How are you feeling?I leaned away from him. Gross.Aiden frowned. Gross?I haven't brushed my teeth or washed my face in days. Don't come near me.He laughed. Alex, come on.Seriously, I'm gross. I put my hand over my mouth.Ignoring my protests, he leaned over and brushed my string hair back. You're as beautiful as always, Alex.I stared at him. He must not get out much.
In this excerpt from "Deity" by Jennifer L. Armentrout, the main character, Alex, expresses her discomfort about her appearance, insisting that she hasn't maintained any personal hygiene for days. This feeling leads her to push Aiden away, labeling herself as "gross" and feeling undeserving of his attention. Despite her protests, Aiden finds humor in the situation and dismisses her self-criticism.
Aiden's response reveals his affection for Alex, as he genuinely believes she is beautiful, regardless of her current state. His attempt to reach out and comfort her demonstrates a deeper connection between them, highlighting the tension between Alex's self-image and Aiden's perception of her. Alex's reaction, staring at him in disbelief, suggests she feels underappreciated and unsure of his compliments.
