A

I deadpanned, giving a slight eye roll as

nto each other anytime soon. We made a deal to keep each other's secrets, a win-win situation. But now

ght sight of him. I needed to find out what the heck was going on. I was still in my pajamas, wearing a too-small t-shirt that barely c

t everything changed when my dad's enterprise failed. Now, my dad was chasing some kind of miracle to save us, while my mom was eager to sell me off. She'd lose it if Sean's last name got anywh

sing the door as I climbed inside. He joined me in the

as a joke. But instead of taking it in the light

o can't appreciate a good sense of hu

hway, I finally all

barrassed. "Hey, I'm sorry for startling you l

give him a hard time about the mini heart attack he put me

wasn't annoyed by the urge

e. None of my classmates knew about my past, the person I used to be before our lives changed forever. To them,

lready apologize? And to answer your question, it

I thought we agreed nev

ervously biting his

ne. Anyone but Coraline. If his sister found out my secret, she would make a spectacle

was s

had jumped the gun and it was all in my head. "Wha

eacted. Was it my t

eepishly, and the apology on the

n't have sounde

grab some coffee?" He raised an eyebrow, trying to focus on the road whil

to escape his car and never see his face again. Yet there was something about the way he looked so crestfa

re was a va

open mind before reaching a final verdict

be the one to determine if hi

was a poorly cooked batch of noodles prepared by my mom, who hadn't set foot in the kitchen during our days of we

it. He said it w

he had gotten himself into this time. Yesterday, his obnoxious frien

arms on the table. "Ava... we've known each other for a long time. You and Cora w

ave all day." I still had classes to attend and grocery shopping to do, which my brothe

s time. I understand," he rep

ea

lems," he blurted out, and it took me a momen

even speak, S

describe my secret job as an escort before giving up and waving his hand as if to say, "you know what I mean. You don't have

lp but notice how he seemed to be sweating more than necessary, indica

mother seemed too preoccupied to fully understand what her child needed. I tried not to let

ed out and gently squeezed my han

re you

y hand away, running it through my tangled ha

djusted his glasses. "I haven't had a girlfriend since I broke up wit

to men," I finished his

it it, you know? My dad is so traditional, straight as can b

feeling a tug in my chest, acutely aware of the hypo

's where I ne

her?" I blurted out, choking in

er. "No, silly. All I want is

n the wrong way an

tempor

ed, dabbing at myself with

offering me more napkins. "My parents' anniversary is next week. If I do

ust think about it. It's not such a bad deal, right? Think about all the time you'll have to pursue your own dreams, the ones

family... you have no ide

who else to trust, and you

ld've known this was goi

va

took a deep breath and tried to clear my head. "But just so you know, there'l

ition amusing, he cer

parked right outside our building. Yet, there it was. A shiny black car lined up

ar-old girl who lived right across from our apartment, s

waved to her, an

I heard the voices emanating from inside

n the first face came into view the second I pus

rth was he

actically dragged me over to greet Brian Reinhold, who was seated next to my da

hat couch. Can you imagine the embarrassment i

d dreams that still lingered in our apartment. But maybe I never truly did. Not when he was th

Brian spoke, his voice as deep and captivating as I

f relief when my dad spoke up instead. "She's too proud to ask for help," he infor

arely above a whisper. I heard every word clearly

that surged up my neck. It was as if his fingers wer

l warmth and unease in all the place

Ava?" he proposed, directing the question at me, b

ou ser

arrangement, though. Think of it as a six-month program. Ample time for you to showcase your skills and prove yourself. If yo