Every Time You Looked Away
50 parts Complete Scarlet Rogers never believed in second chances... not for love, and certainly not for the man who once broke her heart like it meant nothing. When her ex returns to their friend circle with a new girl on his arm and that same smirk on his face, Scarlet does the unthinkable.
She kisses Asher Ellesmere.
Quiet, unreadable Asher. The man who sketches the world in silence, speaks in shadows, and watches everything like it's a story worth telling. Their lips meet under the salty breeze of a beach bonfire, and just like that, a lie is born.
They'll pretend. For a month-long holiday soaked in sun and wine, laughter and late-night swims, they'll hold hands, share blankets, and trade glances meant to burn.
But somewhere between pretending to smile and actually meaning it, between stolen kisses meant for show and the soft way his fingers brush hers when no one's looking, Scarlet begins to wonder...
What if this lie feels more like home than the truth ever did?
As the days stretch and the waves keep time, hearts tangle in quiet moments. And by the time the ex starts to notice... Scarlet's not sure she even cares.
Because Asher...soft-spoken Asher, who never asked her to fake anything...is starting to feel like the one thing she never knew she needed.