Mandy was not the type to plead with anyone—Dan had taught her better than that. So, when Ace saw her pleading with Ava over a plush toy, he knew it must have been something truly important to Mandy. Without hesitation, and without her needing to ask him twice, he stepped up to the occasion.
However, watching Ava smirk and act clever, her sharp eyes practically mocking him, Ace quickly realized she had no intention of handing over the plush. Ava seemed content to keep teasing Mandy, clearly enjoying the chance to provoke him. Mandy, perceptive as ever, had caught on to Ava's game but chose to ignore it, focusing solely on getting the plush. The way she clung to the hope of getting it showed just how much it meant to her.
Ace's patience wore thin. He decided it was time to stop being passive and take action for his cute auntie. Knowing Ava's fiercely competitive nature, he provoked her with a sly sneer, leaning in just enough to spark her temper. It worked like a charm. Ava's lips curled in defiance as she agreed to Mandy's challenge, determined to prove she was stronger than him.
This time, however, Ace planned to lay out the rules and stakes clearly. He was not about to let her wiggle out of the deal on a technicality like she had earlier.
But Ava Martin, sharp as ever, seemed to see through his plan. Before Ace could finalize the terms, she relented with a mischievous grin and said, "No, that wouldn't be fair. He has the weight advantage." Her eyes flitted to Ace's forearms as he casually shrugged off his denim jacket and folded his sleeves for the arm-wrestling match.
For a brief moment, her confidence wavered. She studied his muscular arms with a hint of surprise, her gaze lingering longer than she intended. Ava, who knew Ace's past well enough, couldn't help but question her own memory. Was he always ? Though they had been in the same class, Ava barely noticed him. Most days, she skipped class altogether, and when she did show up, she'd spend the time either napping or playing on her phone. To her, Ace had always been the invisible pushover nerd. And yet, here he was—standing tall, confident, and far from the boy she thought she knew.
"If you guys aren't going to arm wrestle and just keep bickering, please leave—you're holding up the line," the booth keeper said with an annoyed sigh. He had impatiently prepared the table with anticipation to watch two of his strongest customers square off in arm wrestling. But with Ava backing down, his patience was wearing thin.
As an ex-boxer, the booth keeper's trained eyes quickly sized up their styles. He noticed how Ava relied on technique to make up for her lack of raw power, while Ace leaned entirely on brute force. To him, this match was more than a casual competition—it was a fascinating clash of technique versus strength. He had been eager to see if Ava's precision could outmaneuver Ace's raw might.
But when Ava backed down, the answer became painfully clear. Disappointment flickered across his face. Not everyone was blessed with extraordinary strength, but technique, he thought, was different. It was something anyone with enough patience and dedication could master. But seeing the development before him, he stood there, he felt a strange pang of nostalgia, like his entire boxing career had flashed before his eyes in those brief moments.
Ava and Mandy, noticing his displeasure, turned to him briefly before their eyes darted to the growing line behind them. Realizing they were causing a delay, both women turned to the queue and simultaneously apologized, "I'm sorry—" The words collided in unison, catching them both off guard. Their gazes locked for a split second before they quickly looked away, each reminding herself that they were supposed to be at odds.
Mandy broke the awkward silence, turning to Lola with a decisive tone. "Lola, choose a plush toy you like," she ordered, finally resigning herself to the fact that the plush she had wanted was out of reach.
Lola hesitated only briefly before picking out a plush that caught her eye. As the gang prepared to continue their stroll, Ava stepped forward, blocking their path. With a large, adorably cuddly plush in each arm, she grinned mischievously.
"Where are you guys going?" she teased. "We're not done yet. Follow me—I know a game where we can compete fairly."
Mandy wanted to reject Ava's suggestion outright, but before she could speak, Ace unexpectedly agreed. "Take the lead," he said smoothly. Then, he turned and winked at her as their eyes met. The casual gesture made Mandy's heart race. For a fleeting moment, she found herself thinking that her nephew looked exceptionally handsome.
Following Ava's lead, the gang arrived at a massive stall that occupied the space of four regular ones. At the center stood a mechanical bull, surrounded by a boisterous, drunken crowd. The chaotic energy was palpable. Just as they arrived, a guy was flung from the bull, landing awkwardly but safely on the foam padding.
To everyone's surprise, the stall was being manned by Ms. Matthews, Principal Martin, and a group of redheads who were unmistakably related to Ava. Their shared features—fiery hair, sharp eyes, and proud stances—made it clear they were family.
"Ava, where have you been? Didn't I tell you not to wander off alone and to take your cousins with you?" Principal Martin thundered, his voice echoing over the din of the crowd. Concern lined his face, softening his stern tone.
"Not now, Dad," Ava replied dismissively, her focus unwavering. "I'm about to teach a jerk a lesson." Without missing a beat, she thrust her prized plush toys into his arms. "Here, hold these for me. If you smudge their fur, I swear I'll cry the whole night," she warned dramatically.
As her dad held the plush toys, looking both bewildered and resigned, Ava tied her flannel shirt tightly around her waist. The movement accentuated her toned abdominal muscles, drawing a few admiring glances from the crowd.
"Hi, Ms. Matthews," the gang greeted their school teacher in unison, their voices slightly nervous. Even Mandy, who rarely showed outward emotion, joined in the greeting.
Ace, on the other hand, addressed Principal Martin separately. Giving him a respectful nod, he murmured, "Principal Martin."
Principal Martin returned the nod with a hint of warmth. "Ace," he acknowledged simply.
"Hello, kids," Ms. Matthews replied cheerfully, her tone softening as her gaze landed on Mandy. "Mandy, it's been a while since I last saw you. I heard about the 135 acres your family purchased recently. It seems our family has to step up not to be out done by you Landers," she said with a lighthearted laugh.
Her words carried an air of respect, addressing Mandy as an equal. Though Mandy had been her student years ago, now she was a capable, tax-paying adult—and Ms. Matthews made sure to treat her as such.