Page 29 of Until Ace

If I want something that will at least resemble a normal mother-daughter relationship, I need to act fast. For now, I’m still not sure how to approach that pile of shit.

“Spill what?” I try to act as if I don't know what she's talking about, but she didn't miss what went down between me and Ace a few minutes ago. She’s just the only one brave enough to come and ask, and she's also one of the only people here who are nice to me and care enough to check on me.

“Don't act like you don't know what I’m talking about.” She bumps me with her hip. “You know damn well I want every detail of what's going on between you and Ace.”

I turn to her and blurt, “I honestly don't know what's going on. I met him a few days ago. I think his aunt feels sorry for me, since I haven’t gone out on a date in a long time, so she’s making him do it. I mean, take me out. On a date. I keep telling him to let me go, but he won’t listen. Also, I’m not myself when I’m around him.” I lean toward her and whisper as if I’m sharing a national secret, “Mia, he can see through my every shield. I try to act all high and mighty toward him, you know, just as I do with everyone around here. But not you, not anymore,” I add quickly when I see her wince. “But it doesn't deter him at all. It's as if it amuses him. Like I amuse him. And now, he was here, and he simply said he will pick me up tonight and to not even try to say no or run, because he will come after me. Tell me, Mia. What do I do?”

Today is obviously a day where I spill all my deepest and darkest secrets to anyone willing to listen. I can only hope no one else asks me any questions for the rest of the day.

I feel like I've ran a marathon I'm so out of breath. Clearly, this whole thing with Ace has been weighing on my mind.

And with everything else, I don't need more of the unknown to weigh on me.

I need answers.

And I need them now.

“Tonight?” Mia asks.

“Yes, at seven!” I almost yell in my panic.

“And he won't take no for an answer?” she asks. Yet another question.

“I told you already. I keep telling him to let me go, but he won't listen,” I repeat what I have, in fact, told her already.

“And you only met him a few days ago?” Again with a question.

“Mia, I don't need more questions. I need answers. What do I do?”

I’m way out of my depth here. Ace is the type of man who has the ability to become my whole world. He also seems to be a man who would appreciate and cherish that instead of using it as he sees fit. That also means he’s a man who could tear me to pieces if he decided he didn't want me anymore.

He is the kind of man I would never recover from if he walked away from me.

Mia just stands there looking at me for what feels like an eternity, until she slowly smiles.

“Oh, this is going to be fun.” She’s almost gleeful.

“What?” I ask.

“You’ll see,” she says, looping her arm with mine before she starts walking toward the door. I have no choice but to keep up.

“What are you doing?”

She gives me an answer without giving me one, and she does this by yelling over her shoulder, “Ken, we're going on lunch.” I hadn’t even noticed him in the room with us.

Before the doors close behind us, I hear Ken say, “Okay,” not batting an eyelash even though it’s only ten in the morning.

Chapter 7

Mandy

Standing in front of a mirror, I again debate the level of my sanity.

My life is one huge pile of shit. Why am I contemplating adding someone to it who has the potential to hurt me more than anyone before him?

Not to mention, what should I wear?

I inspect my outfit choice for the fifth time.