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The sun had yet to rise. The brisk morning air tickled your cheeks as Ace pulled the door shut behind him with a yawn. Locking the door to his apartment as you looked out over the balcony. The morning dew spotted the grass, making the green blades glitter as if they were sprinkled in stardust.
“You ready?” He asked as you nodded in silence. You let him walk down the concrete steps first. His keys jingling as you followed behind him. Your tote bag slung over your shoulder as you fought back the urge to yawn. But you did stretch your arms over your head.
The night was very long.
It started as you coming to see Ace now that he was done with his finals. He picked you up in his shiny red car, a birthday gift from his parents, and he brought you back to his apartment. You cuddled up to him on the ugly loveseat in his small living room. Your head against his shoulder as you inhaled his cologne. The Roman chamomile pulled you in close and your lips found throat. Your tongue soon dragging over his Adam’s Apple as the movie was long forgotten. Ace took your hand and led you to his bedroom; and that’s where you stayed until now.
Ace opened the door for you as he shrank into his jacket from the cold. “Since when do coffee places open at 5am?” He grumbled as you sank into the nice leather seat. “Since literally forever?” He closed the door behind you and walked to the other side. The faint scent of pine welcomed you as you glanced at his aging little tree. You wanted to buy him another one. He never replaces them unless you remind him or give them to him. You shivered in your attire as you placed your tote bag on the floor. You were wearing Ace’s favorite red hoodie you always drowned in, his flannel pajama pants, and a pair of his boxers. The silly heart patterned ones he keeps in the back because ‘this would never turn you on’. When in actuality you thought they looked sexy on him.
He got into the car and quickly started it, adjusting the knobs and pressing buttons to warm your seat. “You’re lucky I love you I wanted to sleep for at least another four hours.” Ace yawned again as he plugged his phone into the aux. The rap music was quiet as he began to back out slowly. His hand resting on the back of your seat, bracelets jingling softly as you put on your seatbelt and pulled out your phone.
“My parents told me I have to come back early.” Your response was met with a ‘boo’ of disappointment from Ace. “I rarely get to see you. It’s my turn to have you! They’re greedy.” He clicked his tongue in annoyance as you smiled. You opened the app for your favorite coffee place as Ace began to drive away from his apartment, opening the remote controlled gate and taking off down the main road.
Your parents didn’t like Ace very much. They thought that he was a bad influence on you. He was too opinionated. He seemed sleazy and that he would hurt you in the long run. You didn’t tell them that you’ve been dating since you were 15. It’s been 5 years now. “They just want me back since I left without saying anything.” You admitted quietly and Ace flashed you a look. His eyes wide with shock as his eyes darted between you and the road. “Wh- You didn’t tell them?” He was puzzled as you sank into the leather seat.
The warmth cradled you as you slipped your feet out of your crocs and put them on the dashboard. “Okay so,” You paused as you looked at your phone as you put a cherry muffin in your digital shopping cart for Ace. “I was going to tell them.” You explained and went to customize Ace’s coffee order. A Fleur City blend with oat milk, a pump of vanilla, a pump of cherry syrup, iced, with sweet cold foam on top.
Whenever you guys got coffee together, Ace always tasted good when you kissed him. “Why didn’t you? They’re going to think I kidnapped you or something.” He groaned as you added an egg and spinach wrap to the cart for yourself. “Ace if I told them I was leaving my dad would stand in the driveway with a bat so you couldn’t park.” You wanted your parents to like Ace. They needed to get to know him better. “So when did you tell them you were with me?” Ace asked as the tall, glowing sign of the coffee place came into view.
“Before we started the movie.” That was close to 10pm last night. Ace picked you up around 8 and it takes a while to get to his apartment. “Please tell them sooner next time.” Ace pleaded softly as he leaned over and kissed your cheek. You added your own custom coffee into the cart and paid. Thanks to Ace’s credit card he demanded you keep attached to your phone.
“What the fuck there’s a liiiinneeee?” Ace whined in annoyance as a line of cars and trucks stretched through the drive thru lane. “It’ll go by fast! It always does and we have more time to hang out.” You pat his arm as he dramatically rested his forehead against the steering wheel. “We’re going to starve and die here.” He whimpered and you rolled your eyes in response. “Oh stop it we’ve waited in line for burgers for what? An hour?” You reminisced a late night drive with Ace who told you he was dying of starvation.
The line was wrapped around the building and the two of you were the cut off point for the night. You waited in that line for almost two hours and when the two of you finally got your food, Ace parked and the two of you hosted your own mini mukbang minus the cameras. It was late at night. No one was around. And it became one of your favorite memories even though you got ketchup on your favorite top.
The line moved at a snails pace as the barista came out with a tablet to confirm your order. It would be brought out to you once it was ready, but you’d be stuck in the line until Ace had an opening to get around everyone else. “Can I ask you something?” Ace spoke as you looked up from your phone. You were in the process of taking photos of the scenery to save into your special Ace folder. “Sure. If it’s about your pajamas I’ll wash them and bring them back.” You assured him and he smiled. “Oh thank goodness do you know how many pairs of MY pants that have walked out of my apartment?” The two of you laughed quietly under the soft music switching tracks.
“This sounds kinda weird coming from me.” Ace softened as he sank back against his seat. You could see he was starting to hide in his hoodie as he looked ahead. “I do love you.” The tone of his voice was warm and it pulled you in as you nodded. “I love you too.” You were starting to feel anxious. Was something wrong? Before Ace could continue, a girl came up to the window with your order. He thanked her and handed you everything as she wished you both a nice day.
Ace rolled up the window as you put his coffee in the cup holder and gave him the bright red straw. You took the pink one for yourself. “What were you saying?” You wanted him to continue as he eased forward, seeing a potential gap he could get through and escape the drive thru line. “Right.” He whispered as you took a sip of your drink. You lowered your legs and sat with your feet against the edge of the nice leather seat.
“Do you want to come live with me?” The question almost caused you to choke as your eyes went wide. You looked at Ace who had a rosy hue coloring his cheeks. “You don’t have to say yes but, I know you don’t like living at home.” He was gripping the steering wheel as he began to drive again. The ride was much slower as he reached for his iced coffee. “I dunno, just, I think it would be cool. I’ll look into a bigger apartment and you can have your own room. If we share a bed all the time you’ll kill me in your sleep I know you will.” He let out a bitter laugh as tears welled in your eyes.
Ace was always thinking of you. Even if everyone assumed he was selfish. Ace always tried to put you first when no one else did. He took you feelings into consideration even when he was blunt. You really struggled to understand why your parents didn’t like him.
“Ace…” Your voice cracked and you heard the panicked rattle of his ice against the recycled plastic cup. “Wh- Hey don’t cry! Don’t cry, stop, I’m sorry I didn’t mean to make you cry.” He put his cup down and reached over. Once again his eyes darted between the road and you as he took his wine colored sleeve and wiped at your tears. “No… I’m sorry is this too big to think about? It’s already 6am.” Ace frowned as you shook your head.
You had a shaky smile as you sniffled and sipped away. “You’re so sweet.” You laughed weakly as Ace pulled his hand away in confusion. “I love you.” You whispered as you pulled your cup close to your chest. The rap music turning into R&B as Ace took you the long way home. “I love you too.”
The ride was quite as you contemplated his offer. Ace assured you that there was no time limit to worry about. That he didn’t mind at all if you moved in. And that he didn’t want you to feel pressured into anything you didn’t truly want to do. The answer was a yes, but that you also wanted to sleep on it.
Your parents would never let you leave so easily. They wanted you to be independent. But in a way that allowed them to still have control over you. The neighborhoods and streets became depressingly familiar as Ace reached over and pat your thigh. Giving the flesh a small squeeze as he made it down your street. “It’s okay. You wanna come over again on Friday night? I can come get you and you can stay all weekend.” He offered and you nodded quickly.
Anything to get away and have freedom with someone you loved.
He pulled up along the curb. Your parents forbade him from putting his tires on the nice, tan pavement. “I’ll walk you up.” Ace got out of the car and mumbled a quite ‘shit’ under his breath as the cold wind began to tease his hair. You got out of the car next and looked at the front door of your home. Your shoulders sagged as you adjusted your tote bag on your shoulder. You pulled out your house key with a sigh of disappointment. Ace began walking you up to the door. Your fingers laced tightly together until you looked up and noticed his neck.
His throat was littered in purpling hickeys. All thanks to the scent of Roman chamomile.