Chapter 188
Meny
Ashton didn’t seem to mind me tugging at the corners of his lips as he continued, “Do you know what you said when you kissed me back then?”
“I don’t know, and you’re definitely making all of this up,” I replied quickly, unwilling to accept the possibility that I had done all these embarrassing things as a child.
“You said it was a stamp,” Ashton explained calmly. “You kissed me and said that because you stamped me, I was yours. You declared that when you grew up, you’d marry me and told me not to marry anyone else.”
Ashton leaned closer, his voice soft yet resolute. “Elaine, I listened to you. I didn’t date anyone, didn’t like anyone, and never even held hands with another woman. I waited for you without wavering. So now, you have to take responsibility for me.”
The way he said it, with that pitiful tone, made it impossible to refuse.
All this time, I had thought Logan was my childhood friend. But now, I realized I had been wrong. It was Ashton.
Even though the time we spent together as children had been short, it had clearly left a lasting impression on him. I had been too young back then to remember, but he had remembered every detail.
“Alright,” I said softly, meeting his gaze. “I’ll take responsibility for it.”
Before he could respond, I stood on my tiptoes and bit his jawline lightly, letting my lips linger on his
skin.
Ashton hummed, clearly amused by my boldness. I grinned. “Let me leave a deeper stamp this time. That way, any women interested in you will know to stay away.”
”
He chuckled lightly. “You’re just as overbearing now as you were back then.”
“Overbearing?” I tilted my head. “I’ve always thought I was too soft. Especially with the Mercer family and Logan…”
But Ashton’s words made me feel like a different person. It was as though he had recreated my childhood for me, filling it with warmth and joy. Whether the stories were entirely true or not, they made me happy.
Later, Ashton took me fishing by the river. We managed to catch a decent–sized fish, and as he prepared it, he suddenly said, “I’ll make you grilled fish tonight. You loved eating fish when you were young.”
His comment surprised me. It was oddly specific, as if he knew something no one else did.
The truth was, I did love grilled fish as a child–especially the kind my mom made. It had been my favorite dish. On the day of her accident, she had promised to make grilled fish for me that evening. I had waited for her to come home, but she never did.
Since that day, I’d stopped eating grilled fish altogether. Ethan, Tessa, Logan, and even Miles all assumed I didn’t like fish. But Ashton… Ashton knew.
“Alright,” I agreed quietly, feeling a sense of closure in that moment.
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When Ashton served the grilled fish, I was stunned. The taste was exactly how I remembered it- perfectly seasoned, just like my mom’s.
Menu
Ashton explained, “Your mom learned how to make this from my mom. My mom grew up near a lake, so she was good at preparing fish.”
Tears welled up in my eyes. It had been ten years since I lost my mom, but in that moment, it felt like a part of her love had been passed on to Ashton.
Later, after we finished eating and cleaning up, I sat on the couch scrolling aimlessly through my phone while Ashton worked on his laptop. He was focused, but I couldn’t sit still.
Something inside me felt restless, like tiny ants crawling through my heart.
“I’m a bit sleepy,” I said eventually, hoping he would take the hint and leave.
But Ashton closed his laptop and said, “I’m a bit sleepy too.”
I blinked. “Then you should go back.”
He didn’t move. Instead, he looked at me with an expression that made my heart race.
“Ashton…”
“Can I not leave tonight?” he asked bluntly.
I froze. I hadn’t expected him to be so straightforward.
My heart began to beat even faster. “Why don’t you want to leave?” I asked, the question slipping out before I could think.
Ashton gulped, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly. “I don’t want to be separated from you.”
His reasoning wasn’t unreasonable. Most people in love wanted to spend as much time as possible with their partner. But still…
“I’m not as casual as you think I am,” I said suddenly, trying to regain control of the situation.
Ashton’s expression stiffened, and his ears turned red. For someone who could be so direct with his
words, he blushed so easily.
“I didn’t mean it like that,” he stammered. “I just… I just want to stay and keep you company.”
I pursed my lips, watching him squirm. Seeing him like this, I couldn’t resist teasing him.
“So, you’re saying you want to stay here and ‘keep me company‘?” I asked, smirking. “We’ll sleep in the same bed, under the same blanket, and just… talk?”
Ashton cleared his throat. “Something like that.”
“Can you guarantee that?” I shot back, my teasing tone making him visibly flustered.
“You’ll find out if you give it a try,” he replied, his voice low and steady.
I was momentarily at a loss for words. Was I really going to test him?
“I’ll go back to my house to grab some stuff,” Ashton said, standing up. “You won’t lock the door while I’m gone, right?”
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Chapter 188
I raised an eyebrow and pretended to be bold. “As long as you dare to come.”
He smiled. “I will.”
After he left, I paced around the bathroom, my thoughts racing.
“Do I really want to give myself to him tonight?” I mumbled to myself, the memory of Logan’s hurtful words flashing through my mind: “She made the first move, so I’m not interested in her.”
Those words had haunted me, making me question my own worth. Did I lack the charm to make a man truly desire me?
Determined to banish those doubts, I changed into a set of black silk pajamas–sexy, confident, and bold. Tonight, I wanted to prove to myself that I could drive a man crazy for me.
When Ashton returned, he had already changed into pajamas as well. Our eyes met, and I tried to walk toward him confidently, but my knees felt weak.
Before I could say anything, Ashton walked over, his gaze steady, and scooped me up into his arms.
Surprised, I clutched at his chest. His scent–simple and clean, like soap–was comforting but also intoxicating.
“Why are you carrying me? I can walk,” I said, realizing too late that I was ruining the mood.
