Counting Down with You(66)

Mia just looks amused. “We’ll see how much better you really are. Want to bet ten dollars?”

After they shake on it, Mia lines up for her shot. When she hits a strike, I cheer loudly, pumping my fist.

“It’s a fluke,” Samir says dismissively.

I glance at Ace and he shakes his head. “Your poor brother,” he whispers. “I’d never bet against Mia.”

Daniela takes her shot next and hits eight of the pins in one go. She hits the remaining two in her second shot.

Samir only manages to hit nine pins during his turn. A look of horror is spreading across his face.

I’m feeling a similar sense of dread. I’m definitely the weakest player here, which means I’m going to bring down the girls’ side.

I’m lining up to swing when fingers brush my arm, stopping me. I freeze before I realize it’s Ace, whose hands are reaching down to press against mine.

I glance at Samir, but he’s arguing with Mia again, showing her something on his phone.

“You’re holding it wrong,” Ace says, lips brushing my ear. I try not to shiver at the touch, my attention falling back to him.

When Ace uses his body to maneuver my own, I move easily, even though I think my hands might be shaking. I’m pliant as he turns me the way he pleases and then pulls my hand back.

“Now let go,” he says, giving my hand a gentle push. I do as instructed. I’m so busy keeping myself from freaking out that when the ball hits the pins, I jump at the sound.

I focus in time to see all the pins fall over and I stare with wide eyes. “No. Way.”

Ace laughs in my ear and pulls away. Almost instantly, I miss the feeling of his lean body against mine before realizing what a stupid thought that is.

“Ace! What the hell, dude? Whose team are you on?” Samir asks in disbelief. I look back at my brother, searching his expression nervously, but apparently he’s more concerned with the competition than...whatever Ace and I were doing. “It’s guys versus girls!”

“Nah, dude,” Ace says. “It’s you versus Mia and Dani. Your sister and I are on our own team. Right, Karina?”

I tug at my collar, trying not to blush. I hope my brother doesn’t read into that, either. “Right.”

“You guys suck,” Samir says and thankfully turns all his attention toward Mia. “Their scores don’t count then.”

“Fine by me,” Mia says, grinning a toothy smile. “You’re going down, Rafiq.”

The next hour is more fun than I expect. Ace’s laughter is like music in my ears, and his smile greets me at every turn. I’m starting to worry I might be more besotted than I’m supposed to be for the two weeks we’ve known each other. If this were a movie, there would probably be literal hearts shooting out of my eyes every time I looked at him.

I think there might be hearts shooting out of his eyes too, though.

At the end of the game, Mia and Daniela average their scores and beat Samir, to no one’s surprise except my brother’s.

“Girls rule, boys drool,” I say jokingly.

“Ace does drool every time he looks at you,” Mia says. “But you’re pretty, so I guess it makes sense. What do you think, Dani?”

“She’s gorgeous,” Daniela agrees before turning to Mia, playing with one of her curls. “I can’t wait for us to be sisters-in-law. We’re all going to have such cute little babies.”

I nearly choke on air, and Ace has to pat me on the back. I glance at Samir to make sure he didn’t hear that, but he’s too busy frowning at the scoreboard, which is a huge relief.

Except then he turns to us, his brows climbing into his hairline. Oh no.

Ten, nine, eight, seven—

“I think we can all agree I’ll be having the cutest babies of us all. Look at this face.” Samir gestures. “Unparalleled beauty.”

I stare at him, eyes wide. Is that it? That’s his only comment?

“Let’s move on,” Ace says, offering me a bottle of water. I take a sip, but I can’t stop looking at Samir. He meets my eyes and offers me an awful wink that does nothing to settle the nerves playing ping-pong in my stomach.

I promised, he mouths.

I stare at him for one more beat, trying to comprehend what that means. Is...is this okay? Is he going to keep all of this to himself? Am I safe?

“I’ll return our bowling shoes,” Samir says, looking away from me and hooking his fingers into his pair. “Be right back.”

I watch him go, breathing a little easier. Maybe this really is okay. I’ve been so paranoid, so certain Samir would slip up, but maybe I underestimated him.

Next to me, Ace asks, “Santos, I heard you hit ten thousand followers on Instagram?”

I tune back in to their conversation and see Daniela smile bashfully. “I did. It’s so weird that people like my photography that much.”

“You should take our prom photos,” Ace says, gesturing to me. I flush, unable to meet anyone’s eyes. “Can I get a brother-in-law discount?”

“No, but Karina can get a sister-in-law discount,” Mia says, slinging an arm around Daniela’s shoulders and smiling broadly at her. “You know, I should get some credit for your new wave of followers. I’m pretty sure half of them are there to see the pictures you take of me. You’re so lucky to have such an inspiring muse.”