Always. Or so plenty of people would say, no doubt.

His strides were long and had already carried him halfway to the front door when she turned the teasing around on him. Jess flipped her a smile that probably wouldn't improve the impression of his being a pain in the arse. "Did you say something? I didn't hear you from way back there."

Off to a good start.

The door's old doorknob creaked under his hand as he opened it, and he swung the door wide for her to follow him out. The temperature was more moderate at this time of morning than it would be in the Alexandrian humidity; the cool, fresh air called to him, sending him bounding down the porch steps and onto the grass beyond.

"Nice day for a prison break."