Zara Howard"So, what's going on with you?" I ask, rolling my eyes as Scarlett giggles on the phone yet again. I had a feeling something romantic or sexual was happening between her and Xander. But with everything going on in my own life, I couldn't bring myself to be happy for her. Romance, in general, seemed annoying now.Sighing, I try to muster a genuine smile for Scarlett's happiness. "I'm genuinely glad things are going well for you, Scarlett," I say, my voice tinged with a mix of envy and frustration. "But honestly, romance and 'happily ever after' just seem like a big headache lately."As I glance at my cluttered desk, scattered with unfinished projects and unanswered emails, a wave of exhaustion washes over me. Life has been throwing curveballs at me left and right, and nothing seems to be going my way. The man I love is engaged to be married, and I'm forced to live in his house.Scarlett's laughter floats through the phone, a stark contrast to the heaviness in my heart. "I g
Zara Howard"No, absolutely not, Mom. You can't talk to Zara alone. There is no need," Asher states sternly, his voice filled with a mix of protectiveness and frustration. However, his mother ignores him, determined to have a private conversation with me. She links her arm with mine and starts leading me to the kitchen, where Mrs. Costanza, our housekeeper, is waiting."You were right. He was in her room," Sienna tells Mrs. Costanza, her voice carrying a hint of disapproval. Mrs. Costanza, on the other hand, flashes Asher a knowing look, as if she had suspected something all along."Of course, where would they be? They think I am old, so they believe I don't know what's going on with them," Mrs. Costanza remarks, her tone implying a mixture of amusement and understanding.As we enter the kitchen, I feel a sense of unease, surrounded by these two strong-willed women who seem to have insight into the complicated dynamics between Asher and me. I brace myself for the conversation that is
Asher Lancaster I find myself captivated by Zara's presence, yet she refuses to meet my gaze, her eyes fixated on the ground as if it holds the secrets to the universe. I start to speak, intending to address the issue with my mother, but she dismisses me with a wave of her hand, accompanied by a light-hearted laughter that barely masks the underlying sadness."I've become quite familiar with overbearing mothers," she quips, her tone carrying a hint of self-awareness. "No need to worry, Asher. I may have a reputation for having my head in the clouds, but I'm not delusional enough to believe that we could ever end up together." Her words are tinged with a mixture of humor and sadness, a facade she puts up to shield her unhappiness. Despite her playful demeanor, I can see the longing in her eyes.Previously, I brushed off Zara's crush on me as a typical schoolgirl infatuation, something that shouldn't be taken too seriously. However, as we've spent more time together, I've come to reali
Zara Howard I stood outside Asher’s door, my knuckles poised to knock, clutching a small bag of essentials in my hand. My heart thudded against my chest, anticipation and nervousness intertwining within me. The prospect of sharing a bed with Asher ignited a mixture of excitement and apprehension, making my cheeks flush with a warm blush.As I approached his door, a dim light spilled out from his office, indicating that he might be occupied with work. I hesitated, contemplating whether I should interrupt him or wait for a more opportune moment. However, the weariness tugged at my eyelids, reminding me of the long day that had preceded this moment. Deciding that rest was a priority, I let go of my initial reservations and stepped into the familiar room that held memories of our first physical encounter, causing a mixture of emotions to surge through me.My eyes were immediately drawn to a file sitting on the desk, prominently labeled “Zara Howard.” My curiosity piqued instantly. It was
Zara HowardI was restless as sleep had eluded me as I tossed and turned in Asher’s bed, the lingering closeness from last night haunting my thoughts. It frustrated me to no end how Asher had such a profound effect on me, how I couldn’t simply push him away. It was as if his presence had become a drug, addicting me and leaving me craving more.The desire to have him by my side consumed me, a relentless longing that gnawed at my heart. I couldn’t shake the yearning for his presence, for his touch, and for the connection we shared. It was a maddening realizationThe impending knowledge that we would be sharing the same bed for the next seven days only intensified my inner turmoil. The thought of our bodies intertwined in such close proximity stirred a mix of desire and unease within me. It was a complicated dance of attraction and trepidation, making the situation all the more challenging.However, what perplexed me further was the fact that Asher didn’t join me in bed last night. A su
Zara Howard The next day arrived, and as we stepped into the kitchen, Sienna was already there, preparing breakfast with her usual flair. She looked up at us with a knowing smile, making it clear that she was well aware of our little act.“Good morning, lovebirds! How did you sleep last night?” she chimed, winking playfully at us. I exchanged a nervous glance with Asher, feeling the awkwardness creeping in.“Oh, you know, just like any other night,” Asher replied, his cheeks slightly flushed, trying to hide his discomfort behind a calm facade. I couldn’t help but fidget, feeling the tension in the air.Sienna raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. “Really? Because I could swear you both look like you didn’t get much sleep at all,” she teased, a mischievous glint in her eyes.“We’re just tired from all the wedding preparations, right, Zara?” Asher chimed in, nervously laughing and trying to lighten the mood. I forced a smile, feeling my face heat up from the awkwardness.“Oh, absol
Emily WarnerI was depressed.I haven't gotten out of my bed for two days now. Going to sleep knowing that no man is attracted to me and that I am unlovable is now calming to me.I was ashamed, all my friends were in a happy relationship.I was happy for all of them but I hated how jealous I was. I just found out that Elizabeth and Victoria were pregnant, there is something going on with Danika and Jake, lastly Landon was also invested in a girl.And what am I doing you ask?I am sitting in front of the television every night with a bottle of wine and scrolling through happy engagement pictures of Hank Simmons.I lied to everyone, my family, friends and coworkers. I told them I am going on a trip to the Bahamas but what was I actually going to do? Sit in my bed, crying and making weird ass noises to express the pain I can't put into words.I think even my cat is worried about me now.Hank Simmons was the typical guy next door, he was my boss and I was blinded with so many love stories
Zara Howard Laughter bubbled up inside me as I savored a bite of garlic bread, adding to the hilarity of the situation. The atmosphere at the dining table was beyond awkward – Asher, Sienna, Mrs. Costanza, and I trying to navigate our way through this fabricated charade.The plan to make the dinner uncomfortable and awkward had worked like a charm. Sienna and Mrs. Costanza couldn't help but exchange puzzled glances, wondering why Asher and I weren't even making eye contact, let alone speaking to each other.Sienna finally broke the uneasy silence, her curiosity getting the better of her. "Okay, what's going on here?" she asked, her eyes darting between Asher and me as we sat there, mid-bite.Asher played his part perfectly as I could hear his annoyance with his mother's persistence. "Nothing, Mom. Just drop it," he muttered in a low voice, pointing at her plate as a signal to continue eating.Sienna's motherly intuition kicked in, and she couldn't help but probe further. "Have I push