Counting Down with You(111)

“I meant it,” Ace says, tilting my chin up. His rings are cold against my heated skin. “You’re so brave. Even if things didn’t work out the way you wanted, you tried. You conquered your fear and put your heart on the line, even though you knew it might get broken. That’s the bravest thing someone can do.”

“I’m still so afraid,” I whisper. It’s the first time I’ve admitted it out loud. It feels like a fresh breath of air, even if it makes me slightly queasy. “I don’t want to disappoint them.”

“Worry about them less.” His hands slide down my throat to cup my neck, his thumbs still tilting my face toward him. “Can I offer you some honest advice? You don’t have to take it, but I just can’t—I can’t watch you struggle like this.”

“I don’t know if it’ll help,” I say but I nod, wiping at my own face to get rid of the tear tracks. “Okay. I’m listening.”

“Stay as strong as you can,” Ace says fervently, his eyes dark. “I know that it’s rough and unfair right now, but you’re not always going to be living with your parents. There’s a future past all of this where you have your own life and your own rules. Their expectations won’t be there anymore, and you can decide who you want to be. We just have to get through the present. All you can do right now is take care of yourself. No matter what happens, you’re going to come out of this even stronger. The fact you’ve been doing this for so long shows how strong you already are. Just don’t give up on your happiness. That’s all I’m asking.”

The words strike something inside me, a part of me I thought was sealed away for good. A light has switched on in the darkest recesses of my heart.

I always thought if I had this conversation with Ace, he’d try to foolishly step in. Or worse, he’d tell me to fight against my parents or run away from them. Things I could never do. But he’s not doing any of those things.

He’s telling me to stay strong. To not give up. To keep hope.

He’s telling me exactly what I need to hear.

I don’t understand, I remember him saying. But it seems like he does now, or at least he’s trying. That’s more than enough.

“This is temporary,” Ace says, pulling me from my thoughts. He’s biting his lip, like he thinks I’m taking this conversation poorly. As if it’s not the opposite. “We’re only sixteen, Karina. There’s still so much future ahead of us. It’ll be better. You just have to hold on to the strength and bravery I know you already have.”

I lean forward on my tiptoes and pull him into a hug, wrapping my arms around his neck. “Thank you.”

He returns my hug, pulling me closer and squeezing me so tight I feel it down to my bones. “I missed you so much, baby,” he murmurs into my neck.

My heart skips a beat. God, he’s still so much.

I close my eyes, breathing in the familiar scent of cinnamon. “I missed you, too.”

Ace brushes a light kiss against my neck before sighing against my skin. “Do you think Miss Cannon will take points off my project for running out?”

“You’re unbelievable,” I say, and Ace pulls away almost immediately, only to greet me with a wide, dimpled smile.

“There’s my girl,” he says, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. His expression shifts minutely, and he looks almost bashful, his cheeks dusting pink. “What’d you think of the poem?”

“I think you’re ridiculous,” I say lightly. “But it was gorgeous. I didn’t know you could write like that.”

Ace’s teeth flash behind his beautiful smile. “I had a good tutor and an even better muse.”

“Yeah, you did,” I say, reaching up to squeeze one of his hands. I shift my gaze for my next words. “But I still... I just need a little more time. I’m still struggling with... I’m sorry.”

“No,” Ace says, his thumb stroking the back of my neck. “There are no apologies between you and me. If you need me to wait, I’ll wait. However long you need. If it’s until next week, okay. If it’s until next month, okay. If it’s until next year, okay. If it’s until college, okay. There’s no deadline on this. On us. I promise.”

I can’t believe Ace is real. I can’t believe I somehow got this lucky.

Right now, none of my other worries exist.

This is one thing I will never let my parents touch.

“I don’t deserve you,” I say.

“You’re right,” Ace says, his face softening. “You deserve better. You deserve the world. My foolish, beautiful, fireproof lionheart.”

I shake my head, warmth rising through me. “Only one part of that is right. The part where I’m yours.”

“And I’m yours,” he says solemnly. “I’ll wait for you.”

There’s hope in my future. It’s small, but it’s there, and it’s growing with each passing moment. Stay as strong as you can echoes in my head.

I’m going to try. That’s all I can do.



52


T-PLUS 13 DAYS

I’m eating breakfast Saturday morning when my mom tosses a salwar kameez on the table. “Get ready.”

I look between the beautiful red garment and my mom. “Where are we going?”