27 | y e s , h i s s e d

I was moving back in with Ace's family. It seemed more logical to everyone, including myself now.

"There's a perfectly fine extra bedroom for you to stay in Mel, don't be ridiculous. And if my son screws up again, he'll be the one I kick out, not you," Anna had told me the same day Ace had said he loved me back. Ace smirked but pretended like he hadn't heard her threat.

His arm had been attached to me basically the entire night. If we weren't holding hands, his arm was slung around my shoulders or my head was resting against his bicep.

It was like neither of us wanted to let go of the other if we didn't have to. Call it the honeymoon stage, but I was pretty happy with it.

When it was time for us to part ways that night, he pulled me in for a long kiss that had my heart racing beyond what would be considered normal.

I had to stay at least one more night in the apartment. I was going to spend the night, once again, packing up my things. I would drive my stuff and myself to Ace's house bright and early before school and then ride there with Ace. And then, I would hopefully never step foot in that old apartment again.

The next morning after avoiding Charlie, I moved my things into my car and headed to the Carter/Ross residence. I got there pretty early and I didn't expect most of them to be up. But after knocking lightly on the front door, Noah answered with a bright smile.

"Ace is still asleep but you can come in," he told me while grabbing my hand and tugging me inside.

"He's asleep? Isn't he aware school starts in like, half an hour?" I asked out loud.

Noah shrugged.

This reminded me of when Ace used to let me sleep until we only had 20 minutes left before the first bell. I smirked evilly.

"I'll go wake him up," I told Noah before running up the stairs and flinging open his bedroom door.

Ace was laying in bed with the sheets twisted around his hips. He was shirtless, lucky me, and his arms were thrown above his head.

I tiptoed over to the edge of his bed and then proceeded to jump on him, throwing the entirety of my body onto his.

He woke with a gasp and then practically threw me off of him with a yelp. "Calm down, it's just me!" His eyes were squinted shut and he looked like he was in pain. "Uh, are you okay?"

"Sweetheart, I may love you but knee my jewels again, and I'll hire someone to assassinate you and make it look like an accident," he promised in his husky morning voice.

I didn't even get to appreciate him saying he loved me for the second time because I felt bad about hurting him and a little scared, thanks to his threat.

"I'm sorry?" I squeaked.

He opened one eye and then smirked. "Kiss it better?"

I rolled my eyes and shoved him back so he laid down again. "Go back to sleep."

He laughed and sat back up and leaned toward me with pursed lips. "I meant to kiss me here," he pointed to his full lips.

"How about you brush your teeth and then we'll talk," I told him, pushing him back once more.

Ace threw the covers off of himself and rushed into his bathroom. I laid back against his pillows and scrolled through my social medias while I waited for him.

He came back in with a newly cleaned smile and he gracefully crawled on top of me, naked torso and all. "What are you doing?"

"Kissing you," he replied as if I were stupid.

I squinted, taking a good, long look at him. "Teeth?"

"Brushed."

I somehow managed to squint harder. "Armpits?"

"What does that matter?" He asked, confused and a little disturbed.

I raised my eyebrows. "Trust me, it matters. So, armpits?"

"Deodorized?" He told me slowly and formed as a question.

I bit my lip in thought. "Is that even a word?"

He shrugged.

"Alright. You can go for a kiss," I allowed.

Ace rolled his eyes but crawled a little higher to reach my lips. He leaned down and our lips met. As he kissed me, I tentatively placed my hand against his cheek. He seemed to like it, because he leaned into my touch.

He balanced himself with one arm, using the other to hold onto my hip and squeeze gently.

Holy crap, we were making out. I was making out with Ace Carter. And he was still shirtless.

Ace pulled back slightly, probably realizing I was having a mini intervention with myself. "We're gonna be late for school," he told me.

"I don't care. Kiss me again," I asked in a daze. How embarrassing.

He chuckled but caved, pecking my lips a few times before hopping off the bed. I frowned as he pulled a shirt out of a drawer and put it on.

Show's over kids.

I went back to scrolling through my phone as Ace continued to get ready. And in less than five minutes, we were out of his bedroom and heading to the dining room.

"Well there you two are. That seemed like an awful long time for you to wake him up Mel," Austin teased while drinking his coffee.

Ace smacked his step-father's shoulder but smiled. I blushed a little and then blushed even harder when Ace's fingers intertwined with mine.

The silence was like a tell tale sign saying "I just made out with your son!"

Anna set down a plate with pancakes onto the table and smiled down at our hands. "Did you eat already this morning, Mel?"

I started to lie and nod but Ace playfully took hold of my chin and shook my head, no. "Doubt it," he answered for me.

I rolled my eyes but when Anna looked over at me for confirmation, I agreed. "He's right, I didn't eat."

Ace pulled me by the arm over to sit at the table, ruffling Noah's hair on the way there. "Hey! Do you know how long it took me to get my hair just right?" Noah asked.

"What? All of, maybe, five minutes?" Ace snorted.

Noah pursed his lips. "Maybe."

I chuckled a little and grabbed the plate for me that Ace had piled with pancakes. I stuffed as much food that could fit into my mouth without passing out from lack of oxygen and tried to ignore Ace's obvious staring.

He had an eyebrow quirked and a half smirk on. "Eat your food," I scolded him with my mouth half full.

"Chew yours," he retorted back.

I did as he recommended and swallowed before sticking my tongue out at him.

He did it back.

"You two fight like siblings. Don't you find that odd?" Austin asked neither of us in particular.

My nose scrunched up at the thought. "Ew, please don't ever suggest she's like my sister ever again," Ace shivered with disgust.

Austin held his hands up in surrender. "Yikes, okay."

Anna finally joined us and we all just sat around, stuffing our faces with her delicious meal. I checked my phone for the time and almost spit out my orange juice.

"We're gonna be so late. Lilli is going to kill me!" I screeched much louder than was probably necessary.

Ace casually and slowly checked his phone. "Meh, we have 15 minutes."

"I hate you," I deadpanned.

He smiled and leaned closer. "Oh sweetheart, we all know that you don't."

As much as I hated it, the idiot made me blush. I stood without saying anything and grabbed my backpack from where I had left it by the stairs. "I'm leaving with or without you Acey," I mocked.

He groaned but stood up, giving Anna a kiss on the cheek goodbye. "What about me?" Austin frowned. Ace shoved him in the shoulder, almost knocking him over. Noah and Anna both giggled. "Traitors," he told them.

"Let's go then, slacker," Ace scolded playfully, knowing it would annoy me considering he was the one making us late.

"I'm going to knee you in the balls again Carter," I smiled sweetly at my.... whatever the hell he was and fluttered my eyelashes menacingly.

Ace opened the front door but didn't let me through. He blocked me from getting out, crowding my small body with his tall one. "Your threats don't scare me King."

I hissed at him. Yes, hissed. And it made him burst out laughing, doubling over. It gave me enough time to shove him out of the doorframe to make my escape.

By the time he had stopped laughing, I was already at his passenger door. "Time is ticking Carter."

He unlocked the door and hopped in after shutting the door behind me. "What would you say if I asked you to ditch first period with me?"

"I swear to god Ace James Carter-"

"Kidding. I'm only kidding!" He amended. And then he started the car and drove us toward school and Lilli, who would most likely yell at me for lying to her and Ace for weeks.

Dammit.

Hey guys! So,,,, Chapter 27! Honestly, that's so many chapters and I don't even know how many more there are gonna be. I don't want to drag it along too much but I feel like there's so much more I need to touch on.

I'm so attached to these characters. I feel like even when this book is over, I'm probably gonna write bonus chapters.

Also, we have 6k! It keeps going up and I'm so grateful for you guys!

It's almost time for school to come back. I have less than 2 weeks of summer and then I'm a senior! Ahhhh.

Anyway, there's over 1,500 words! See you next chapter!