More Than A Favor

Chapter 63

“Ash, I’m Elaine…”

A vision floated through my mind: a little girl with pigtail buns and chubby cheeks, calling out sweetly to a quiet boy.

The boy was standoffish, barely speaking.

Suddenly, I became that little girl, and Ashton morphed into that boy. I was riding piggyback.

“Ash, you smell nice.”

“Ash, there’s a tiny black mole on your neck. Let me get it.”

“Mae, quit pinching. That hurts.”

“Mae, I’m beat. Can we stop running?”

“Mom, I want to marry Ash…”

My parents‘ laughter echoed.

“Stop laughing! I’m gonna marry Ash!”

“Mae, you can’t. You’re already promised to someone…”

“No way! He’s awful. Just awful!”

I jolted awake, heart racing.

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– Ashton and me as toddlers, barely two years old.

for thirty seconds before sitting up. Last night’s memories came rushing back. I shivered, scanning the

myself – still fully

find Ashton crashed on the couch. Even sleeping, he maintained that military

first thought: that can’t be comfortable.

with him. While he slept, I watched him for a

the night here. Just thinking about it made

I’d brought my room key.

cold when I crept back in. If she’d been awake, she’d have

clock read 5:00

opened my laptop to tackle those issues Ashton

already

and grabbed some water. Standing on the balcony, I took in the

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below. Already up? He’d been

had he been faking sleep

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him from above, my mind wandered. I had to admit, Ashton was getting

the night together but nothing happens what’s

fired off this loaded question

away, I switched to social media.

– there

I recognized instantly–Logan’s, wearing that cheap ring I’d given him.

at it now made me cringe at my

my 18th birthday for $999. I wore the