Counting Down with You

—counting down with you, k.m.a.

One: You love me. That will always be enough.

I exhale and straighten my shoulders. “Ready.”

I take a deep breath, and Ace squeezes my wrist lightly, a reminder that he’s here.

At one point, I slip my phone into the mix and manage to get a picture of Ace and me in our complementary outfits, which I text to Dadu with a heart emoji.

There’s even a moment where Xander says something to Cora and a wisp of a smile appears on her face before she abruptly stomps on his foot and walks away with her date.

After Ace hangs up, his father stops by to clap him on the shoulder and whisper something in his ear that I can’t hear. Even Xander comes by to adjust Ace’s tie, which is unnecessary since I spent a ridiculous amount of time perfecting it, but he’s trying, and it makes Ace smile, so I don’t say anything.

. Ace FaceTimes his own mother for a few minutes amidst the chaos and I try not to blush too much when he shows me off, waving grandly in my direction.

“You did,” I say, leaning my head against her shoulder. God, I’m so happy. “It’s no surprise you’re always right.”

She laughs and leans over to hug me. “I told you we’d all go to junior prom together.”