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.”