As I’m waiting, Xander walks up to the car beside the Mercedes. It’s fancy, too, but I don’t look at the logo, mostly because I’m ducking my head and hoping not to make eye contact.

Does Ace’s family even know I’m coming home with him? This is a disaster waiting to happen.

As fate would have it, Xander stops in front of Ace’s car and stares at me as he toys with his keys. “Are you waiting for my brother?”

Oh shit. I open my mouth...and nothing comes out.

He looks me over in a way that sets my hair on end. As if he’s dissecting me for weaknesses. “No... You’re Cora Zhang-Agreste’s friend, aren’t you?”

My back straightens at his tone. “Yeah. So?”

Xander smiles. “Then you wouldn’t associate with the likes of my brother. Sorry for bothering you.”

He disappears into his car and drives away, and I watch with narrowed eyes. I’m still looking into the distance when Ace appears five minutes later, a girl with thick, beautiful hair and dark skin following him and speaking animatedly.

There’s a gentle expression on his face as he answers her. I’ve never seen him look at anyone that way before. I wonder who she is, racking my brain for whether anyone has been mentioned in relation to Ace in the last few months.

“Ahmed.” Ace cocks his head and offers me a small smile. “You made it.”

I bite my lip, shrugging. “You only live once and all that, right?”

The girl next to him smiles at me but turns an accusing look on Ace. “She’s really pretty, Ace. You didn’t tell me she was pretty.”

I tuck a curl of dark hair behind my ear, averting my gaze. Compliments given by girls always feel a hundred times more special. “You don’t have to say that. Thank you.”

“Don’t thank her, Ahmed,” Ace says, his smile slipping off his face as he narrows his eyes at the girl. “Stop looking at her.”

“I was just saying!” the girl says, raising her hands in defeat, but she’s laughing. “You’re so annoying, Ace.”

Well. She’s not wrong.

“She’s too old for you,” Ace says back, unlocking the car. To me, he says, “Ignore Mia.”

“Don’t ignore me, I’m awesome,” the girl—Mia—says. “And I have access to Ace’s baby photos. I’m the better friend to have.”

I blink, unsure what to make of this situation. “I’ll take your word for it.”

“Also I have a girlfriend, you asshole,” she says to Ace, pulling a face. “I’m not hitting on your tutoring buddy. I just wanted to tell her she’s pretty.”