“Then quit thinkin’, Carrie, because I know I’m fallin’ for you.”

I stared at him a moment, feeling all that made me feel, before lifting my hand and waving it in front of my face, announcing, “I’m gonna cry.”

“Then for fuck’s sake, get over here so you can be in my arms while you do it.”

At that, I burst into tears.

When I did, not moving an inch because he came to me, I was in his arms.

I wrapped him in mine.

In the middle of it, I reared back and looked at his face through watery eyes, crying loudly, “I wish I had that flat tire. I’d bronze it!”

“Shut up, you fuckin’ goofball,” Joker returned, his body shaking, his voice vibrating with his humor, his arms tightening around me.

“Don’t call me a goofball,” I sniffled, pushing closer.

“Don’t act like one.”

“I’m not acting like a goofball,” I snapped. “I’m sharing with you I like you…” I got up on my toes to get in his face, “a lot.”

“You haven’t made that a secret.”

“Maybe I should start doing that,” I retorted, taking one arm from around him so I could swipe at my face.

“Butterfly, advice. Don’t start playin’ new games when you’re already winnin’ the one you’re in.”

That made me shut my mouth.

I know I’m fallin’ for you.

His words filled my head so full I couldn’t hold it up and therefore pressed my face in his chest.

“I don’t feel like cookin’,” he announced matter-of-factly, like we weren’t having a hugely important conversation, the kind that changed lives, the kind that changed the world. “You’ve been on your feet behind a register all day so you’re not cookin’, either. We’re goin’ to Beau Jo’s.”

Everything left my mind as my entire body filled with glee and I pulled my face out of his chest.

“Mountain pies?” I asked excitedly.

“Not goin’ there for their salad bar.”

I smiled at him and did it brightly.

Then I quit smiling and said quietly, “I, uh… have to change and get gussied up.”

“It’s pizza at Beau Jo’s, Carrie. Not a fancy steak joint like The Broker.”

“I also have to call Tyra and Elvira to get them off the case,” I admitted. “Tyra was there when Tack shut me down in my quest to claim vengeance against your dad. She didn’t agree with Tack and she wasted no time rallying the troops.”

He frowned. “This means Elvira’s ropin’ in Hawk.”

I bit my lip.

Just then his phone rang.

He held me even as he pulled it out of his pocket, looked at it, looked at me in a way I couldn’t decipher but it seemed kind of like he wanted to laugh.

Then he touched the screen and put it to his ear. “Yo, Hawk.”

My eyes went wide.

Joker glanced back to me but said into the phone, “Yeah, she got home, confessed to bein’ a goof, we talked it out. You’re off duty.”