The statement stunned everyone.
Zoe Rhodes was no exception.
But on second thought, Zane Hawthorne's words didn't seem out of place either.
'Family... I guess that barely counts.'
'Her relationship with Zane Hawthorne was no different from family.'
'Besides, if he hadn't said that, it would have been difficult to explain their relationship anyway.'
'She could have said they were friends, but with their age gap, that would have seemed a bit odd.'
'Specifying a particular family relationship would have been tricky, too.'
'"Family" was a good, general term to use.'
Still, "family" in that sense sounded different from just being family members. The former seemed more... intimate.
Zoe Rhodes snuck a glance at Zane Hawthorne. Seeing his gloomy expression, she silently swallowed the words on the tip of her tongue and turned to the boy across from her. "I told you my family was coming to pick me up, but you didn't believe me."
"Sorry, but I have to go now."
