Semua Bab The Nerd and the Hockey King : Bab 41 - Bab 45

Lila sat in silence the entire drive.Nobody tried forcing conversation.Nobody knew what to say.How could they?Less than an hour ago she thought her biggest problem was a leaked kiss and a stupid bet.Now she had learned she was adopted.And somehow her life was connected to a dead girl she’d never met.A girl who looked exactly like her.A girl named Lily Carter.The thought made her stomach twist.She stared out the passenger window while streetlights blurred past.Her father’s car drove ahead of them.Maya had gone home with promises to call first thing in the morning.Vanessa had disappeared without her usual sarcastic comments.For once, even she looked shaken.Which left Ethan.And unfortunately, Ethan was impossible to ignore.Especially in the silence.Especially after everything.Especially when he kept glancing at her every few seconds.Like he was worried she might break.Maybe she already had.“You don’t have to keep checking on me.”Her voice surprised both of them.Et

For a moment, neither Lila nor Ethan moved.The knock echoed through the house again.Hard.Urgent.Desperate.“Open the door, Ethan.”Professor Carter’s voice carried through the quiet house.Lila felt her stomach drop.“No.”The word escaped before she could stop it.Ethan immediately stepped in front of her.Protective.Instinctive.“Lila, go upstairs.”“What?”“Now.”She stared at him.“Ethan”“Please.”The seriousness in his voice made her pause.For the first time since she’d met him, Ethan genuinely looked scared.Not for himself.For her.Another knock rattled the front door.“Ethan.”Carter’s voice sounded strained.Almost desperate.“We need to talk.”“No, we don’t,” Ethan muttered.Lila’s heart pounded.Part of her wanted to hide.Part of her wanted answers.The second part was winning.“I’m not going upstairs.”Ethan looked frustrated immediately.“Lila.”“No.”The argument ended when another voice echoed from outside.A familiar voice.“Lila.”Her breath caught.Her fathe