For our second date, Ace doesn’t tell me what we’re doing. Instead, he blindfolds me before I can even walk out of my house, which is all kinds of ridiculous. It’s clear how fond of him I am, because I mutter only one insult and indulge him otherwise, even though I’m pretty sure we’re in a different car.

We drive for maybe twenty minutes before Ace stops the car. “We’re here,” he says, and I can hear the grin in his voice.

“What a lovely view,” I say, still blindfolded.

Ace sighs in exasperation. “Hold on.” His long fingers come around the back of my head, untying the cloth. His rings brush my ear, cold against my skin.

It was already late when Ace picked me up. The sun had set a few minutes prior to his arrival. Now, when I pull the blindfold away, the sky is completely dark.

I look around, trying to figure out what we’re doing, but there’s nothing around us for miles. We’re in a clearing beside a cluster of trees, and Ace is smiling like we’re at the top of the world.

That’s when I realize what type of car we’re in. It’s some kind of pickup truck that looks like it belongs in a junkyard. I’m surprised we made it this far without the vehicle breaking down. “Who did you rob to get this death machine?”

He bumps his shoulder against mine. “No one. It belongs to my stepmother.”

“Are you going to kill me or something?” I’m only half joking. “This truck will definitely lead to my death somehow.”

Ace rolls his eyes and climbs out of the truck. I laugh and follow him.

When he pulls away the built-in tarp, I see how nicely decorated the truck’s bed is. There are piles of soft blankets and fluffy pillows alongside a basket filled with junk food and soft drinks.

Ace watches me with a hopeful expression.

“What’s this?” I ask softly.

He shrugs sheepishly and gestures toward the sky. “I thought maybe we could watch the stars? I come out here when I can. It’s a little hard where we live because of light pollution from the city, but it’s pretty clear over here. I thought you might like it.”

“Are you kidding?” I ask, climbing into the back of the truck. I settle into the blankets and offer Ace a reassuring smile. “I love it. Thank you for putting it together.”

He laughs and he looks nervous. My heart honestly hurts. “Really?”

“Yeah.” I pat the spot next to me. “Let’s look at some stars, Ace.”

And so we do.

We watch the stars, and Ace points at the brightest one and mutters something outrageous about how it’s not as bright as I am. All the while I try not to break my face from smiling too big.