My smile widens. I already knew that but it’s nice to hear it again. “I know. I guess we should go then, shouldn’t we?”

Ace lets go of my hands to wrap his arms around me. “Nah. They can wait one more minute.”

I laugh and slip my arms around his waist, leaning against his chest. “Just one. Otherwise Cora will come in here, guns blazing.”

“I don’t doubt that.”

I close my eyes and let myself have this impossible moment. He’s humming in my ear, a tune I recognize from the countless times he’s played it for me on piano.

There’s something so warm and comforting about being in Ace’s arms. A feeling more familiar than home.

He’s safe. He’s mine.

“Oh, enough!” someone shouts from outside. It’s the unmistakable voice of my dramatic best friend. “It doesn’t take that long to put on a corsage and boutonnière.”

I pull back hastily, eyes wide. “We didn’t even do that yet. She’s gonna kill us.”

Ace laughs and pulls out a small plastic box from his pocket. “Here.”

I offer him my hand, and he slips the navy blue rose corsage onto my wrist with gentle fingers.

When he’s finished, I pin the lavender-themed boutonnière to the lapels of his suit jacket, next to his pocket square.

“Perfect,” he says as Cora knocks furiously on his door again. He sighs. “She’s definitely gonna kill us.”

“At least we’ll die together?”

Ace shakes his head but holds out his arm to me. There’s a crooked grin on his face that makes my knees weak. “Shall we?”

I place my hand on his elbow. “Onward.”

“And you say I’m strange,” he says, pressing a kiss to my set curls before walking us to the door.

“There you two losers are,” Nandini says in exasperation. She’s sitting with her date, Timothy Chen, on a chaise in the hallway.

Cora is pacing while her own date, Holly Harrison, watches fondly. Cora stops when she sees us. “Finally. Come on, let’s take our junior prom pictures! NCK first. Come here, Karina.”

I reluctantly let go of Ace and make my way to my best friends. “Ridiculous,” Cora mutters to Nandini. “She gets a boyfriend and becomes too uppity to take pictures with us.”

“Hey,” I say but Nandini is laughing as she wraps an arm around my shoulder.

“Leave her alone,” Nandini says, nudging Cora with her other arm.

Cora grumbles but there’s an unmistakable grin on her face. “I guess I can forgive you, but only if you let me take at least ten pictures.”

I sigh and nod. It’s all for show, because I’m beyond elated and grateful to be here with them. I wouldn’t trade this for the world. “If that’s the price I have to pay.”