BooksBarbecue
Back Counting Down with You
Chapters (64)
  1. Cover
  2. About the Author
  3. Praise
  4. Booklist
  5. Dedication
  6. AUTHOR’S NOTE
  7. Part 1
  8. 1
  9. 2
  10. 3
  11. 4
  12. 5
  13. 6
  14. 7
  15. 8
  16. 9
  17. 10
  18. 11
  19. 12
  20. 13
  21. 14
  22. 15
  23. 16
  24. 17
  25. 18
  26. 19
  27. Part 2
  28. 20
  29. 21
  30. 22
  31. 23
  32. 24
  33. 25
  34. 26
  35. 27
  36. 28
  37. 29
  38. 30
  39. 31
  40. 32
  41. 33
  42. Part 3
  43. 34
  44. 35
  45. 36
  46. 37
  47. 38
  48. 39
  49. 40
  50. 41
  51. 42
  52. 43
  53. 44
  54. 45
  55. 46
  56. 47
  57. 48
  58. 49
  59. 50
  60. 51
  61. 52
  62. 53
  63. 54
  64. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Before I can answer, the bell rings, signaling the end of first period. I look around, flabbergasted at how quickly the time went, then turn back to Ace. “I don’t have the time to explain the intricacies of my family politics to you, but we’re not doing this.”

I grab my stuff and hurry down the steps without waiting for Ace. I glance back only once to see him staring at me, a contemplative expression on his face.

19

T-MINUS 20 DAYS

Later, I’m walking into AP Physics when a hand reaches out and pulls me away from the doorway. At this point, I’m not even surprised to see Ace standing there.

“Don’t you have class?”

He shrugs. “It’s gym. Not a big deal.”

I roll my eyes. “Well, I definitely have class, so if you don’t mind moving?”

“Just hear me out for two seconds, Ahmed,” Ace says, holding out his hands. His eyes are oddly serious. “I’ll do anything for you to agree.”

I snort. “Okay. Buy me a dozen books a week.”

“Okay.”

I pause, giving him an incredulous look. “I was joking.”

Ace’s expression doesn’t shift. “I wasn’t.”

“Go to class,” I say, shoving his shoulder lightly.

“Just—Karina, please,” Ace says, his tone so earnest that I hesitate. “I’m serious. I’ll do anything.”

I stare at him hard, trying to discern how honest he’s being. I don’t know what to say, because I obviously can’t agree. My parents would have a conniption. I might have a conniption.

But there’s something in his expression that’s making it increasingly difficult to say no.

Strange feelings swim in my chest, pushing on my rib cage, tugging at my heartstrings. Maybe I have a weakness for beautiful boys with gentle hearts.

Ya Allah. How did I get here?

The bell rings and I sigh, pushing his shoulder again. “We’ll talk later.”

All through class, I wonder why I’m stupid enough to even consider his request. Pretending to date Ace Clyde means a tsunami of problems I’m not equipped to deal with, the first of which means being stared at. Already, at least four of my classmates are shooting me disbelieving looks when they think I can’t see them.

I take out a piece of paper and start writing, trying to put my thoughts onto the page as coherently as I can. Today’s my last day of trying this method.