His hair is a little more rumpled now, and the top button of his shirt is loose, but he still looks intimidating. I try not to cower when his gaze lands on me.

“Alistair, Mia said you had a guest,” Xander says, his eyes lighting up in recognition. “I came over to introduce myself.”

“Knock next time, Alexander,” Ace says, his tone dark. “My guest knows who you are. There’s no need for introductions.”

“Ah, but I don’t know your guest,” Xander says, giving me a charming grin. He doesn’t have dimples, so it’s not quite as effective as his brother’s. “I’m Xander. It’s nice to see you again.”

Ace’s eyes narrow with the mention of again, but I ignore him.

Instead, I nod my head politely, even though I kind of want to disappear. I don’t want to be on the student body president’s radar. I should barely be on Ace’s radar. “I’m Karina. It’s nice to meet you, too.”

“How do you and Ace know each other?” Xander asks, leaning against Ace’s doorway. “He’s never mentioned you before.”

I open my mouth to reply but suddenly Ace is standing up, blocking the view of his brother. “Get out.”

His brother widens his eyes, but it looks too practiced. Xander Clyde is definitely a politician in the making. I guess Cora will have competition in the 2040 election, too. “What did I do, Alistair?”

“I said get out,” Ace says, a muscle jumping in his jaw. “No one wants you here.”

“Calm down, Alistair,” Xander says dismissively. “I would hate to tell Dad you lost your temper.”

Ace’s expression grows infinitely darker. “Get the fuck out.”

Without another word, Ace shuts his door and Xander jumps out of the way to avoid being hit in the face.

I blink, stunned. That was a little more Clyde family drama than I ever intended to witness. “Are you okay?”

Ace flinches and looks at me in surprise. I think he might have forgotten I was here.

“Yeah, sorry.” He shakes his head, running his fingers through his messy hair. “My brother is just...a lot.” He pauses, looking up at me. “You two have met?”

I shake my head. “Barely. He saw me waiting by your car earlier.”

Ace takes a deep breath, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Of course he did. Wow.”

A million questions rise to the tip of my tongue, but the look on Ace’s face is enough to keep my lips closed. At least, in terms of invasive questions. I still say, “So...studying?”

Ace gives me an incredulous look before laughing breathlessly, the tension slipping out of him. “Yeah, Ahmed. Studying.”

I lose track of time as we make our way through my notes.

It only hits me how late it is when someone knocks on the door. “Ace, may I come in?”