Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 65429 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 262(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65429 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 262(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
“I thought you said she knew where you stood?”
“She does, but it doesn’t make it any less true.”
“Are you saying you agree with him?”
“I’m not saying I don’t.”
She sighed deeply.
“Is that not what you want to hear?”
“I don’t know what I want to hear.”
“Then maybe we just need to dance.”
“Ethan…”
I stood, grabbing her phone to play one of her favorite songs. Putting her cell back on the table, I dragged her up from her seat and proceeded to wrap her in my arms. Effortlessly, we began slow dancing. Through the course of our friendship, if there was one thing that made Livvy smile, it was slow dancing with me.
She melted into my embrace, laying her head on my chest as I tucked her under my chin.
“This isn’t why I came here,” she lied.
“This is exactly why you came here,” I spoke the truth.
We stayed like that, dancing under the full moon and stars.
Both of us lost in our own thoughts.
In our own demons.
“How do you always make me feel better?”
I smiled, kissing the top of her head and letting my lips linger until she peered up at me through her long, dark lashes.
For the first time, she asked, “Am I still your girl?”
And I didn’t falter in reassuring her. “Always.”
Meaning it from the bottom of my heart.
Chapter
Seventeen
Ethan
Twenty-Four Years Old
“You did it! I’m so freaking proud of you, Ethan! Your app is number one!” Livvy shouted over the crowds of people at our launch party.
My partners and investors decided they wanted to celebrate with hundreds of their closest friends. Some of them I’d met, most I hadn’t. I wasn’t much for bars or clubs, let alone parties on my behalf. For the past two years, I lived and breathed my social media app, where I was the president, owning 51 percent of the company. My goal was to eventually buy everyone out and be the sole owner. Until then, I was grateful for their help in getting it going.
I couldn’t believe that it only took twenty-four hours for the app to be number one on all platforms. I definitely wasn’t expecting that. I was just trying to keep my head above water.
From the reporters.
To the bloggers.
To the endless interviews, news stations, and all of the magazines that wanted a piece of me.
I hated being the center of attention, and now I was in the spotlight whether I wanted to be.
Once we were alone, standing outside on the balcony of the hotel, Livvy announced, “Ethan, did you see all the paparazzi downstairs who are chomping at the bit to snap a photo of you?”
“Yeah.” That was all I could say.
“How are you not ecstatic right now? You’re going to become the next big thing! Did you see the article that Forbes wrote about you? They’re saying you’ll be the next billionaire and Fortune 500 company!”
“Yeah,” I repeated in the same tone.
“That’s all you can say?”
“Livvy, I hate all this publicity, and you know that.”
“I know, but this is such a huge deal. I can’t believe my best friend is on his way to becoming one of the richest men in the world, and you’re only twenty-four years old!”
I smiled. “I do appreciate your enthusiasm, but I have no interest in being friends with the press.”
“Have you taken a good look at yourself in the mirror lately? Women all around the world are already obsessed with you, and this is only the beginning of your career. I can’t imagine what it will be like in a year.”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“Umm… sex sells, and you’re totally going to be the next Hollywood It Guy.”
“Not if I have anything to say about it.”
She shrugged. “I think you’ll have to get used to the attention and possibly hire a bodyguard. At least twenty reporters are waiting for you outside the hotel. What do you think it’s going to be like from this point forward? It’s only going to get worse.”
“I’m not sure,” I admitted. “I didn’t think about any of this. I just wanted to develop my app.”
“Ethan.” She beamed. “You were our valedictorian. You graduated in the top 5 percent of your class at university. I always knew you’d accomplish everything you set out to do, and I couldn’t be prouder of you right now. The press is not going to leave you alone, especially after Time magazine did that article on you. Did you read that one at least?”
“No.”
“Ethan! How can you be this oblivious to what everyone writes about you? How can you be any more oblivious about how handsome you are and the effect you have on women? Just that, by itself, will skyrocket you into fame. Not to mention, you’re a fucking genius.”
I really did love her support. “I should hire you to do my PR.”
She giggled, and it was still one of my favorite sounds.