I start smiling. I can’t help it. This is the longest I’ve seen Ace pay attention during our tutoring sessions and the most earnest I’ve seen his efforts.

As if he can feel me watching him, he looks up, and our eyes lock across the table. There’s a moment of strange silence where we’re just gazing at each other, but then he smiles back at me. His eyes are warm and familiar, and his grin is wide and sweet.

He’s beautiful.

Oh. Oh.

Oh no.

My cheeks burn, and I look back down at my work, trying to temper my expression, but it’s not going well. I glance up surreptitiously for half a second and find that his attention has turned back to the book. It’s almost worse than if he was looking at me.

We’re fake dating. I know that. It’s all a pretense.

And yet, despite knowing that, I think I might have feelings for Ace Clyde. Real feelings.

This is really, really bad.

At the start of English, Ace passes me a brown paper bag. I look inside curiously, only to find a slice of cheesecake.

My lips part, my heart caught in my throat. “When did you get this?”

He shrugs, which almost certainly means he skipped part of his last class to get me dessert. There’s something seriously wrong with him.

Yet my skin is warming all the same.

“Consider it my late promposal,” he says, grinning. “Have to convince you to go past three weeks, right?”

There isn’t enough air in my lungs.

“Right,” I echo.

Nandini and Cora sit in front of us now that they’re aware of the whole situation, but when Cora catches sight of me blushing, I wish they were anywhere else.

“Group chat, now,” Cora says, and I sigh as I slip out my phone, hiding it behind my binder.

Ace doesn’t seem to notice, his eyes focused on the whiteboard for once. Ugh, of course he is. Why is he doing this to me? For some reason beyond my understanding, him paying attention to school makes me feel strange.

Cora Zhang-Agreste:

KARINA IS BLUSHING WHAT IS HAPPENING

Nandini Kaur:

WHAT

Nandini glances back at me, and my cheeks burn even more, blood rushing up so fast that I have to suck in a deep breath to keep calm. Ace looks me over, his expression twisting with concern, and he rests a hand on my elbow.

I don’t want to admit it, but his concern kind of helps. I offer him a small, grateful smile, and feel both Cora and Nandini’s gazes sharpen on the side of my head.

Welp.

Me:

STOP STARING AT ME OMG WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU BOTH PAY ATTENTION TO THE LESSON

Cora Zhang-Agreste:

wHY ARE YOU BLUSHING? WHAT’S IN THE BAG? DID HE BRING CONDOMS?

Me: