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“Right here,” she frowns. “You have some explaining to do, young lady.”
James strides into the room, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. “Conner, you can leave. This doesn’t concern you for now.”
“Damn, I had my popcorn ready and everything.”
I scowl in his direction and he grins, mouthing, ‘good luck,’ before ducking around his uncle.
Ace leans back against the counter, a bottle of juice in his hand. He takes a long swallow, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
“Do you have anything to say for yourself?”
“Nothing comes to mind,” he replies coolly.
“I told you explicitly to stay away from Remi—“
“You did?” I gasp, feeling betrayal coil around my heart. Ace never said a word.
“What I think James is trying to say, sweetheart, is that we’re concerned about your new... friendship.”
“We’ve been hanging out, so? It’s not a crime.”
“And this weekend,” James adds. “Did you stay over in the pool house?”
“I’m almost eighteen—“
“Not the point, Remi.” Mom frowns. “We’re worried about you. Cutting class, stopping out all night and lying to me. It isn’t like you, baby.”
“You told me to make new friends and to live a little.” It’s a futile argument, but I feel like I need to defend what Ace and I share.
Because god only knows, he’s making zero effort to do it.
“It’s one thing to sabotage your shot at something good,” James levels his nephew with a hard look, “but to drag Remi down to your level is inexcusable.”
“Because of course it’s me corrupting the good little princess, right?” He stands straight, animosity rolling off him in waves. “She couldn’t possibly want to hang out with me, could she?”
“Ace, that’s not what we’re saying.” Mom’s voice softens. “But Remi needs to focus on school. She needs to make some serious decisions about her future.”
“I’ve already told you, I won’t take his money. If I don’t get offered a scholarship, I’m done.”
“Remi,” she gasps, touching the side of her face. “You don’t mean that.” Her eyes flick between me and Ace as if she knows he’s to blame for the change in me.
And maybe he is.
But it isn’t that simple.
Ace hasn’t changed me—he’s just unlocked something inside me.
Something I’ve spent a long time trying to hide.
“Sarah, you should take Remi home. I need to speak to my nephew alone.”
“I won’t stop seeing him,” I blurt out, because it feels like we’re already hurtling toward the end of whatever this is, and I’m not ready for it to be over yet.
“Yes, well, we’ll see about that.” James’ tone is scathing. “I refuse to let Ace taint your future, Remi.”
I suck in a harsh breath, and Mom rushes to my side. “Come on, sweetheart. I’m sure James and Ace have lots to talk about.” She wraps her arm around me.
Staring at Ace, I plead with him to look at me, but he’s fixed on his uncle.
