Ace flushes, his cheek blooming with color, and looks away. “It’s stupid. Xander was nagging at me for slacking off so much, for focusing on the piano instead of my grades. He didn’t know about the tutoring thing, and I definitely wasn’t going to tell him. But then he got our dad involved and things went downhill.”

“What happened?” I ask.

“My dad grounded me and told me to come home immediately after school and study, and I—it was the first time in a while that he sounded concerned about me. Like he cared about me. I probably should have just told him the truth, but I couldn’t.” Ace grimaces. “So I went home instead of going to the library. I’m sorry. It was a jerk move.”

Having an explanation for that first day is strange. It feels both like it was weeks ago and just yesterday he failed to show up. “And then the next day? My study guide?”

Ace grimaces, running his hands through his hair. “Xander and I had a fight that morning. Ever since our mom left, we’ve grown apart. Before they split up, I was Mom’s favorite and he was Dad’s, and it evened out. But after she left, it wasn’t even anymore. He and Mom rarely talk anymore. I don’t know why.”

Briefly, I recall Xander checking out an Italian cookbook. I can’t help but wonder now if it was an attempt to connect with his estranged mother, who apparently loves cooking. I keep the thought to myself, unwilling to speculate about Ace’s family.

“Since she’s gone, Xander acts like we’re competing for our dad’s love. As if it’s something to win. I can’t stand it. I was skipping class that day, but then he saw me in the hallway and the first thing he did was rat me out to Miss Cannon.”

“So that’s why he showed up during English class,” I say, the memory flickering through my brain. “God. What’s his problem?”

“When you find out, let me know,” Ace says, a frown pulling at his mouth. “While we were talking, Miss Cannon said you left something on my desk, so I grabbed it.”

I nod, remembering his entrance all too well.

“When I came back out with the study guide, Xander saw it. ‘Ace, you’re actually studying? I’m so proud. I never thought the day would come. Miss Cannon, it’s a modern-day miracle!’ I didn’t have it in me to stand there and put up with his condescending bullshit, so I threw the study guide in the recycling bin, flipped him off, and walked away. I came back for it later, but I guess you must’ve gotten to it before I could.” Ace looks up at me, a rueful expression on his face.