He Couldn't Let Her Down

Alison had said something similar. Cora supposed that her feelings were more obvious to other people than they were to herself. 

She wasn't mad at Ace. She was mad that the system she hated happened to pair her with the best person in the world and she couldn't bring herself to act on it. 

No matter how she may or may not feel about Ace, she couldn't let the soulmate system win. Not with her. Not after what happened with Janelle. She wouldn't be able to live with herself. 

"I'm not mad at you," Cora sniffed, trying not to let the stupid tears fall. "I'm mad at how unfair everything is."

"…what exactly is unfair?" Ace asked cautiously. 

"That the worst thing that ever happened to me and the best thing that ever happened to me both happened because of the stupid soulmate system. I don't want to let you down more than I already have but I can't let it win."

His eyes widened as the implications hit. "Cora, do you…do you like me?"