Counting Down with You(64)

After watching him in the car with Samir, a firm resolve has taken place. A conversation sits on the tip of my tongue, and with two blocks between us and the bowling alley, I’m tempted to give in.

In light of my discussion with Fatima, it’ll be good to know all the facts. If this is something I’m going to take a chance on, if this is something I have to put everything at risk for at some point in the future, I need to know it’s worth it. I need to know with absolute certainty that this isn’t just a passing amusement for Ace. Not when it’s growing to mean so much to me. “Why did you arrange this?”

Unsurprisingly, Ace isn’t following my random train of thought. “Huh?”

“The tutoring thing,” I say, biting my lip. “And the whole fake relationship thing.”

“What do you mean?”

I shrug, even as my brain buzzes, my leg bounces, my fingers tremble. “Everyone knows your reputation. I’ve seen it myself. You don’t care about school, and you definitely don’t care about your classmates. Why bother studying for English? And why bring me home, where you’d have to explain the situation to your dad? I just don’t get it, I guess.”

Ace falters, running a hand through his hair. The world moves in slow motion as he turns toward me. “I brought you home because I felt bad about missing our first session and I wanted to make up for lost time. But after Xander came into my room while we were studying, I knew he’d catch on inevitably. The only explanation I could think of for us spending so much time together was dating. And I wanted to keep spending time with you. I still do.” He swallows, his throat shifting. “In retrospect, I should have warned you before making that announcement during dinner. It was wrong of me. I’m sorry.”

I blink, attempting to process that. “Okay, but...the rumors...”

“There are a lot of rumors about me.” There’s a short pause. “But I’m here with you right now, aren’t I?”

“Yeah,” I say, my throat impossibly dry. “But why? And why me? Miss Cannon told me she tried tutoring you first. What happened?”

Ace looks at me, pressing his lips together. “I couldn’t focus,” he admits. “She wasn’t holding my attention, and I wasn’t learning anything. But with you, it’s different. I... I see parts of myself in you, Karina. I know you can see parts of yourself in me, too. I think your heart runs as wild as mine and that’s why this works. It’s why you keep trying, even when anyone else would have already given up. You see me.”

“Do I?” I peer up at him through my eyelashes.

Ace takes a step forward and I take an uncertain step back, causing him to smile faintly. “You do. Maybe that means you’re foolish and reckless, but that’s what I like about you. The spark you keep inside here.” He taps once above my heart before his hand drifts up, his palm resting against my neck. “In your heart.”

“How do I keep from going up in flames?” I ask, the words hoarse. My own hand drifts up to graze his, my fingers brushing against the back of his knuckles. He’s so close. Too close. We’re in broad daylight, and Ace is only inches away, his skin touching mine. None of this feels real.

“You don’t,” he says, his thumb skimming along my jaw. “Become a blaze.”

I take another step back and inhale sharply when my back hits a brick wall. “Next you’re going to call me an inferno. I’m a fool for indulging you, aren’t I?”

He shakes his head and leans closer, our noses brushing. “You’re a lot of things, but not a fool.”

I laugh, nervous, breathless, afraid, hopeful. “Then what am I?”

He smiles. “You’re a lionheart.”

I let out a shaky breath. “Maybe I’m a foolish lionheart then.”

Ace’s gaze drops to my lips and my heart thuds painfully in my chest, too hard and too fast. “Yeah. My foolish lionheart.”

“There you guys are!” Samir’s voice calls, startling both of us. My head knocks against the wall and I wince, both at the sudden ache and the fact that I got so caught up in the moment I lost all sense of my surroundings. Ace’s hand immediately comes up to caress the back of my scalp, his fingers cool against the sore spot, but I gently push him away. “Mia sent me to make sure you didn’t get lost.”

Ace takes a step back, his fingers running through my hair. Samir is standing at the end of the street, his eyes flickering between us.

“We’re not lost,” I say swiftly, gathering my wits and walking forward. Somehow, my heart is beating even faster. Samir is staring at me, a question in his eyes, and I quicken my pace, reaching out to grab his wrist with shaking fingers. “Please don’t say anything. Please.”

Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one.

Samir blinks at me, his gaze darting over to Ace before returning to me. His lips curve, a smug expression overtaking his features. “I was right. You do have a crush.”

“Samir,” I say, my voice cracking. “You promised. Please.”

Ace catches up, and I let go of Samir’s wrist but keep staring at my brother desperately.

“Are you all right?” Ace asks me, eyebrows furrowed.

“Yes.” I swallow. “Right, Samir?”

My brother nods after an achingly slow moment. “Yeah.”