Counting Down with You(74)

“What? He’s so cute!” Cora pinches Nandini’s leg. I have the urge to repeat the motion, because Cora’s right. “Why didn’t you say something?”

“Because I didn’t know if we were still going as a trio!” Nandini glances at me. “Karina’s you-know-who kind of threw a wrench in the mix. Since I wasn’t sure, I told Timothy no.”

“Oh my God, if you don’t message him right now...” Cora lets the threat hang in the air, her finger pointed at Nandini. “Say yes!”

I nod eagerly. “Say yes.”

“But if I say yes and Cora asks out Holly, then what will you do?” Nandini asks in protest. “You refuse to even mention his name.”

Before any of us can contemplate that, the doorbell rings.

I have a feeling I know exactly who it is, and just the thought makes me feel like I’m about to break into hives. I got two more texts from Ace this morning, checking in on me, and I didn’t reply to either of them. Maybe that wasn’t the best decision.

“You summoned him,” Cora jokes before she catches the look on my face. “That’s not actually him, is it?”

“Uh.” I’m at a loss. “It could be.”

Nandini makes a shooing gesture at me. “Answer it!”

Before I can, Samir comes down the stairs, heading for the door.

Not Ace, then.

“It’s for you, Myra Apu,” Samir says seconds later, and I immediately clamber to my feet. Did I speak too soon?

When I come into the foyer, it’s clear the world is colluding against me. Ace is standing there, hands tucked into his pockets. My heart swoops toward my stomach and erupts into a fresh scatter of butterflies that seem hell-bent on destroying me from the inside out.

“Karina,” he says, eyes darting across my figure. “Are you okay?”

I rub my arms, a chill passing through me. “I’m fine.”

“You weren’t answering my texts, so I—”

“Oh my God, it is Ace!” Cora shouts from inside, making me wince.

Ace’s expression shifts to surprise. “Do you have guests over?”

“Yeah, Nandini and Cora are here.” I scratch my head, unsure how to proceed. “I’m sorry, but now isn’t a good time.”

“Oh. Okay,” Ace says, his face falling. When his shoulders slump, I notice the bag strapped to his back and feel even worse. I honestly think about inviting him inside before I remember my parents’ words and push that urge away.

“Okay.” An awkward silence follows. “I’ll see you at school next week.”

“Next week?” Ace repeats, his voice quiet. “Karina, did I do something wrong?”

Samir is still standing there, looking between us with a forlorn expression on his face. My blood feels like it’s boiling, blistering my skin.

I clench my hands into fists. “Samir, can you leave? This conversation doesn’t concern you.”

“Myra Apu, I—” Samir says, but I give him a sharp look, and he closes his mouth. “Yeah. Sorry. I’m going.”

I look back at Ace, but I don’t have an answer to his question. I don’t know how to explain my parents. I don’t think I have it in me. “I’m sorry. I can’t talk about this now. You shouldn’t have shown up at my house.”

Ace falters. “I just thought...”

I press my lips together and some of my lingering bitterness sprouts to the surface. “I don’t think you did think, Ace. You can’t just show up at my house because I’m not answering your texts. And honestly, you probably shouldn’t come here at all in the future, especially without a warning. My family isn’t like yours. I could get in serious trouble if you keep doing this.” I take a deep breath and lower my voice, my shoulders hunching. “I should have told you sooner, but I didn’t think you’d keep showing up. I’m telling you now, though, and I need you to respect my boundaries. Can you do that? Please?”

He blinks at me in shock, but I don’t take back the words. He can’t keep doing this. I can’t let him. I’m lucky Dadu is willing to look past Ace’s behavior, but if he ever tries this when my parents are back...it’s better I tell him now than face the consequences later. I know what being caught hanging around Ace entails. I only agreed to three weeks for a reason.

“My lines are not your lines,” I say, when he keeps staring at me silently. “Please be careful about crossing them.”

“Okay,” he says again, looking down. “Of course. I’m sorry. I crossed a line. I won’t cross it again.”

I nod slowly. “Thank you.”

Ace bites his lip. “This last weekend, when you weren’t replying to my texts... I don’t know what I did but I’m sorry for that, too. I didn’t mean to do it.”

It’s not your fault, I want to say but I can’t force the words past my lips. If I do, I’ll have to explain everything. I can’t do that on my doorstep, with Cora and Nandini one room over, and my grandma and Samir upstairs. There’s too much to unpack.

It turns out I don’t have to say anything because Ace swings his bag around front and pulls out a small gift bag. “I, uh, bought you some candles. I Googled anxiety a few days ago and saw that aromatherapy can help. When I was here the other day, I noticed you were using some, so I thought maybe... I got lavender-scented ones, because they’re supposed to relax the body and mind.”