Counting Down with You(25)

I try to wipe away the smudges but only make it worse, so I give up and resign myself to apologizing when he shows up.

As I’m waiting, Xander walks up to the car beside the Mercedes. It’s fancy, too, but I don’t look at the logo, mostly because I’m ducking my head and hoping not to make eye contact.

Does Ace’s family even know I’m coming home with him? This is a disaster waiting to happen.

As fate would have it, Xander stops in front of Ace’s car and stares at me as he toys with his keys. “Are you waiting for my brother?”

Oh shit. I open my mouth...and nothing comes out.

He looks me over in a way that sets my hair on end. As if he’s dissecting me for weaknesses. “No... You’re Cora Zhang-Agreste’s friend, aren’t you?”

My back straightens at his tone. “Yeah. So?”

Xander smiles. “Then you wouldn’t associate with the likes of my brother. Sorry for bothering you.”

He disappears into his car and drives away, and I watch with narrowed eyes. I’m still looking into the distance when Ace appears five minutes later, a girl with thick, beautiful hair and dark skin following him and speaking animatedly.

There’s a gentle expression on his face as he answers her. I’ve never seen him look at anyone that way before. I wonder who she is, racking my brain for whether anyone has been mentioned in relation to Ace in the last few months.

“Ahmed.” Ace cocks his head and offers me a small smile. “You made it.”

I bite my lip, shrugging. “You only live once and all that, right?”

The girl next to him smiles at me but turns an accusing look on Ace. “She’s really pretty, Ace. You didn’t tell me she was pretty.”

I tuck a curl of dark hair behind my ear, averting my gaze. Compliments given by girls always feel a hundred times more special. “You don’t have to say that. Thank you.”

“Don’t thank her, Ahmed,” Ace says, his smile slipping off his face as he narrows his eyes at the girl. “Stop looking at her.”

“I was just saying!” the girl says, raising her hands in defeat, but she’s laughing. “You’re so annoying, Ace.”

Well. She’s not wrong.

“She’s too old for you,” Ace says back, unlocking the car. To me, he says, “Ignore Mia.”

“Don’t ignore me, I’m awesome,” the girl—Mia—says. “And I have access to Ace’s baby photos. I’m the better friend to have.”

I blink, unsure what to make of this situation. “I’ll take your word for it.”

“Also I have a girlfriend, you asshole,” she says to Ace, pulling a face. “I’m not hitting on your tutoring buddy. I just wanted to tell her she’s pretty.”

That clears up a lot but also so little. She’s not romantically involved with Ace, but they must have some kind of personal relationship. I don’t think I’ve seen her before, so she’s probably not in our grade, but that leaves me at a loss as to how Ace knows her.

Ace opens the door to the passenger side, gesturing for me to get inside. I hesitate, glancing at Mia but she’s already slipping into the back seat.

I slide into the seat slowly, my skin prickling. Did Ace invite someone else to his family dinner?

Once Ace is inside, he double-checks his mirrors and pulls the car out in one easy glide.

“He’s a good driver, don’t worry,” Mia says from over my shoulder. I jump in my seat, not expecting her to be so close.

“Jeez, you came out of nowhere,” I say, rubbing my chest as I try to calm down. “So, uh, how do you and Ace know each other?”

“Ace is my stepbrother,” Mia says, which is news to me. I didn’t realize there was another Clyde sibling at our school. As if she can read my mind, Mia adds, “I’m a freshman and my last name is Jackson instead of Clyde, so it makes sense you didn’t know.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” I say, offering my hand. “I would say I’ve heard so much about you, but Ace hasn’t said anything. He is annoying.”

Mia snickers and takes my hand. “I like her.”

Ace shakes his head and fiddles with the console. Instrumental music starts playing through the speakers.

Mia leans back in her seat and hums along. Ace smiles, his gaze flickering to his rearview mirror to look at his stepsister before turning to me.

“Ready to rumble?” he asks.

“Ready to study.”

He grins. “Same thing. My stepmom is going to love you.”

“I’m not talking to your family,” I say, rolling my eyes. “I’m leaving as soon as we’re done studying.”

Ace laughs and changes the gear from Reverse to Drive. “Whatever you say, Ahmed.”

I wrinkle my nose as a sense of foreboding rushes through me. I watch him tap his fingers against the steering wheel and try to push the strange feeling away.

It’s just a study session. What’s the worst that could happen?



14


T-MINUS 23 DAYS

The Clyde estate is huge. I knew Ace’s father was rich, but seeing it is an entirely different thing. There are actual gates in the front of the house and a keypad that Ace has to pull up to so he can type in a lengthy code.