Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 37636 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 188(@200wpm)___ 151(@250wpm)___ 125(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37636 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 188(@200wpm)___ 151(@250wpm)___ 125(@300wpm)
'And fine, I get it that he hasn't told you he likes you yet or asked you to be his girl, but you can't ignore the fact that you're the only girl he spends time with. You guys have dinner, watch movies, and go for sunset rides. That's pretty much the definition of dates in this side of the world, you know?'
But Anah refused to buy into this logic either. Those activities weren't exclusive to couples. Siblings could also do all those things together, and even worse, she had once heard Ethan describe her exactly in that manner. He had invited her to attend a party with him and the twins, and Ethan had introduced them to his host, Damian Fox, as his 'little sister from another mother'.
'What about the twins? Thornton's, like, the town's resident bogeyman, but we've noticed how he even makes an effort to smile when you're around. Aidan's giving you the special treatment, too. Are you saying all of those things are coincidental? That it hasn't anything to do with the twins thinking you're important to Ethan?'
Anah could see why Ember would think the twins' treatment of her was remarkably different compared to how they were with other girls. But that, too, could be easily explained. The twins were incredibly gorgeous (the first time Anah had seen them, she had noticed right away how the two could be dead ringers for Keanu Reeves), and when one also factored in their equally-incredible net worths, well...
Suffice to say, the twins only enjoyed her company because she was one of the few girls who didn't look at them with dollar signs in her eyes.
Ember and Anah's debate continued on for the rest of the afternoon, but by the time classes ended for the day, Ember hadn't even succeeded in getting her friend to budge an inch.
"Is it the age difference?" she finally couldn't help asking. "Did Mr. Blackwood once mention that he'll always think you're too young or something like that?"
Anah shook her head.
"There must be a reason why you're so dead set against even considering he could be interested in you," Ember said, exasperated.
Just one reason, Anah thought, but it was also the only reason that mattered.
She could still remember the day Ember had first blurted out about Guilia, and how numb she had felt, listening to what Ember knew of Guilia and Ethan's doomed romance. At that time, all she had been able to think about was—-
That's why.
The bleakness in his gaze, the hollow pain she had sensed in Ethan...
That's why.
It was all because of Guilia, and even though Anah was now in Ethan's life, nothing had changed. The bleakness, the emptiness...it was all still there.
That's why...
She would never be able to fool herself into thinking Ethan was interested in her.
Because he simply wasn't.
ANAH WAS ALREADY WAITING outside her school the moment Ethan pulled up, and she swung up into the passenger seat next to him before he could even get out to open her door.
"Still ashamed to be seen with me, I see," Ethan commented with a smirk.
Anah wrinkled her nose. "You know it's not that."
That was true, Ethan thought as he shifted gears and made a U-turn at the corner. Anah hated drawing attention to herself whereas Guilia...
Don't think about her, dammit.
His jaw clenched, and as he had been wont to do in recent months, he turned to Anah for distraction. She already had a book up, the paperback succeeding in hiding most of her face. He noticed the way her chest was rapidly rising and falling, and Ethan frowned. Was she reading something too scary again? He glanced back at the cover, and his frown deepened.
Well, fuck.
He had always known Anah enjoyed reading romances as much as thrillers, but it was his first time to see her reading some sappy young adult love story. Since when had her reading tastes changed? Or was this simply because she had a boy her age that she liked now?
Unaware of being the subject of her companion's thoughts, Anah was too busy trying to regulate both her breathing and heart rate, which tended to get a little messed-up every time she was alone in a car with Ethan.
Honestly, it was a miracle she had lasted this long without Ethan having a single clue about her feelings. It would be nice if she could believe she had her acting to thank for that, but more likely than not, it was only because Ethan was that indifferent to her.
Anah was relieved to see the gates to the Blackwoods' ranch coming up, and she reached for the handle as soon as she heard Ethan unlock their doors. "Race you to the stables!"
Ethan rolled his eyes as Anah dashed off without even waiting for him to answer. Times like this, she seemed more like twelve than sixteen. Then again, would twelve-year-olds find themselves breathless just while reading a teenage love story?