After winning the Polaris Ranger, the gang happily wandered through the booths, buying and snacking on treats. Mandy, brimming with energy, kept insisting Ace participate in more games, but he refused unless the reward was worth it.
Ace suddenly froze mid-step, his expression hardening as his gaze locked onto someone from his past—Ava Martin, the fiery redhead. She was dressed casually in jean shorts, a white T-shirt, and an unbuttoned red flannel shirt that swayed lightly in the breeze.
The sight of her still in town caught him off guard. It seemed she had successfully transferred into their school without any hiccup, despite his efforts to get her application rejected. Then again, he shouldn't have been surprised—her family was well-connected, and her cousin worked as a teacher there, likely smoothing the way.
