More Than A Favor

Chapter 111

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I had once struck a deal with a blind date, charging fees for holding hands, hugging, and even kissing.

Ashton mentioning a kiss now made it clear he knew about that incident. It seemed there was more to the story than I’d realized. He must have scared off that guy by beating him, though he’d never said a word about it. Ashton really knew how to leave me speechless.

But instead of kissing me, he grabbed my hand and bolted through the crowd.

It was my first time sprinting through a bustling city street, and everything around me became a blur- astonished faces, colorful lights, and the sound of people stepping aside to let us through.

People didn’t know why we were running, but they instinctively made way, creating a makeshift lane

for us.

There we were, Ashton and I, racing down the middle of a crowded street, hand in hand, as though we

were the stars of some romantic movie.

The wind whipped through my hair, and as I watched Ashton pull me along, I couldn’t help but feel like we were eloping.

We ran until my lungs burned and my legs felt like jelly. Finally, Ashton slowed down and stopped. Both of us stood there, panting heavily, staring at each other.

His hand was still firmly holding mine, and my heart pounded like a drum–not just from running, but

from the thrill of the moment.

We didn’t say a word, both of us catching our breaths.

But Ashton made no move to let go of my hand. Instead, I noticed his Adam’s apple bob again, and I realized I was doing the same thing. Sparks seemed to fly in the air around us.

My heart raced even faster as I nervously swallowed and broke the silence. “Um… why did you run?”

“Would you have preferred kissing in front of all those people?” Ashton asked, his tone calm but teasing.

His words made my cheeks burn, and I immediately tried to yank my hand free, but Ashton held on tight. Frustrated and embarrassed, I stomped on his foot.

He yelped in pain and finally released me. I seized the opportunity to flee, ignoring the sound of his soft chuckle behind me, which only made my face heat up more.

“What are you craving?” Ashton asked once we’d calmed down.

I thought for a moment before deciding on shaved ice, my favorite treat.

Ashton frowned slightly when he saw my order.

“Not a fan?” I teased, raising an eyebrow.

“Not exactly the healthiest choice,” he commented. “But you can eat whatever you like.”

I smiled mischievously. “Wow, Ashton. Seems like you’re quite the expert on women’s health. Is this really your first time dating?”

“Yes,” he said firmly.

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I pouted, giving him a look of disbelief.

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“Well, I do have a sister, so I’ve picked up a thing or two about women’s health,” he admitted, catching me off guard.

“A sister?” I asked, pausing mid–bite.

“You never mentioned her before.”

“I just never found the right time to bring it up,” Ashton mumbled, taking a bite of my dessert. He frowned immediately, clearly not enjoying it.

“You don’t like it, do you?” I asked, recalling how Logan used to say the same thing–that icy treats were bad for your health. The memory stung, and I felt a pang of sadness.

“If you don’t like it, don’t force it down. Order something else,” I said, pushing the memory aside.

“It’s fine. It’s just a little cold,” Ashton replied, looking at me. “But eating something so cold at night might not be the best for your stomach.”

I stayed silent, letting my lack of response speak for itself. Ashton seemed to get the message and didn’t press the issue further. We finished the shaved ice quietly.

After eating, we continued strolling through the lively streets. We passed a stall selling pets and another selling plants.

In the end, I bought two small potted plants for Ashton. “Your place feels a bit empty. These will add some life. Consider it a gift from me.”

“Am I not vibrant enough for your liking?” he teased.

If he was the epitome of vibrancy, then there was no hope for any other man.

“Think of them as perfumes–a surefire way to enhance your romantic prospects,” I countered.

Ashton chuckled at my response.

I had a feeling there was another meaning behind his smile, so I raised a hand to stop him. “Not a

word.”

He listened and stayed silent, his smile widening.

We continued wandering, with Ashton carrying the plants. Time slipped by, and before we knew it, it was midnight. The streets were still bustling, but remembering that Ashton had work tomorrow, I said, “Let’s head back.”

“Don’t you want to walk around some more?” Ashton asked.

Feigning exhaustion, I yawned. “No, I’m tired.”

We turned and started heading back. Ashton was unusually quiet, but I didn’t notice because I was distracted by the various trinket and snack stalls lining the street.

When I spotted a display of colorful flower headbands, I couldn’t resist grabbing one and placing it on my head.

Turning to Ashton, I asked mischievously, “Does it look good?”

When he didn’t respond, I turned around to face him. His face was pale, beads of sweat trickling down his forehead.

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“You don’t look good,” I said, striding toward him. “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”

He wiped his forehead and admitted, “My stomach doesn’t feel right.”

The image of him eating shaved ice earlier flashed through my mind.

“It was the shaved ice, wasn’t it?” I asked.

I tightened my grip on his wrist. “Tell me the truth.”

he finally admitted softly.

furious. “How long has

started walking back…”

saying anything sooner, but seeing his pale face, I grabbed his arm instead. “I’m taking you

Before I could argue, he pulled out his wallet and

he’d paid, I

to argue further and focused on getting him to the hospital.

so I called Nora. Unfortunately, she didn’t answer. Left with no other option, I took

doctor diagnosed him with stomach flu and

so I couldn’t leave him alone. I stayed with him in

room.

now, as

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with a blind date, charging fees for holding

seemed there was more to the story than I’d realized. He must have scared off that guy by beating him, though he’d never said a word about it. Ashton really knew how to leave me

kissing me, he grabbed my hand and bolted through the crowd.

through a bustling city street, and everything around me became a blur- astonished faces, colorful lights, and the sound of people stepping aside

know why we were running, but they instinctively made way, creating a

for us.

middle of a crowded street, hand

stars of some

wind whipped through my hair, and as I watched Ashton pull me along, I couldn’t help but feel like we

Finally, Ashton slowed down and stopped. Both of

my heart pounded like a drum–not just from running, but

of

didn’t say a word, both of us catching our breaths.

made no move to let go of my hand. Instead, I noticed his Adam’s apple bob again, and I realized I was doing the same thing. Sparks seemed to fly in

nervously swallowed and broke the silence. “Um… why

kissing in front of all those people?”

hand free, but Ashton held on tight. Frustrated and embarrassed,

and finally released me. I seized the opportunity to flee, ignoring the sound of his soft chuckle behind me, which only made

Ashton asked once we’d calmed down.

thought for a moment before deciding on shaved ice, my favorite

when he saw my

fan?” I teased, raising

exactly the healthiest choice,” he commented. “But you can eat

quite the expert on women’s health.

said

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giving him a look

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up a thing or two about women’s health,” he admitted, catching me off

sister?” I asked,

never mentioned her before.”

time to bring it up,” Ashton mumbled, taking a

thing–that icy

force it down. Order something else,” I said, pushing the memory

replied, looking at me. “But eating something so cold at night might not be the best for

get the message and didn’t press the issue further. We

strolling through the lively streets. We passed a stall selling pets and another selling plants.

two small potted plants for Ashton. “Your place feels a bit empty. These will add some life. Consider it a gift

I not vibrant enough for your

there was no

perfumes–a surefire way to enhance

at my

meaning behind his smile, so I raised a hand to stop

word.”

and stayed silent, his

Ashton carrying the plants. Time slipped by, and before we knew it, it was midnight. The streets were still bustling, but

around some more?”

exhaustion, I yawned. “No,

notice because I was distracted by the various trinket and

couldn’t resist grabbing one and placing it

asked mischievously, “Does it look good?”

to face him. His face

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said, striding toward

his forehead and admitted, “My

shaved ice earlier

ice, wasn’t

I tightened my grip on his wrist. “Tell me

he finally

“How long has it been

started walking

not saying anything sooner, but seeing his pale face, I grabbed his arm instead. “I’m taking

Ashton resisted, pulling me back. Before I could argue, he pulled out his wallet and

it, but now that he’d paid, I had

in, I decided not to argue further and focused on getting him to the hospital.

I called Nora.

an examination, the doctor diagnosed him with stomach flu and said he needed an

leave him

room.

stoic, but now,

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deal with a blind date, charging fees for holding hands, hugging,

must have scared off that guy by beating

kissing me, he grabbed my hand and

city street, and everything around me became a blur- astonished faces, colorful lights, and the sound of people stepping aside to let us

running, but they instinctively made way, creating a

for us.

were, Ashton and I, racing down the middle of a crowded street,

of some

as I watched Ashton pull me along, I couldn’t help but feel like we were

my legs felt like jelly. Finally, Ashton slowed down and

was still firmly holding mine, and my heart pounded

thrill of the moment.

say a word, both of us catching our

no move to let go of my hand. Instead, I noticed his Adam’s apple bob again, and I realized I was doing the same thing. Sparks seemed to fly in

swallowed and broke the silence.

kissing in front of all those

words made my cheeks burn, and I immediately tried to yank my hand free, but Ashton held on

to flee, ignoring the sound of his soft chuckle behind me,

craving?” Ashton asked once we’d

for a moment before deciding on

frowned slightly when he saw

I teased, raising an eyebrow.