“I’ll meet you at Ma’s Diner. At noon. We’ll sit in the booth at the back by the window. I’ll sit on the right side. You’ll want Key Lime Pie,” he recited.

I ran my hands down the side of his face before dropping my fingers from his skin. It was almost painful to lose that small physical contact.

“Yep. That’s what I want,” I agreed.

I waved goodbye and went out to my car.

I pulled up out front of my PO’s office building ten minutes later and got out. I hurried inside, knowing I was only minutes away from being late. I checked in with Patty, the receptionist and waited.

I didn’t have to sit long before Mr. Cox waved me back to his office. I was surprised to find Julie already there.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, accepting the hug she insisted on giving me.

“You think I’d miss your review hearing? Come on!” Julie grinned. I smiled back, glad that she was there.

“Have a seat, Miss McCallum,” Mr. Cox said, clearing his throat and interrupting us. I sat down on the horrible chair with its scratchy upholstery, hoping like hell I’d never have to suffer through that torture again. I hated his sterile office with the beige walls and crappy art on the walls. I went into an instant coma upon entry.

I fidgeted, trying to get more comfortable. Flynn would have blown a gasket had he been forced to sit in them. Julie gave me a warm smile and I forced myself to sit still.

Mr. Cox pulled my file out of his drawer and opened it on his desk. He read through it slowly, like he hadn’t already done so a hundred times.

“I’m recommending the termination of your probation,” Mr. Cox said after a minute, closing the folder.

I blinked rapidly, not quite sure I heard him correctly. I glanced at Julie who gave me a thumbs up.

“Huh?” I asked, my mouth hanging open like an idiot.

Mr. Cox folded his hands on his desk and leaned forward. For the first time in the year I had known him, he smiled at me. It was more a painful stretching of his thin lips, but I supposed it was meant to be a smile.

“You’ve met every single one of your probationary goals. You put in your community service hours. Erin Hoffman signed off on them yesterday. She says you were a model volunteer. That you did really well with the animals. Good job,” he said gruffly.

I nearly choked. Was that an actual compliment?

“Th-Thanks,” I stuttered.

“You’ve passed all of your mandatory drug tests. Not a one came back dirty.” He said this as though he still couldn’t quite understand how I had tricked his foolproof system. I could tell he still saw me as a junked out delinquent. It was sad that at one time, not too long ago, he was 100% right about me.

“You’ve maintained gainful employment and housing. Miss Waterman tells me you’re attending the community college. Well done Miss McCallum.” Julie was grinning like crazy. I knew this was just as validating for her as it was for me. She had been the only one to believe in me for a long time. Now she was seeing that her faith wasn’t unfounded.

I had tried really hard not to get into any more trouble. The last thing I had wanted was to end up back behind bars. I had been there done that, have the scar above my belly button from a shiv to prove it.

But I honestly hadn’t allowed myself to think of the possibility that perhaps, just maybe, I could finally put this nasty part of my history behind me. That I could finally leave my stupid choices in the past where they belonged.

Mr. Cox cleared his throat and Julie composed her gleeful face. “I just hope you keep it up. I can say that given your history with the legal system, future judges may not be so lenient. The courts don’t look favorably on people who can’t seem to learn their lesson,” he lectured, as I knew he felt the need to do.

And I let him. Mostly because I was barely listening to him anyway.

Because my probation was about to end!

After a few more minutes of scolding, Mr. Cox finally put on his coat and Julie grabbed her purse and the three of us walked across the street to the courthouse.

I sat down on a chair in the hallway and waited while Julie and Mr. Cox went to talk to the clerk.

“Ells! Hey!” And my good mood deteriorated instantly.

Dania plopped down heavily on the chair beside me. It had been a while since I had seen her and she looked as though she had put on a lot of weight. She was dressed inappropriately as always. Her skirt barely covered her ass and her tiny tee with the words “jailbait” blazoned across her chest, was straining over her belly.

“Is your review hearing today too?” she asked, chewing loudly on a piece of gum.

“Uh yeah. What are you doing here?” I asked, looking at her warily. There was a definite tension between us now. I hated it but at the same time I couldn’t do anything about it.

“I came with Stu. His review hearing was today as well,” she said. I looked around but didn’t see him.

“Oh, so you guys are together now?” I asked.

“I think. I hope so anyway,” Dania smiled.

“That’s great, I guess,” I gave her a small smile in return. I knew this was something she always wanted. I should feel happy for her. But in truth it simply depressed me.

“Is he in the courtroom?” I asked.

“Nope. His ass was taken back to jail,” she said dismissively.

“What?”

Dania shrugged. “His last piss test came up dirty and his PO reported it to the judge. He hasn’t done any of his service hours either. So the judge threw him back in jail for two weeks.”

“And you’re okay with that? I mean if you’re dating now, shouldn’t that bother you?” I asked her, flabbergasted.

Dania shrugged again. “It’s only two weeks.” And there it was. The biggest gulf between us. I could no longer share her blasé attitude about things like right and wrong. I knew better now.

“So what are you still doing here then?” I asked.

“I’m just waiting for Shane to finish up with the clerk. His probation was extended another twelve months but at least he’s not in jail,” she said, spitting her gum out in a tissue and tucking it underneath the seat.

“Well shit. That makes me a little nervous. It sounds like the judge is a bit of a ball buster.” I had been feeling good. Confident. Now I wasn’t so sure.

Dania narrowed her eyes, her face suddenly dark and mean. “I don’t think you have anything to worry about. Ellie McCallum always lands on her feet, right?”

What the hell?

Before I could ask what her problem was, Shane came over.

“Hey there girl! Long time no see!” He leaned down and gave me a hug and I was relieved he hadn’t tried to cop a feel in the middle of the courthouse.

“Dania just told me they extended your probation period. That sucks,” I commiserated.

Shane lifted his hands. “What can you do? It’s the cost of being such a bad ass,” he grinned like an idiot.

Dania smacked him in the stomach. “Or the cost of being a total moron,” she said, her voice teasing but her eyes were cold.

“You’ve got a hearing too?” Shane asked.

“Yep. Let’s hope I don’t end up next to Stu,” I laughed nervously.

Shane chuckled. “I’ll bake a file in a cake if you do,” he promised, patting my shoulder.

We all laughed awkwardly together.

“You ready to go, D?” Shane asked, clearly ready to get out of there.

Dania looked over at me and shook her head. “I’m gonna wait for Ells. Give her some moral support,” she said, giving me what seemed to be a sincere smile

Oh shit. That was the last thing I wanted. Not when I was supposed to meet Flynn afterwards.

“That’s okay, Dania. You don’t need to do that. I’ll call you if anything goes down,” I urged, hoping she’d go.

Dania frowned and gave me a piercing look. “No, I’ll stay. It’ll give us a chance to talk. We haven’t done that in a while and we need to figure some things out about the apartment,” she said.