More Than A Favor

Chapter 58

But why would he ask about that?

I

I just replied with a “?”

No response. He’d already eaten breakfast and headed to the park before me…

5)

Since they’d fixed the wiring overnight, Ashton jumped right into debugging. I was basically just his second pair of eyes – he’d adjust the programming, and I’d check if anything looked off.

Now I got what he meant last night. He seriously didn’t want anything slowing down the work.

The guy worked like a machine. I had to keep up, barely getting time for water breaks. Sometimes I’d even hold off drinking to avoid bathroom runs – In the time it took me to go and come back, he’d finish debugging another light fixture. Without me there to check it, he’d have to wait, throwing off our rhythm.

By day three, my mouth was full of ulcers from dehydration. Ashton seemed fine though, even with barely drinking anything.

Guess some things just come easier to guys.

“Drink something, Elaine. You’re gonna shrivel up like a raisin,” Maya said, worried about me since we

were roommates.

I laughed. “If I shrivel, at least I’ll be a young, pretty raisin.”

Taking a sip, I accidentally caught Ashton’s eye and choked.

“Easy there! Why’re you gulping it down?” Maya patted my back.

Ashton came over, cracked open a water bottle, and took a long drink.

His Adam’s apple bobbing up and down as he drank… I couldn’t help staring.

I mean, it’s just how bodies work, right? But something about his Adam’s apple really got to me.

Wait – did I have some weird thing for Adam’s apples?

I nearly choked again at that thought. Maya kept patting my back. “What’s with all the choking? Is your throat that sore?”

Ashton looked over, and I quickly shook my head. “No, just drank too fast.”

“Are you dehydrated?” he asked, clearly checking out my lips.

together, shaking my

“Yeah

Drake’s work! Your mouth’s full of sores – you can barely eat!” Maya blurted

of

eyes

thing I knew, he had his hand on my chin, making me open up. After

there slack–jawed. “Get

01437

20.0%

€ Chapter 58

mouthwash.”

Maya stuttered, “O–okay!”

| Manu

then spun back. “Wait aren’t you an engineer? How

mouth checked, I muttered, “He was in the military.”

say more when Ashton cut in, “Weren’t you going

to remember something,

Ashton. “Next time, don’t-”

Mr. Mercer!” Maya’s voice cut me off.

froze. Logan was here?

at me before

Elaine’s ulcers,” Maya said. Logan rushed over.

huh?” He knew me too well. I got dehydrated easily,

I’d get nosebleeds

of course he

Made me think about how

well he got bored and let

Mercer?” I kept

face darkened at my attitude. He started to speak, noticed Ashton behind

discuss it in front of

away.

I said, “We’re on a tight schedule. What is

boyish face twisted with annoyance. “You’re trying to get

The question came out of

about not wanting to get married. But if you’re gonna try to make me jealous, fine – just don’t go fishing in our friend group. You’ll

second to catch up. His last

Caleb’s visit. Can’t believe he assumed we’d

onto others. My face burned with anger. “Logan, you think