Ace barely shut the car door before I grabbed his wrist and dragged him toward the side of the house, away from the windows, away from anyone who might overhear. My heartbeat hadn’t slowed since the moment he arrived, and seeing him now only made everything collide inside my chest. 

“Ace,” I whispered sharply, “where have you been?” 

He blinked like I’d slapped him. “What? Why are you—Sabrina, I literally just got here. What’s going on?” He looked at my face, and his ...