obviously." She dropped the papers, letting them spread across the picnic table. "But I'm not at my school. And things are sort of different now. I've got things to worry about. Real things, not stupid stuff like are my shoes cuter than Kira's shoes."

Chuck peaked under the table to glance at the sandals on Trish's feet.

"They're okay. I prefer boots myself," he said.

Trish rolled her eyes. "Whatever. What I'm saying is, I used to be a huge jerk but now I'm not so sure I want to be a huge jerk anymore." She walked her fingers along the edge of the table as she thought back to something Dez had said. "It's kind of tiring being the best at being the worse." She shut her eyes and sighed. "I can't believe Dez was right about something."

Chuck clenched his fist. "I see. Red ruined my gift to you."

"No, 'Red' didn't do anything. I make my own decisions," she said calmly. "And I've decided that I can't date you anymore." She looked away when she saw Chuck's bottom lip quiver. "You're cool, in your own way, I guess. A little weird, but some girls are into that, and I'm sure you'll find what you're looking for once you move on to your next assignment."

Chuck brought his hat to his chest and hugged it to him. "I've got more carrots."

Trish rubbed her shoulder awkwardly. "I'm good on carrots." She glanced at him but looked away when she saw his nose turning bright red. "This was always going to be temporary. It's like we're not in the real world here and I like to date and there aren't really a lot of options. But the girl you're into might not be the kind of girl you're into anymore."

She stood up from the bench and smoothed down the back of her dress. "I don't like to do uncomfortable, so I'll catch you in the morning, k?"

He didn't speak.

"I do think you're an okay dude. If that makes you feel any better," she said gently before disappearing into the night.

Trish tiptoed through the den with her sandals in her hands, hoping not to make too much noise and disturb Austin and Ally's dinner. She made her way up the stairs and was almost to her room when she saw Dez's door swing open.

He stepped into the hall with an empty plate in his hand. He was already in his pajamas to turn in for the night. He wiggled his bare toes on the threaded runner in the hallway. Trish looked at his feet then up at him.

"You've got hairy toes," she said.

He pointed at her own toes. "You've got purple toes."

Trish wiggled her toes and hugged her arms against her, tucking her sandals in her pit. "That's toenail polish, genius."

Dez glanced around the hallway. "Where's Chuck? It's kind of early for your date to be over."

"You're an expert on dates now?"

Dez blushed and shook his head. "Never been on one."

Trish let her arms fall beside her and she gaped at him. "Really?" She tossed her hair over her shoulder. "Your innocence never ceases to amaze me."

He leaned back against the wall. "I'm not that innocent." He reached into the tiny pocket of his pajamas and revealed one of the throwing stars Chuck lodged into the tree earlier that day.

Trish snorted and mimicked his position on the wall opposite from him. She swung the sandals in her hand. "I hate to burst your bubble, but I'm not in love. Chuck's not going to be a thing anymore."

"Really?" He felt that flutter in his belly again, the one he got when she said his name or he looked into her eyes for too long. He dropped his gaze to the rug. "I'm sorry. Chuck's cool, and even if you think love's lame, I still kind of wanted you to get a chance to try it."

Trish shrugged. "He's got no intel and he's a sloppy kisser. It's for the best."

They were silent for a moment before Trish stepped up to him. She took the throwing star out of his hand and smiled.

"Finally, a real gift. Thanks, Red."

"That's mine," Dez pouted. "And call me Dez."

Trish walked backward to her bedroom door. "But we're friends," she teased. "And I can have it. Right?"

He rolled his eyes good naturedly then pushed himself off the wall.

"Thank you," she said, her words mixed with a giggle.

The sound made the flutter in his belly jump to his heart and he gazed at her room door until it clicked shut.

"I can't believe you actually cooked something that wasn't pancakes or bacon," Ally joked. She took another bite of pasta and hummed at the taste of olive oil, tomato, and basil.

Austin pushed the sleeves of his blazer up then dusted his hands together. "I can put in the work. And Dez might've helped."

Ally smiled against the glass at her lips and looked lovingly over the rim at her husband.

"Look, you're smiling," he said. He lit another candle so it could join the dozen others around the dining room. He took a seat beside her. "You haven't been doing that a lot lately."

Ally swallowed back some guilt then sat her glass down on the lace doily. She fiddled with the silver chain around her neck then let it drop back down to the neckline of her special-occasion dress.

"And now you're frowning again," Austin said. He picked up a dinner roll and added it to the pile of food he had already put on her plate.

She opened her mouth but when no words came out, she settled for taking another bite of pasta. She could feel his eyes on her as she chewed and guilt continued to gnaw at her stomach.

"I made cupcakes. The ones with chocolate frosting," he said. He pushed his chair back from the table and nearly tripped over his feet to get to the kitchen.

Ally chewed her lip. Her eyes lingered on the doorway until he got back. When he did return, she shifted her gaze to the pretty flowers that served as a centerpiece on the dining table.

"See, cupcakes. And I put almonds in the salad. I know you like that. And the pasta's extra cheesy. But I got some Gas X in the cabinet upstairs, so you don't have to worry about over doing it," he rambled on. "These flowers are awesome, right? Dez made the arrangement. It kind of reminds me of you, because it's bright and happy." He let out a long breath then flopped down in the chair across from her. He rested his forehead in his palm and balanced his elbow on the edge of the table.

"Are you unhappy?"

Ally stopped chewing and looked up at her husband. "What?" she whispered.

He put his arm down and looked her in the eye. "Ally, are you unhappy?"

She dropped her fork and reached her arms across the table. "Austin, of course not. Why would you think that?"

He put his hands in hers and let her squeeze his fingers tight. "You know why," he said hoarsely.

Ally stared down at their interlaced fingers. The lump in her throat burned and her eyes stung with unshed tears.

"It's you. But it's not you, at the same time," she whispered. She smoothed her thumb over his. "I hate what happened between my mom and I. She cut me out of her life," her voice came out shaky. Tears spilled over her cheeks. "Because I chose you as my life, instead of the life she picked out for me."

"And I'm a constant reminder of that," Austin said. He tried to pull his hands away but Ally held them tighter.

"Yes. But it's not your fault," she said, her voice gentle but firm. "I decided to marry you. I decided not to go to Harvard. Those were my decisions, and I don't regret them." She freed one hand to wipe a tear away from his cheek and smiled. "Not even a little. But I feel like she left me again. It's like when she and my dad divorced all over again. And it makes me angry. But I got a little carried away."

"Ally, it's okay to be angry. I know what it's like to lose people I love. But you can't push me away. We're partners."

"Partners." She gave him a watery smile then kissed his hands. She exhaled and dabbed her face with a napkin. "Enough sad stuff. This pasta is cheesy and delicious and I'm going to earn that Gas X tonight."

Austin laughed. He got up from his chair and sat in the one beside her.

"I can't wait," he joked as he picked up her fork and loaded it with cheese and sauce.

Ally jogged down the stairs the next morning in her training gear. She did some stretches in the den as she waited for Chuck to come in from his usual morning jog. She looked up in surprise when she saw him drudging down the stairs in his pajamas. She stopped mid windmill and stood up straight.

"Where's your yoga pants?" she asked.

He stood in front of her. He had crust in his eyes and his glasses were on crooked.

"Tell Trish to love me or I'm not training you anymore," he said, his voice low and void of emotion.

Ally stepped back and squinted at him. "What? Chuck, this is…"

"Tell her to love me!" He shouted angrily.

"Don't yell at me, mister!" Ally shouted back. Her shoulders tensed and her eyes narrowed. "You're my trainer. That's your job. If you don't do your job, then you have superiors to answer to."

"You heard me." His voice was low and even again, eerily so.

Ally pushed down her anger. She raised her arm and pointed her finger to the door.

"Get out."

Chuck blinked. "Excuse me?"

"It's my job to protect Trish. And if that includes you, then you have no choice but to leave."

Chuck clenched his fists at his sides and stepped up to Ally. "And if I refuse, tadpole?"

"You're not the only one with access to information. You think I don't know about those files you showed Trish. How do you think your boss will feel about the misuse of government resources to pick up girls? Girls you're supposed to be protecting."

Chuck snorted. "No one will care about that."

"Fine. But shady guys like you always have a trail of missteps behind them. And I'll find them. You think I mind digging through boring documents or making phone calls throughout the agency, staying on hold for hours on end?"

Chuck glared but Ally didn't flinch.

He growled. "You've proven you're boring enough to do exactly that." He shoved past her to head for the front door. "Your dad can send me my things. I don't want to spend another second here with you buffoons." He stopped at the door and said over his shoulder. "But you'll regret this."

Ally's eyes remained hard and her posture was tense until the door slammed shut behind Chuck. She let out a shaky breath and her body shook with it. Her throat felt dry as the words tumbled out of her mouth, "Maybe."