Chapter 36

EMILIANA

When Amanda told me that things between us shouldn't continue to progress, I had to hold back the urge to laugh with all my might. How was I supposed to do that when I was knee-deep in whatever was happening between us? I literally felt like a fool harboring feelings for someone who obviously wasn't interested in them, in fact, was afraid of them.

I knew the latter wasn't true; it was just that the masochistic part of my brain liked to torture me. In reality, Amanda's explanation was reasonable and likely to happen. Obviously, she had more to lose if something went wrong since she didn't know if she'd have to sleep on the street or under a bridge. I understood her fear.

Still, I didn't plan on giving up until I could change her mind. My performance in the living room was because I didn't want to seem obsessed. For now, I would give her space, at least until I could think of a subtly direct way to convince her again. I would succeed; I had never doubted my