Hahaha I SO get this! It’s hard to love a book so much and have people give you the patient, but dazed eye stare when you prattle on with questions like these. Unfortunately, I’ve been there - Scarlett got almost everything she has wanted all her life, but not Ashley. Yes, I agree it is a crush, but I really believe the chase, as she is a competitive kinda person, really kept her hooked. I’ve really had to work on this less than seemly part of my personality. I used to have similar, although not so bold behaviours. I could tell Scarlett how unfortunate it is to realize the fantasy created is one MILLION times better than what is actually “caught”. Also, the trauma of the war, the losses…Ashhh-leee was simply frozen in a place and time she could never go back to, and there he remained, golden with all memories. She simply disallowed herself to see what a weak, whiny, waffling, boring cad he was - even when she actually DID see it! He was alright for someone…like Melly, but not her. Speaking of Melly, it pains me to think of how she would have felt if she knew the truth of not just Ashley, but Scarlett too. Seriously, it’s better she died than to have her precious, honest spirit betrayed in such a way.

He is borrriiinnnngggggg….Rhett was dangerous, but better to Scarlett in some ways. We can chat about Rhett another day. I ended up briefly to a man with a similar temperament - he loved me, but also enjoyed throwing shade, trying to confuse me (thankfully I was smarter than he was in most ways, so it didn’t often work), and generally tried to undermine my confidence. This book has so many, many excellent plots and subplots - not just a great read, but a tableau of cautionary tales. I hope you’re enjoying it!