Page 59 of Knot That Difficult

My head spins.

Ben turns to me, fire in his amber eyes. “Dev, this guy is a criminal,” he states. “I’m sorry I didn’t catch it before, butAnsel?—”

“Ace,” both Ace and Connor correct him.

Ben shakes his head. “Ace,” he says, “has a long enough record that I don’t think you should continue this date.”

I blink, disappointment filling my gut.

I was having fun.

But if Ace is dangerous…

“You can’t tell her what to do,” Connor growls, and Ben looks back at him.

“I’mnot. It isalwaysup to her,” he snaps.

Ace shrugs and leans against the seat of the racing game, crossing his arms. “I’ll tell her every single thing I’ve done,” he says. “Then we will see what she says.”

All three of them look at me expectantly, and I turn to Ace.

“What’s on your record?” I ask in a small voice.

“Keep in mind, her best friends werekidnapped,” Ben spits. “So, I doubt she wants to spend any time with aconvict.”

I flinch at the mention of Skylar and April.

Ace sees my expression and shakes his head. “I didn’t know that,” he says, softening his tone. “But since you know so much about me,Benjamin, you should know that I have never done something like that, and I never fucking would.”

I hate the tension between everyone. This was supposed to be something fun, and when I was starting to feel comfortable, Ben, of all people, ruined it.

“What is on your record?” I demand, and Ace turns to me.

“Forgery and burglary.” His blue eyes burn as he regards me, no ounce of shame in his expression.

I turn to Connor. “You knew about this?” I ask him, and he nods.

“Yes. That’s part of howCon Coffeewas named,” he says. “Connor and convict.” Then, he looks to Ben. “I’m being polite because of Devyn, but I won’t tolerate you talking to Ace like he’s a piece of shit. He’s not. He’s a good person, and I suggest you choose your next words carefully.”

Ben’s jaw flexes, but he nods curtly.

The sound of the arcade games blare around us as I take everything in.

“Forgery and burglary?” I repeat, and Ace nods.

“No violence?” I ask.

I won’t do violence. Ican’tdo violence.

He shakes his head. “Only did it when no one was home. I had a system.”

Ben groans. “I shouldn’t be hearing this,” he murmurs, running a hand through his hair.

“What?” Ace says. “I served my time, did my community service and all that. Like I said, I’m an upstanding citizen.” He grins wickedly. “You can’t charge someone twice.”

“It was more than five years ago,” Connor adds.

“I don’t fucking care if it was five years or a hundred years ago!” Ben snaps. “She doesn’t need an ex-convict in her pack.”

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