Page 41 of Ace

His parents stepped back up onto the front walk. He hopped in his car and backed out.

Dex glanced over at Gianna. “What’s bothering you?”

“Besides the reenactment of senior prom?”

“Yeah, that’s what’s botheringme. But you got all stiff. What’s wrong?”

“You know me too well.”

“I’ll never know you too well.”

“I don’t even fully know. But I’ll tell you what I’ve got so far.” She turned to him. “But I don’t want you thinking I’m being dramatic or anything.”

“Hit me.”

“You said you’ll always be there.”

“And I will.”

“But you weren’t.”

Her words twisted and tugged at his chest.

“You talking about Top Flight?”

“No, I’m talking about my nonprofit. It was supposed to beournonprofit.”

And that was the crux of it.

“Gi.”

“No, forget it if you’re gonna take that tone.”

“What tone?”

“The one where you are trying to mansplain something to me.”

“I don’t mansplain. Give me some credit.”

“Maybe not in the way it’s traditionally used. But, Dex, you had mansplaining all over that tone.”

“How about this tone?” He made his voice light and flowery.

She laughed. “Fine. What were you going to say?”

“I was simply trying to say that you’re right. We have different career goals, different life goals, but why does that mean we can’t be together?”

The pause was long enough he turned to her at a red light.

“Because I live in remote island villages. And you travel the whole world.”

“And we don’t take vacations?”

She looked away. But he could tell she was thinking about what he said. And just the fact that she hadn’t outright refused made him grin.

“And you’re my best friend. Don’t forget that.”

She sighed, and he saw a barrier or two start to crumble. He jumped on it.

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