Counting Down with You

by Tashie Bhuiyan

  “Karina,” Xander says, nodding at me.

  I wave awkwardly. “Xander.”

  To Ace, Xander says, “I thought you had a piano lesson today, Alistair.”

  “It was canceled,” Ace says, his gaze cool.

  Xander clicks his tongue. “I highly doubt that. Does Dad know you’re at the aquarium instead of your lesson?”

  Ace smiles thinly. “I’m sure he will soon.”

  “You’re even a dickhead with your family,” Cora says, startling both of them.

  I giggle and attempt to cover it with a cough. Xander is too busy staring at Cora with an appalled expression to notice.

  “I think Ace and I are going to take that as our cue to leave,” I say, pushing Ace back with one hand and squeezing Cora’s hand apologetically with the other. “It was nice seeing you...both.”

  Without another word, I slip my hand into Ace’s and pull us toward the jellyfish exhibit, almost running in my haste to get away.

  Behind me, Ace chuckles as he follows along. When we’re safely away from them, he gives me a grateful look. “Thanks. He’s just...aggravating. I wasn’t even lying—my piano lesson really was canceled. My instructor has the flu. Not that he cares.” Ace sighs, scratching the back of his head. “I’m sure he’ll tell Dad either way.”

  “And he’ll look stupid when he does,” I say, squeezing Ace’s hand. “Forget him.”

  He huffs a rueful laugh, pulling me closer and leaning his chin against the top of my head. “I wish.”

  I sigh, wrapping my arms around his waist. “Family, am I right?”

  “Family,” Ace agrees solemnly.

  * * *

  Later, we’re holding hands and walking back to Ace’s house when something splashes against the back of my neck. When I turn to Ace, there’s a drop of water sliding down the ridge of his nose.

  A clap of thunder sounds, and I jump in surprise, clutching Ace’s hand tightly enough to cut off circulation.

  “Are you scared?” he asks, having the nerve to sound amused.

  I scowl. “No. I just don’t want to get a cold. Your house is a long walk from here.”

  Ace rolls his eyes but his lips curl up in one corner. “You’ll be fine, Karina. Plus, haven’t you always wanted to kiss in the rain? It happened in like half the Bollywood movies we watched.”

  “You’ve seen like four.”

  “It still happened.”

  “I resent that.”

  Not a moment later, the rain decides to pour down in buckets, drenching us both.

  Ace laughs in delight, because I’m apparently dating a lunatic. His bad mood from before has all but evaporated, as if the rain is the equivalent of sunshine for him.

  He slips his hand out of my grasp and extends his arms on either side. I watch as he tilts his face toward the sky and closes his eyes, a wide smile across his face.

  “What’s wrong with you?” I say, shouting to be heard over the pouring rain.

  “Join me!” Ace says back, eyelashes fluttering open to reveal striking kaleidoscopic eyes. “Live a little.”

  I give him an unimpressed look as I push wet hair out of my face. “You can’t keep saying that, you know. I live just fine, thank you.”

  Ace laughs again and shakes his head. “Baby, come on.”

  I jolt at the endearment and the way my pulse starts rocketing. It’s nothing like his joking sweetie in front of his family, in front of my friends. This isn’t for show.

  This is me and him, alone in a storm, and he’s giving me the most beautiful smile and calling me baby.

  Despite the freezing rain, I feel impossibly warm.

  A bolt of lightning flashes across the sky, capturing Ace’s attention before he can press further. He looks up with wonder written across his face. “Isn’t it amazing?” he asks before looking back down at me. “It reminds me of you.”

  Holy shit, he’s going to kill me. “You’re ridiculous,” I murmur.

  Ace somehow hears me through all the noise, and his cheeks dimple.

  I cross the distance between us and press my lips against his before he can say anything else. Maybe it’s to shut Ace up, or maybe it’s to stop myself from saying something completely foolish. Either way, I’m kissing him in the rain, just like he wanted.

  When we pull apart, I tilt my head and ask, “If I’m lightning, then what are you?”

  Already, I can imagine Ace teasing me but instead, he smiles and says, “I’m thunder. I’ll follow you wherever you go.”

  I don’t have an answer for that. He doesn’t look like he needs one.

  “Karina,” he says softly, his hand coming up to brush my cheek. “Will you go to prom with me?”

  “I already said yes,” I remind.

  He shakes his head. “You said yes when we were pretending. Will you go to prom with me?”

  I stare at him for a long beat of silence, warmed by the stars in his eyes. “Yes.”

  Ace laughs quietly and leans forward, kissing my temple and pulling me into his arms.

  When Ace shifts again, it’s to shrug off his leather jacket. “Here,” he says, holding it out for me. “I don’t actually want you to catch a cold.”

  “Now you’re worried about my health,” I say, but slip my arms into the sleeves, letting him situate it around me. The smell of cinnamon makes my heart sing. “You can explain this to Dadu.”

  A look of horror passes over his face and I laugh, tangling our fingers together as we start walking toward his house again.

  That night, I lie awake and listen to the storm. Ace is on FaceTime but he’s fast asleep. The sound of his breathing is soft compared to the harsh beat of the rain against the roof. Slowly, it lulls me to sleep.

  rain, rain go away

  come again another day...

  that’s what they always say

  but what if you want rain to stay?

  being addicted to the storm

  wanting to see it transform

  I’m lightning, he’s thunder

  my God, he’s a wonder

  I’m quick, I’m fast, I glow

  and him?

  he follows me wherever I go

  42

  T-MINUS 6 DAYS

  “Be prepared.”

  Ace looks at me in alarm as we swipe our ID cards and walk into school. “For what?”

  I shake my head. “You sweet, naive soul.”

  It takes approximately two seconds for Cora and Nandini to show up and approximately one second after that for Nandini to drag me away while Cora stares at Ace with her arms crossed and foot tapping.

  “Karina?” Ace says, gaze darting between Cora, Nandini, and me. His expression is cooler than I’m used to. However, I’ve come to accept that Ace has trouble being his true self around people he’s not fully comfortable with.

  Hopefully he’ll be comfortable with my friends one day soon. I don’t doubt it will happen. I just don’t know when.

  “Alistair, sweetie, so nice to see you again.” Cora smiles warmly at me before she looks back at Ace, her expression shifting to something cold and terrifying. “All right, let’s talk business.”

  “Uh, okay?” he says.

  “It has come to my attention that you and my wonderful, lovely, one-of-a-kind best friend Karina are doing whatever it is you two are doing. For some reason completely beyond me, she seems happy. However, if she’s anything less than happy, ever—and I don’t care if you did it or if someone else did it, because I’m going to assume it’s still your fault—just know I’ve seen every Mission Impossible movie and I know how to kill someone with a pen.”

  Nandini lets go of me to join Cora, throwing an arm around her shoulder. “When you fall asleep tonight, keep your third eye open. We’ll be watching.”

  I stifle a giggle. My frien
ds are so ridiculous. Now that everything’s out in the open, I honestly don’t care if they threaten Ace twenty times a day so long as he isn’t bothered by it either. I know my friends are dramatic, and that’s part of why I adore them.

  Ace blinks. “Noted.”

  Cora returns to normal in a second, grinning cheerfully as she claps him on the shoulder. “Great! Glad that’s settled.”

  Without another word, she skips over to me and loops her arms with mine. When she starts pulling me away, I falter only to smile back at Ace. “I’ll see you later.”

  His eyes are fond, even if the rest of his face is unmoved. “Yeah, you will.”

  * * *

  I’m sitting in the library, outlining new study questions for Ace when someone loudly approaches our table.

  I’m alone, because I forgot my copy of The Scarlet Letter and Ace went in search of another. I wish I’d gone instead when I see who’s standing over me.

  “Xander,” I say slowly. I’ve never been alone with Ace’s brother before, and I don’t want to start now. “Hello.”

  Xander’s expression is dark. “Where’s Alistair?”

  “He’s...in the bathroom,” I say, glancing down at the notes, books, and papers scattered across the table. Xander isn’t supposed to know I’m tutoring Ace.

  I need a quick lie. I don’t want to mess this up.

  Anxiety bubbles in my stomach. Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one... “He likes to keep me company while I study.”

  Xander hums, eyes narrowed. “Is that right?”

  My mouth dries. His tone makes it sound like he knows, but how he could possibly know? He saw me and Ace on a real date just yesterday.

  “Yes.” My hands are sweating. “Would you like me to pass on a message?”

  “I’ll wait,” Xander says, taking the seat beside me. We’re way too close. I can’t help scooting away. My skin prickles from just being around him, but it’s worse with him watching me like a hawk. “So, Karina. How exactly did you and my brother start dating? I’d love specific details. It’s not every day Ace gets a girlfriend.”

  “Uh.” I bite my lip, looking around for Ace. “He—um. Like we said, we sat next to each other in English.”

  “My brother isn’t exactly the friendliest company,” Xander says, which makes my blood boil. It fizzles away some of my anxiety, enough that I straighten and reach for my things, pushing them toward my side of the table. “What about him won you over?”

  “I honestly don’t see how that’s any of your business,” I say coldly.

  Xander raises his eyebrows. “He’s got you acting like a guard dog?”

  I glare at him. “Are you comparing me to an animal? Is that the hill you want to die on?”

  He lifts his hands in apology, but I don’t buy it. I’ve always said Xander Clyde is on his way to being US president. I’ve never believed it more than when he offers me a charming smile after likening me to a dog. “I’m not trying to insult you. You know, you kind of remind me of Cora.”

  “Do I?” I ask, smiling sweetly. “Perhaps it’s because neither of us enjoy speaking to you.”

  Something flashes across Xander’s face too quickly for me to decipher. “Is that right?”

  Thankfully, Ace comes back then, and I don’t have to singlehandedly fend off his brother anymore. He stops short at the sight of me glowering at Xander, and his own gaze grows dark.

  We’re tucked into a back corner, and there’s no one else in our vicinity, otherwise I’m sure this scene would draw far too many eyes. I’m itchy just thinking about it.

  “Why are you here?” Ace asks, setting The Scarlet Letter down and sliding it toward me. I catch it before it can slip off the table, but my stomach twists at the sight of Xander’s gaze following the book.

  “Mia and I were speaking earlier, and she mentioned something very interesting,” Xander says, raising his eyes to meet his brother’s.

  Ace grows very still. “Did she?”

  Xander laughs. The sound grates on my nerves. “At first, it seemed ridiculous. I thought she was joking. But then she tried to cover it up so fast that I began to think, Is it true? Could Alistair really be stupid enough to pretend to date his tutor?”

  “Hey,” I cut in, gritting my teeth. “Don’t call him stupid.”

  Ace shakes his head slowly. “This isn’t your fight, Karina.”

  I bite my lip, wishing it was. I hate seeing Xander demean Ace like this.

  “Oh, enough,” Xander says, rolling his eyes. “You can stop the act. I know you’re not dating.”

  “You’re so fucking annoying,” Ace says, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Go then. Run off and tell Dad how I’m a fraud. I’m sure he’ll love that.”

  “Honestly, Alistair.” Xander sighs deeply, leaning his elbow against the table. “Don’t you get tired of disappointing Dad? He just wants you to succeed.”

  I have a strong urge to kick Xander down a flight of stairs. If Ace hadn’t specifically told me to stay out of it, I think I would’ve told Xander to fuck off. It makes sense why Ace is reluctant to talk to our classmates if his own brother is such an ass.

  “And what do you want, Alexander?” Ace smiles coldly. “To make me look bad so you can look good? Your superiority complex is pathetic.”

  A sense of pride fills me as I watch Ace casually take out a lollipop and unwrap it.

  “I don’t have a superiority complex,” Xander says, raising one eyebrow. “I worry about you, Alistair. If Dad and I don’t keep you in line, what’s going to happen to you? Ever since Mom and Dad’s divorce, you’ve had no drive, no motivation. I only want the best for you.”

  I gape at Xander. He speaks as if he hasn’t sabotaged Ace repeatedly, as if he hasn’t spread rumors about him, as if he hasn’t consistently thrown Ace under the bus.

  Ace has the most drive and motivation of anyone I’ve ever met. He spends hours practicing piano, sought a tutor when he was doing poorly, and is active in almost every aspect of his life. He knows what he wants and goes after it.

  And yet his brother unabashedly calls him lazy and apathetic, without even making the effort to learn what kind of person Ace truly is.

  Ace is silent as he pops the lollipop in his mouth. Tell him, I want to urge, but I also know why he won’t. Ace’s choices have nothing to do with Xander or his father.

  “Talk to me, Alistair.” Xander reaches across the table, but Ace leans away. “You’re being childish.”

  “And you’re trying to gaslight me,” Ace says evenly.

  “Gaslight?” Xander snorts. “Where’d you learn that word? Was it from your little ‘girlfriend’ over here?” He gestures to me with a wave of his hand. “I guess the tutoring is paying off.”

  “Don’t bring her into this,” Ace says, his voice low, before he exhales and looks away. Under the table, I loop my ankle around his, hoping to comfort him in some way. A fleeting and barely there smile passes across his lips. He looks back up at his brother, expression weary. “I’m tired of this, Xander. You’re Dad’s favorite son. I know it. You know it. Can we please stop doing this?”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Xander says dismissively.

  “Don’t you?” Ace asks. “Ever since Mom and Dad got divorced, you’ve been taking it out on me. You turned Dad against me. It’s not my fault Mom left. It’s not my fault you and Mom barely talk. Stop blaming me for things that are out of my hands.”

  Xander’s cool expression slips, his gaze suddenly heated. I shift farther away from him, waiting for the blow to follow.

  “It is your fault,” Xander hisses. “She talks to you all the time and never gives me the time of day. And when we do talk, she only ever goes on and on about you. It’s always Ace this, Ace that. I told her I got into Yale, and immediately after congratulating me, she asked me w
hat your plans for college were. It’s always about you.”

  Ace stares at his brother like he’s grown a second head. “And that’s my fault? Why don’t you talk to Mom about it instead of trying to ruin my life?”

  His brother sniffs with an air of disdain, but there’s a crack in his demeanor now, in the way he carries himself. “You always overexaggerate. I haven’t ruined your life.”

  “You told Dad I wanted to go to Italy with Mom and acted like it was because of him. Dad hasn’t looked at me the same since! You know the reason I wanted to leave was because of you, you fucking asshole. Back then, all you ever did was pick fights with me over nothing. But instead of factoring that in, you let Dad think I hated him. Your relationship with Mom isn’t my fault, but my relationship with Dad is yours.”

  Xander’s mouth thins into a straight line. “What does it matter to you? You have Mom. You don’t need Dad, too.”

  My mouth falls open in disbelief. What kind of logic is that?

  Ace seems similarly aghast. “What are you even talking about? He’s my dad.” He shakes his head. “You have no idea. Mom misses you. She tells me all the time she wishes you’d call more. But you’d rather spend your time ruining my relationship with Dad, I guess.”

  Xander falters. “Mom misses me?”

  Ace looks up, taking in his brother’s expression. His gaze slips briefly to mine, and I offer him a timid smile, hoping it reassures him.

  In the face of it, Ace seems to deflate. He scrubs a hand over his face, a sigh escaping his lips. “All right.” He pushes back his chair. “I guess we’re doing this.”

  Xander narrows his eyes, looking between us. “Doing what?”

  “Talking to Mom and Dad.” Ace stands up, gathering his things before coming around the side of the table to crouch near me. “Hey.”

  I carefully brush a strand of dark hair from his eyes. I don’t know what to do with the fight I just witnessed, but I know I want to be there for Ace. “Hey.”

  He catches my hand to press his lips against my wrist. “I have to go deal with this. Can we get a rain check?”