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

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 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

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 I found myself venting my frustrations to Asher as we lounged in his room. “Your mother is absolutely insane and terrifying, just like you, Mr. Lancaster,” I exclaimed, my emotions bubbling over. “I swear, all Lancasters are cut from the same crazy cloth, and now I’m stuck in this madhouse with all of you!”As my words filled the room, I could see the surprise in Asher’s eyes. He continued to stare at me with wide eyes, probably taken aback by my sudden outburst. I ranted and paced around for a good five minutes before eventually collapsing on his bed, attempting to find some sense of relaxation amidst the chaos.A smirk danced on Asher’s lips as he observed my exasperation. “Well, if the dungeon master declares it, who am I to argue?” he quipped, his laughter evident in his voice. “After all, who knows more about being ‘crazy’ than you?”His remark only fueled my annoyance, and I shot him a glare that could’ve melted steel. “Oh, don’t even get me started on you and your a