Chapter 19. A Push Too Far

2014

Amelia’s POV

“And,” I continued, my voice gaining strength with every word, “even if we were the last two people on Earth—stranded on a deserted island, facing imminent doom—I still wouldn’t have a crush on you, Adrian.”

The silence that followed was thick, the kind that made every breath feel too loud. Only the pulsing bass of the music filled the void, but even that seemed distant compared to the charged tension hanging in the air.

Adrian didn’t respond. Instead, he leaned back against the couch, his posture casual, but the faint twitch in his jaw betrayed him. Was he annoyed? If he was, that only fueled my resolve.

We were locked in a battle of wills, a silent stare-down neither of us seemed willing to lose. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat reminding me of how many people were watching now, their whispers growing louder. The circle around us seemed to widen as more curious faces drifted closer, trying to catch the source of