“If you ever want to...” He doesn’t finish the sentence. “I won’t ever mention Ace to them again without talking to you about it first. I promise. For real this time. Sorry again.”

I swallow past the sudden lump in my throat. “Thank you.”

He stands there awkwardly for another moment before he nods and turns away, heading to his room as I head for mine.

Samir’s apology stirs something in me, and I’m struck with the urge to act now. I need to make an apology of my own. I need to make a confession of my own.

I can do this.

I light a cinnamon-scented candle and take a deep breath. Before I can overthink the situation, I grab my phone and text Ace, I’m sorry.

What I don’t expect is for my phone to start vibrating. Alistair Clyde would like to FaceTime...

I waver, looking at myself in the screen. I look like I’ve been lying in bed all day, my hair ratty and piled in a high bun and my eyes droopy with dark circles underneath. I didn’t put any effort into looking good for Samir’s competition. I regret it now.

But I’m not ignoring Ace anymore. I don’t want him to think I am.

With trembling fingers, I accept the call.

“Karina?” Ace says, his voice hesitant.

I lick my lips. “I’m sorry I took so long. Things have just been...a lot.”

“No apologies, remember?” Ace smiles but it fades quickly. “You picked up.”

“I did,” I say quietly. He’s leaning against his bed frame, in a sweater that looks fuzzy and warm. I want nothing more than to wrap my arms around his neck and breathe him in. But there are more important things. If I don’t say this now, I’m never going to. “I want to do this.”

“Do what?” Ace asks, blinking at me.

I take a deep breath. Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one. “This thing you and I have. I want it to be real. I don’t want to pretend anymore.”

It takes a moment but then Ace’s lips part. He’s staring at me like I’m going to disappear right before his eyes. “You want to—really?”

I nod, worrying my bottom lip between my teeth. “It’s not going to be easy.” My phone is shaking in my hands. “It’s going to be so far from easy.”

Ace’s gaze is so intense that I feel pinned to the spot. “I don’t care what’s easy, Karina. You’re worth it.”

I laugh, half-hysterical. “You would say that.”

“I’m serious,” he says, conviction heavy in his voice.