Counting Down with You(31)

“My mom works as a receptionist for a dermatologist,” I say, ignoring the way the back of my neck is prickling. “And my dad is an accountant.”

“And what about you? Do you have plans for college?”

I can’t believe I’m being screened right now to see if I’m an acceptable girlfriend when I’m not even dating anyone. I can’t believe this is a real situation that Ace has wrangled me into.

My smile is flimsy. “My parents are hoping I get into Columbia for their premed track, under a biology major.” And I’m hoping I somehow whisk myself into an alternate universe before then.

“That’s incredible,” Ace’s father says, and he sounds like he actually means it. His gaze is appraising, but then he looks at Ace and it becomes far less so. “So what are you doing with someone like my son? Do you know he has no intention of even attending college?”

Wait, what?

“Dad,” Ace says, his voice cold.

Oh. Clearly it’s an off-limit subject. It’s not really my business anyway. I have other things to fuss at Ace about—namely, our newfound relationship.

“What? Shouldn’t your girlfriend know about your aspirations?”

“If you think shaming me in front of her is going to make me change my mind and suddenly decide to apply to Yale, you’re wrong,” Ace says, his jaw clenched. “Karina, let’s go.”

“Uh.” I look down at my still-full plate. It’s barely been ten minutes. Then again, it’s not like I’m going to sit here while Ace stomps away. I glance around the table apologetically. “I’m sorry. I hope you don’t mind excusing us.”

I push back my chair and mutter another apology under my breath as I chase after Ace, who’s disappearing farther down the hallway. “Wait!”

Ace falters and looks at me. We’re far enough away now that he appears more relaxed, but it reminds me of the calm before the storm. “See? I told you I’d get you out of there quickly.”

I gape at him. “That’s not—you didn’t—what is the matter with you?”

Ace smiles bleakly. “Too much to list. Come on, I’ll drive you home.”

“I’m going to kill you,” I say, reaching out to swat him on the arm. “What was that?”

“Shhh,” Ace says, holding a finger to his lips. He points above us. “Cameras.”

“What?” I’m definitely in a sitcom. Or maybe a drama. Normal people don’t have surveillance cameras in their homes, even in sitcoms. “Why?”

“In case of intruders,” Ace says, shrugging a shoulder. “Dad’s a cutthroat businessman. Has a lot of enemies.”

He seems like a cutthroat father figure too, but it isn’t my place to comment. Maybe everyone’s family is secretly messed up.

“We’re going to talk about this later,” I say, narrowing my eyes. “I have a lot of words I’d like to say to you.”

A smile tugs at Ace’s lips. “Save it for the bedroom, sweetie.”

I call him a dick in Bengali so the cameras won’t pick up on it. He raises an eyebrow but keeps smiling, so I don’t really feel like I insulted him. I have a feeling he’d smile even if I said it in English.

“I told you there was a spark in you, Ahmed.”

I groan and shove him, walking ahead to get to his room. “Just take me home.”

Ace only laughs.



17


T-MINUS 23 DAYS

In the car, I don’t have a chance to yell at Ace about the dating thing, because at the last minute Xander shows up and requests a ride to Walmart. There are approximately six cars in the Clyde estate’s extensive driveway, and I know for a fact Xander has his license, because I saw him get into his own car earlier today.

There’s obviously some ulterior motive here. Xander has a calculating look in his eye, and Ace looks one word away from punching his brother, so I quickly agree for the both of us.

When I put my address into Google Maps, Xander leans forward between the seats. “You don’t know where your girlfriend lives?”

“No, he does,” I say quickly. I have a feeling that if Ace replies, I’m never going to get home. “But he’s never driven to my house before, and it’s good to have Google Maps just in case, right? You can never be too safe.”

Xander hums, clearly unconvinced. Ace’s knuckles strain as he tightens his grip on the steering wheel, but neither of them say anything as we turn onto the next street.

It’s somehow the most awkward car ride of my life, and my family has had more than our fair share of awkward car rides.

Ace drops me at home first, and I mutter a goodbye before slipping inside my house, my mind whirring.

I’m home way later than usual, but all Dadu does is ruffle my hair and tell me to warm up my Mughlai paratha for a minute. I thank her with a hug, then wonder how my life came to this.

I take a moment to process the events of the night and blow out a harsh breath. God. What in the world?

I think about texting Nandini and Cora about this chaos but decide against it, because it’ll blow over by the end of the weekend. If I haven’t figured it out by Monday afternoon, I’ll explain the situation to them. Otherwise, it isn’t worth the headache.