Chapter 27. The Kiss That Changed Everything

“What?” Ace asked, staring at me with a bemused look.

I swallowed. “I know you’re interested in Clara and…and…I don’t know, I guess I just got worried I was going to lose you or something—”

Ace held up a hand, his eyes squeezing shut. “Hold on. Are you telling me you ran away because you thought I was interested in another woman? You ran away because you were jealous?”

My cheeks brightened. Tears clogged my throat. He wasn’t denying his feelings for Clara.

“N-no.” Yes. “I just… I…” I felt like screaming. Why was it so hard to explain? “It didn’t help that I found out you were planning on asking her out the day you turned me down after I asked you out—”

“What?! Turned you down? When the fuck did I turn you down? When the fuck did you ask me out?”

I gave him a dubious look. “Yesterday, before gym. I asked if you wanted to go to that new steak restaurant. And you said no. You said you were busy, but I assumed you were turning me down gently.”