Chapter 35
Ace
I look fucking good.
Like, walk-into-a-room-and-start-a-slow-clap good. The shirt’s black, the collar’s sharp, and the diamond cuff links I stole from my dad are glinting just enough to say my bloodline pays taxes in commas.
I adjust the collar again, turn slightly, and admire my studly reflection one more time. It’s giving presidential. It’s giving dangerous. It’s giving “this man controls the playlist and the legacy.”
It’s only a little after five p.m., and I’m certain I’ve never been ready for a Saturday night this early, but tonight is the night. There’s a new Double C sheriff in town, and his name is Ace motherfucking Kelly.
As I run a comb through my hair with the goal of giving laid-back GQ model, I snort a little when I think about the fact that my fucking mom of all people ended up being a chair of the campus’s biggest secret society.
What are the fucking odds, man? I mean, seriously, if there was a spread in Vegas, the payout would have to be exponential.
I glance at my phone, fully expecting Blake and Finn to have finally texted back their Double C attendance confirmation or to have a status update from Julia who’s been MIA all day since leaving with Yoko this morning, but the screen shows nada.
I frown briefly. I know Julia was upset this morning and not reaching out to go to the football game with her this afternoon probably made matters worse, but she’ll cool down and we’ll move on.
She always does. We just need our fifteen minutes, even if this time, it’s running a little closer to eight hours.
I sigh and click into to my message with Finn and Blake again.
Those fuckers need to be there tonight so I can get a load of their faces when they grasp the awesome reality we’re heading toward this year.
I can already picture myself standing at the helm—the handsome center of attention—and the crowd going batshit crazy when I tell them that I’m their new leader.
But I need my best guys right there in the front when I make the official announcement that I’m the new prez.
I mean, no offense to Lexi Winslow—she was one hell of a Double C president—but this is me we’re talking about here.
If anyone can bring Double C to a level where it’s world-renowned, it’s this guy right here.
The future event ideas I already have rolling around inside my head are equal parts this-might-be-illegal and oh-fuck-yeah.
I spritz on a little cologne, willing a new message to pop up in the thread from Finn or Blake, but aside from smelling fucking delightful, nothing has changed.
Unacceptable.
My debut as president of Double C is in six hours. I need my guys in position. Fully hyped. Properly dressed. Emotionally ready.
I grab my phone off the counter and start firing off texts.
Me: Reminder… if either of you bail tonight you’re dead to me
Me: And I’ll fucking haunt your apartments. Knock shit off shelves and shit
Me: Finn I saw the three dots. Don’t play with me.
Bubble. Bubble. Ding.
Finn: It’s 5 p.m., bro. Relax. We’ve got hours until we’re supposed to be there. In fact, I don’t think we’ve ever even gotten a text this early before.
Relax? Does he think Lincoln was chill before the Gettysburg Address? This is my fucking Sistine Chapel!
And a critique on the text timing at this delicate moment? Fucking hell, it sure is good Finn is handsome because he’s pissing me off. It doesn’t matter that he doesn’t know I’m the sender; we should be synced up like a couple of roommates approaching menstruation!
Me: All I’m asking is for a little confirmation of your attendance tonight Finnley. God forbid I’m trying to make sure our sophomore year is a good fucking time.
Boden: Not gonna lie, I’d rather stay home with Lexi. Today’s game against Pennington kicked my ass.
What the fucking fuck?
Me: Boden I’m disappointed.
Me: The Campus Golden Boy should be high off his win today and ready to fucking celebrate. Not whining about wanting to stay home like a little bitch baby. What the hell bro? These are the best years of our lives. Now is the time to live it up.
Finn: You do realize Boden wants to stay home because Lexi is home, right?
Boden: Bingo bongo, buddy. And the same could be said for you.
Finn: Ha. I won’t deny that.
Me: You two can makeout with your girlfriends any night of the week. Come out, you fuckers.
Finn: Again, I’d like to reiterate that it’s 5 p.m.
Boden: Yeah, Acer. We’ve got time, man.
Fuck me. Not being able to tell these bastards that I’m Double C’s new prez is proving to be a real pain in my ass.
Me: Fine, but I’m taking this as your official confirmation that you will be in attendance at Double C tonight. If you’re not there, I will personally hire Gunnar to come find you.
Boden: You’re really scary, you know that? But not in the way you think.
Me: I’m fully aware of all the ways I’m scary and I don’t care. I’ll see you tonight. PS: You’ve got six hours to emotionally prepare. I expect vibes. Excitement. Big ass fucking smiles. We’re not dragging our way into sophomore year like a bunch of losers
Boden: HA. Big ass fucking smiles? I don’t think Finn’s face is capable of that.
That actually makes me laugh, despite the otherwise raw nature of my mood.
Me: That’s where Scottie comes in. Finn can’t not smile when she’s around and I’ve also texted her to assure her attendance
Finn: My girl definitely makes me smile, but the idea of you texting her behind my back does NOT.
Me: Finn please. Behind your back? Be realistic and let’s move on to more important things…Do either of you need help in your attire selection tonight?
Finn: You’re a fucking clown.
Boden: I second this.
I head into my bedroom, but as I toss my phone onto the bed, it pings again. I half expect it to be Blake sending me a photo of him in socks and fucking sandals to screw with me, but I shouldn’t be surprised when I see who it is.
After all, she’s one of three people I can think of off the top of my head that are nuttier than I am.
Mama Cass: If you mess this up, I’m changing my emergency contact to Gunnar. And I think we both know I might as well make myself a DNR.
Me: Pretty sure Dad should be your emergency contact…
Mama Cass: Excuse me? Do you even hear yourself right now?
Me: Valid point.
Mama Cass: You’re my favorite kid today. I love you. Have the best fucking time. PS: Don’t ruin our legacy, or I’ll kill you.
Me: Love you too.
I set the phone down, still grinning, and grab the mini speaker from my desk to blast my “Hype and Dangerous” playlist on Spotify. But I only get half a song deep before I hear a faint knock at the door.
“It’s open!”
A moment later, Julia walks into my bedroom.
She’s standing in the doorway in that off-the-shoulder gray sweatshirt she always wears when she’s not trying, which makes it even more unfair that she still looks gorgeous. She blinks at me. Her eyes drop to my outfit. My shoes. My perfectly done hair.
“You’re already dressed?” she asks, surprised, and I feel like an asshole that I’ve been too busy making phone calls and running over to campus to pay off two campus security guards to try more seriously to check in with her.
I texted a couple times, but I should have hunted her down in person.
I know we weren’t in a fight per se, but she was—probably still is—upset with me.
And our fifteen-minute rule should’ve been of the utmost priority.
“Oh…uh, yeah.” I clear my throat. “Just, you know, heading somewhere before the Double C thing tonight.”
Her brows lift. “Where?”
“Just a thing.” I wave a hand. “For…uh…my parents,” I lie, and I hate that I’m lying. “No big deal.”
“Okay…so… When should I be ready to go tonight?”
“Is it…uh…cool if I meet you there?” I ask, trying to sound casual as I flip the speaker volume of my music down a notch.
Her expression shifts, and she tilts her head. “You want me to meet you there because of something for your parents?”
“Yeah. I know we always go to Double C stuff together, but this is one of those rare exceptions. I’m sorry about last night, and this morning, but we can—”
“I’ll see you tonight, Ace,” she cuts me off before I can finish.
Fuck, I can’t keep doing this. This is dumb. I need to tell her the truth. So what if I’m supposedly sworn to secrecy? This is Julia. My best friend. “Hey…wait…” I move closer, trying to read her. “Jules, I—”
“See you tonight,” she says and walks out of my bedroom, and I hear the front door to my apartment click shut a few seconds later.
I stand there dumbly for another ten, my heart sinking into my fucking shoes, before I jog out of my bedroom and out my apartment door.
“Hey! Jules!” I knock on her door several times, but there’s no answer. I don’t even hear Yoko barking in response.
Immediately, I grab my phone and shoot her a text.
Me: Hey where’d you go? I wanted to tell you something real quick before I head out
Julia: Taking Yoko to my parents’ apartment.
I guess that makes sense. It’s better Yoko is at the Brookses’ rather than being locked up in Julia’s bathroom while we’re at Double C tonight, but my God, she moves fast.
I almost text her and tell her I got initiated as Double C’s newest president last night—that I wasn’t out with some random girl or some other unredeemable sin. I want to tell her a million things, but instead, I text, Okay see you tonight.
I took a vow of secrecy less than twenty-four hours ago. The least I can do is forgo the urge to break it via text.
I’ll tell her in person. Soon. We’ll make up, and this whole stupid misunderstanding will be tucked away in the past.
She doesn’t message me back, but I tell myself it’s because she’s got Yoko on the subway and he’s a fucking maniac. I tell myself she isn’t really upset with me, and she’ll understand the reason I had to lie to her.
I tell myself this is Julia—the most understanding, perfect human being I know.
She’ll understand after tonight. I’m certain of it.
I mean, I’m only utilizing a measly few hours’ extension on our fifteen-minute rule, and then we’ll be back to normal.
Right?