Chapter 32
Ace
At Lexi’s prompting, I arrive at the back door of the Nash Mathematics Center on Dickson’s campus at five o’clock on the dot, nothing but the clothes on my back, a condom in my pocket, and my phone back in my apartment.
The condom wasn’t a requirement per se, but my dad raised me on the phrase Don’t be silly, protect your willy!
, and while I’m not at all planning to have sex with someone else because I’m in love with Julia, I also have no way of knowing what’s about to happen to me tonight.
What if part of the initiation ritual for Double C’s head of operations is to dip your genitals in a bucket of wax and the past leaders weren’t STI negative?
Anyway, it’s better safe than sorry, and if they run me through a metal detector or pat me down, a lone condom isn’t liable to bat any eyelashes.
I survey the door and test the knob, but it’s locked, and the sun, still on its way down on the western horizon, pierces me directly in the eye. I cup my palm and hold it up in front of me to block it out, but just as I manage, a dark sack comes over my head and does the job for me.
I let out a muffled scream—instinct makes it hard not to—but catch myself quickly as I’m ushered off the curb, into a waiting car, and sped off quickly.
Holy hell, it’s really happening…
When Lexi’s text finally came in an hour ago, ending my two-week dance in the dark void of curiosity and scrambling any other attention to a normal Friday night entirely, a part of me wondered if this would still be a precursor or a test of my willingness to wait.
But kidnappings don’t speak to more stalling; kidnappings scream action.
And since I can feel the leather seats under my hands and smell the freshness of a well-maintained space, any fear that I’m being kidnapped for something other than Double C vaporizes entirely.
The moment has arrived. And I have a really good feeling that by the end of the night, I’ll be more than halfway to realizing all my goals.
King of Double C? Check.
Recipient of Julia’s love? Almost.
“Well, this is interesting,” I remark, which earns me an unidentified chuckle from someone in the car. There are hushed whispers that follow, and then, silence.
I hum a song to myself as we drive and drive, and then we eventually pull to a stop on hard brakes somewhere else.
The door beside me opens, and I’m lifted out and walked forward into the shade and air of a building.
I march on sure feet, someone’s hand at my elbow to steady me, and sigh when I’m shoved down into a chair somewhere within what feels like the recesses of a maze of hallways.
“Stay here until someone comes for you,” a deep but sort of familiar voice says. “Do not take off the bag.”
I nod. “You got it.”
I can’t quite pinpoint how I know the voice, but my mind strives to figure it out while I sit in complete darkness.
And I sit and I sit—and I sit some more.
I don’t know what time it is, and I don’t know how long I’ve been here, but eventually, I try to keep myself occupied by rolling through a few renditions of “Bad Romance” by Lady Gaga. It’s Julia’s ringtone, and I know the song like the back of my fucking hand.
I’m halfway through the chorus when I’m yanked from the chair and instructed to stand. It’s the same voice. The same distant familiarity that my brain still can’t piece together.
As the bag is removed, the entire room goes dark, and a slim blindfold slides over my eyes instead.
My elbow is grabbed, and I’m instructed to walk again.
On slightly shaking legs, the muscles cold with disuse for God knows how long, I do as I’m told and walk.
The whole way, my stomach dances with excitement, and I rub my hands together as someone shoves me forward, leading me back through what feels like another maze of hallways.
As we walk, my smile grows.
This is so fucking cool.
I’m shoved down into another chair, this one soft and velvety from the feel of it under my hands, and a hush falls over the room, the sound of my breathing all I recognize.
“Ace Tobias Kelly, I’d like to welcome you here tonight,” someone announces, the sound of their voice circling me. “This is going to be one of the most important nights of your life. Are you ready to take on the challenge?”
“I’m ready,” I say confidently. “I’m so ready.”
Someone steps toward me, and I hold my chin high as their hands work to undo my blindfold. As it leaves, I blink against the darkness of the candlelit room, trying to find my focus as quickly as possible.
The first thing I notice is that the chair I’m sitting on is more throne than dining room spindle chair, and two people in long robes are in front of me, their official nature unquestionable.
That’s not that big of a surprise, but what is a surprise is the identity of the person on the left.
And not a little one. It’s the biggest fucking surprise that’s ever been sprung on me in all my nineteen years.
“Mom?”
“Hi, Acer,” she says, a smile in her voice and a fuck yeah grin on her lips. She’s just pulled the biggest fucking coup in Kelly history.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, looking around the room for Lexi and trying to make sense of it all. I don’t find the brainiac former president, but my mom finds her voice with ease.
“Surprise, motherfucker,” she says without hesitation. “Your clearly very cool mom is one of the secret chairs of Double C.”
My eyes feel like they might pop out of their sockets if I don’t shove them back in.
The man, whom I don’t recognize at all, standing next to her in a robe of his own, turns and nods to the two cloaked figures in the corner, and they step forward, pulling off their hoods.
It’s Lexi and Connor. Instantly, I put the pieces of the familiar but mysterious voice together and know that it was Connor back there.
He’s been friends with Lexi Winslow since they were thirteen.
At one point, back in the day, he was her boyfriend.
Basically, he’s been around my family and parents’ friends for years.
Not to mention, he was Lexi’s right-hand man for Double C all last year.
But now, the two of them are no longer Dickson students and are passing the torch…to someone who appears to be a devilishly handsome guy whom a lot of people know to be Ace Kelly.
Holy fucking shit!
I discreetly inhale a calming breath and force myself to keep my cool. No need to blow my load of excitement before they even get this cloak-and-dagger secret ceremony show on the road.
“Tonight, we are gathered here for the ceremony of your initiation,” Lexi announces, a cheeky smile the only indication that she knew about my mom—and how fucking surprised I would be—from the beginning.
“Tonight, you will be initiated as the current sitting president of Computare Caterva,” Connor instructs. “Are you ready to take the oath, Ace Tobias Kelly?”
Am I motherfucking ready? I was born ready.
I glance from Lexi to my mom, and another rush of excitement floods my veins. Fuck yes, this is going to be incredible. I’m genetically destined for this. “I’m ready.”
My mom moves toward me, leaning down to whisper briefly into my ear. “Julia won’t be mad?”
Her question catches me off guard. I mean, it’s not like I hadn’t considered how Julia would feel that I’ve kept this secret from her, but I guess I didn’t consider that my mom would be thinking of it either.
I hate that I haven’t been able to tell her—that I won’t until it’s all said and done and the first event takes place—but I’ve been putting in the work to show her how much I love her until now.
Surely it’ll be fine.
Once I explain, she’ll understand. She always does.
I shake my head. “She will,” I whisper back. “But that’s why we have the fifteen-minute rule. It’s saved my ass more than once, and it’ll save it again. I’m ready.”
“If you’re sure,” my mom says softly. For a split second, the hesitation in her voice makes my heart falter.
But then she steps back and says, “Then, we’ll begin.
” Her tone has returned to normal, and I let it go—trusting that the universe will work everything out between Julia and me. It has to. We’re meant to be.
“Ace Tobias Kelly, you hereby pledge your secrecy and devotion to the Computare Caterva at Dickson University from now until your successor takes their position. You will harbor, protect, and defend this organization against those who seek to destroy it. You will uphold our honor, and you will continue to create the magic this organization brings to this prestigious university,” the mystery man who’s still cloaked and standing next to my mom says.
Lexi walks toward me with a lit candle, and my mom hands me one of my own that, as of now, is flameless. Lexi comes to a stop in front of me, her long cloak trailing behind her.
“Ace, do you accept this pledge and the undeniable responsibility of the title of President of Computare Caterva?”
“I do.”
“Do you swear your life to the secrecy required of you for both your position as president and the organization in its entirety, from this eve forward, until your death releases you?”
“Intense,” I mumble teasingly. “But yes, I do.”
“Then I hereby pass the torch. You, Ace Tobias Kelly, are officially the acting president of Computare Caterva at Dickson University. Wear your new role well.”
Hell yeah, baby. Here comes the new president…motherfucking me.
Looks like it’s time to celebrate.
“You know I will,” I agree. “Come on, Lex. You and I are going for a drink.”