Counting Down with You(28)

“You’re lucky you don’t have to care,” I say quietly before gesturing to his desk. “Should we start studying?”

Ace’s expression falls. “Did I say—”

Before he can finish his sentence, the door opens, and Xander Clyde sticks his head inside.

I bite my tongue in surprise. I should have expected to see him again sooner rather than later, but I also thought Ace’s room would afford us privacy. Apparently not.

His hair is a little more rumpled now, and the top button of his shirt is loose, but he still looks intimidating. I try not to cower when his gaze lands on me.

“Alistair, Mia said you had a guest,” Xander says, his eyes lighting up in recognition. “I came over to introduce myself.”

“Knock next time, Alexander,” Ace says, his tone dark. “My guest knows who you are. There’s no need for introductions.”

“Ah, but I don’t know your guest,” Xander says, giving me a charming grin. He doesn’t have dimples, so it’s not quite as effective as his brother’s. “I’m Xander. It’s nice to see you again.”

Ace’s eyes narrow with the mention of again, but I ignore him.

Instead, I nod my head politely, even though I kind of want to disappear. I don’t want to be on the student body president’s radar. I should barely be on Ace’s radar. “I’m Karina. It’s nice to meet you, too.”

“How do you and Ace know each other?” Xander asks, leaning against Ace’s doorway. “He’s never mentioned you before.”

I open my mouth to reply but suddenly Ace is standing up, blocking the view of his brother. “Get out.”

His brother widens his eyes, but it looks too practiced. Xander Clyde is definitely a politician in the making. I guess Cora will have competition in the 2040 election, too. “What did I do, Alistair?”

“I said get out,” Ace says, a muscle jumping in his jaw. “No one wants you here.”

“Calm down, Alistair,” Xander says dismissively. “I would hate to tell Dad you lost your temper.”

Ace’s expression grows infinitely darker. “Get the fuck out.”

Without another word, Ace shuts his door and Xander jumps out of the way to avoid being hit in the face.

I blink, stunned. That was a little more Clyde family drama than I ever intended to witness. “Are you okay?”

Ace flinches and looks at me in surprise. I think he might have forgotten I was here.

“Yeah, sorry.” He shakes his head, running his fingers through his messy hair. “My brother is just...a lot.” He pauses, looking up at me. “You two have met?”

I shake my head. “Barely. He saw me waiting by your car earlier.”

Ace takes a deep breath, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Of course he did. Wow.”

A million questions rise to the tip of my tongue, but the look on Ace’s face is enough to keep my lips closed. At least, in terms of invasive questions. I still say, “So...studying?”

Ace gives me an incredulous look before laughing breathlessly, the tension slipping out of him. “Yeah, Ahmed. Studying.”

I lose track of time as we make our way through my notes.

It only hits me how late it is when someone knocks on the door. “Ace, may I come in?”

“Yeah,” Ace says distractedly, his gaze focused on a list of study questions I slid his way. “Sure, Tina.”

A beautiful dark-skinned woman who can only be Ace’s stepmother pokes her head in the room.

“Hi,” she greets, addressing me. I falter where I was writing something down. “I was just wondering, Ace, if your friend would—”

Ace immediately looks up, eyes wide, and shoves our notes underneath his comforter. I make a face, thinking of all the crinkles we’re going to have to straighten out, but I don’t say anything with his stepmother in the room.

I catch a glimpse of Ace’s expression, which is a strange mixture of panic and warmth. His voice is strained when he says, “Sorry, Tina. What was that?”

Is he okay? Why does he look like he stubbed his toe and he’s happy about it?

“Dinner is in five minutes. I was wondering if your friend would like to stay?” she asks. “We can set an extra plate.”

I inhale sharply. I’m pretty sure my oxygen went down the wrong pipe. I look at Ace for help, but he has a passive expression on his face. “I—er—really should get going.” I motion hopelessly toward the windows, but Ace’s stepmother is too busy looking at Ace.

I have absolutely no idea what she reads on his face, but her expression lights up. “Nonsense. I’ll call your parents if I need to. You’re having dinner with us. I’m glad that’s settled.”

I don’t even have a chance to refuse again before she walks out. I open and close my mouth twice before looking at Ace. “I really shouldn’t—”

“She’s not going to let you leave,” he says. Instead of an apologetic smile, he’s grinning cheerfully. There’s something seriously wrong with him. “Might as well accept your fate. I’ll do my best to get you out of here as quickly as possible.”

I don’t believe him. “I don’t believe you.”

“Consider it a practice in trust,” Ace says, before holding out his hand. “Come on.”