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.

them together, shaking my

“Yeah

Mr. Drake’s work! Your mouth’s full of sores – you can barely

of me. “Open

froze. Maya’s eyes

had his hand on my chin, making me open up. After a quick

“Get

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€ Chapter 58

mouthwash.”

Maya stuttered, “O–okay!”

| Manu

to leave, then spun back. “Wait aren’t you an engineer? How do you know all this

I muttered, “He was in the military.”

say more when Ashton

my eye, seemed to remember something,

Ashton. “Next

morning, Mr. Mercer!” Maya’s voice cut me off.

froze. Logan

He glanced at me

Elaine’s ulcers,” Maya said.

well. I got dehydrated easily, usually sticking

I’d get nosebleeds or

together, of course he knew

me think about how he told Caleb we were “too close.”

knew each other so well he got bored and let

I kept my tone ice–cold and

darkened at my attitude. He started to speak, noticed Ashton behind me, and said, “Come here. Need to

personal or business, we couldn’t discuss it in front of Ashton, I walked

away.

a tight schedule.

boyish face twisted with annoyance. “You’re trying to get back at me, right?”

The question came

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

His last line gave it away – he

visit. Can’t believe he assumed we’d get together.

own mess onto others. My face burned