Counting Down with You(67)

Even though Mia is clearly joking, Daniela’s expression softens. “Yeah, I am.”

My heart melts in my chest when Mia leans forward to peck Daniela on the lips before pulling back quickly, her cheeks tinted red.

“You two are so cute,” I say.

Mia shoots me an abashed smile. “Thanks, Karina.”

Ace throws his own arm around my shoulders and, instead of shying away, I lean in. Samir promised. It’s okay.

“We’re cuter than them,” Ace says. “Hashtag Karstair, right?”

“Oh my God,” I say in sudden mortification. “Have you been speaking to Cora?”

Ace kisses my nose instead of answering, and I think I pass away. I’m ninety-nine percent certain my soul just exited my body.

“See?” Ace says, looking back at his sister and her girlfriend. “I told you we’re cuter.”

“What do you guys want for dinner? It’s my and Ace’s treat,” Mia says as we all pile in the car.

“Mexican food,” Samir says. “I know a great halal place.” I try not to sigh. Mexican food is my least favorite. I’m utterly incapable of eating a taco or burrito without spilling out all the contents.

Before I can protest, Mia nods. “I’d be down.”

“I’m always here for Mexican food,” Daniela agrees.

Ace shrugs. “It’s fine with me. I don’t really care.”

Well. If everyone is okay with it, I’m not going to be the one to disrupt the peace.

“Cool,” I say, my shoulders slumping.

Ace frowns at me, but I turn my gaze away. It’s nothing for me to be upset over. I’ll just have a salad or something.

When we get there, we order inside and take it to go. I step up to the counter and ask for a salad, but they look at me blankly and say they don’t have a salad option. Of course they don’t.

“It’s fine,” I say tiredly. “I’ll just have a water bottle.”

I move out of the way so Daniela can order, heading for the back to wait for everyone. Mia and Ace are speaking to each other quietly, but Ace falters when he sees me, his eyes searching my face.

I frown. “Is something wrong?”

He stares at me for half a beat before swiping a knuckle gently across my cheekbone. “You had an eyelash on your cheek.”

“Oh,” I say. “Should I make a wish?”

Ace shrugs and holds out his hand, the dark eyelash stark against his pale skin. “Go ahead.”

What do I want to wish for? There are so many things I want, but using a wish on something that has such a small possibility of happening seems like a waste.

Then again, it’s not like any wish I make is going to come true because I blew on an eyelash, anyway.

I wish for happiness, I think wistfully, in whatever form it might be.

I blow, and my eyelash disappears, lost to the wind.

“What did you wish for?” Ace asks, head tilted.

I smile faintly. “I’ll tell you if it comes true.”

Ten minutes later, we pull up in front of Ace’s house instead of mine.

“Why are we here?” I ask, puzzled. This must be what Ace and Mia were whispering about. Samir is too busy staring at the Clyde residence in disbelief to pose a similar question.

“Mia and Daniela are getting out because I have to go somewhere after dropping you off,” Ace says, flicking a finger at his sister. “Let me drive.”

Mia unbuckles her seatbelt. “I still don’t understand why you won’t tell me where ‘somewhere’ is,” she grumbles.

“Don’t worry about it,” Ace says, booping her nose as they switch places.

Mia blows a raspberry at him before coming around the back. I’m surprised when she hugs me tightly. “Come by again soon. Ace is so much more fun when you’re around. It’s nice.”

Something warm passes through me. “You’re so sweet, Mia. Thank you for inviting us to come out with you.”

“Any time,” Mia says, finally pulling away. “Bye Rafiq! Try not to bruise your ego any further!”

Samir rolls his eyes, but there’s a hint of a smile in the corner of his mouth. I think he enjoyed himself today despite losing miserably to Mia and Daniela. “I’ll do my best.”

Daniela murmurs a soft goodbye, reaching over to pat my hand, before exiting the car and joining her girlfriend. Ace backs out of the driveway, leaving them behind holding hands.

It’s another ten minutes before we arrive at my house. I reach for the handle as he shifts the car into Park, but Ace says, “Wait.”

I pause and Ace turns to Samir, holding out his fist again. “Thanks for coming out with us today. It was really cool to meet you, bro.”

Bro. Sometimes I seriously wonder if Ace has multiple stunt doubles he switches out based on his mood.

Samir fist bumps him back. “Yeah, bro, you too.”

Before Samir can open the door on his side, Ace pulls out his wallet and removes a crisp ten-dollar bill. “Don’t tell Mia.”

Samir looks between the bill and Ace in disbelief before breaking into a grin. “I knew you were on my team, dude. Bros before hoes.”

“No,” Ace and I say at once.

I give Ace a surprised look but he’s still looking at Samir. “Dude, respect women as much as you respect everyone else.”