Total pages in book: 34
Estimated words: 34243 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34243 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
“Don’t seduce her again.”
Four words.
And Arkane’s response to those four words?
He smiled.
He actually smiled, and I wanted to snarl at him for it, but I never got the chance because Icelle was already dragging me out of the room like Arkane was emitting some kind of love virus and I was in danger of being seduced another time if I stayed in the room one more second.
Which, fine. Fair enough. I can’t even argue with that, given what just happened.
But wait.
Wait a minute.
What if I’m the one who misunderstood? What if Icelle wasn’t just protecting me? What if she dragged me out so fast because she’s just as susceptible to the virus—I mean, to her stepbrother’s charm?
The thought makes me go still.
Because if that’s the case, then...
Then I might have just kissed the guy my best friend is in love with.
Oh no.
I shove the thought aside before it can take root. I can’t deal with that right now. One crisis at a time, Ti.
Those four words of Icelle’s are something I haven’t yet made up my mind about. I mean, for all I know—the kiss was only what it was because I thought he wasn’t real. So now that I know he is, who knows? Maybe the next time I see him, my heart will go more ugh than aww.
It could happen.
But anyway, that’s stuff for me to figure out later on.
Right now, I need to just focus on saving my friendship with Icelle. It matters to me a lot that she could’ve called me a liar to my face. She could’ve asked for evidence, and I wouldn’t have anything to give her.
Even though I wasn’t lying when I told her that I had no idea about how rich she was, much less who’s who in her apparently expansive family tree—there’s just no way to prove the truth.
Sometimes, our words are all we have, and there’s simply nothing we can do to prove it. All we can ask and hope for is that the other person knows us well enough to believe.
And thankfully, Icelle did choose to believe me. And I really am grateful for that. For real. And that’s why...
I’ve made up my mind. In order to preserve Icelle as the only real friend I have in my world—
“I am never going to trust your stepbrother again!”
Icelle slowly nods, and just as slowly and thoughtfully asks, “But you’re still okay with kissing him?”
Aaaargh!
“Will you please stop talking about that!”
I grab one of the throw pillows and hug it to my chest like a shield. I hate that I sound so defensive, but what I hate even more is—
“You’re not answering my question.”
That.
Her ability to make me feel like I’m such a drama queen every time she asks me questions I have no desire to answer.
“Stop making me feel like a wimp.”
“Then stop dodging the question,” Icelle says simply.
Grr!
Why can’t she just be like all the other girls and not take being my BFF seriously? Can’t she just be as shallow as the rest of them and allow me to save face, no matter the consequences?
“I really don’t like talking about this.”
“I really didn’t like seeing you and Arkane kiss either—”
A gasp escapes me when a thought comes out of nowhere, and the moment it invades my mind, I just can’t unthink it, and I’m once again addressing her in a dark, dark voice.
“Be honest with me.”
But this only has Icelle blinking for a second time, which for her is equivalent to being very, very confused. “I’ve always been honest. You’re the one who’s lying to yourself—”
Oh, for the love of grr!
Here she goes again talking about things that are completely beside the point. I mean, sure, she isn’t saying anything that’s not true, but it’s still not the point here, so I cut Icelle off in a hurry with the question that’s most pressing in my mind.
“Are you in love with your stepbrother?”
There. I’ve asked it.
“Yes.”
And now I’m going to die.
“But it’s not Arkane.”
Oh, thank God.
I don’t think I’m going to die after—wait. What am I even thinking? How is Icelle being or not being in love with Arkane my reason for living?
I look at Icelle, and unlike her, my face is pretty easy to read because all she does is look at me, and she starts nodding like the real-and-not-shallow BFF that she is.
“It’s okay, Ti.”
Is it?
“You don’t have to say it.”
I don’t?
“I get it.”
She does?
“It’s rare, but these things do happen.”
What things?
“You fell in love at first sight with Arkane.”
No no no no no no no no no no no no no nooooo!
Chapter Four
I’VE BEEN PRETENDING to sleep for the last twenty minutes.
Eyes mostly closed, head turned toward the window, breathing like a person who’s really committed to her nap. Total lie. I’m hyper-aware of every single molecule of air on the opposite side of the cabin, and I’ve got no idea how long he’s been sitting there.