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.
I pressed them together, shaking my head. “No.”
“Yeah
right! You’ve been skipping water to avoid bathroom breaks and slowing down Mr. Drake’s work! Your mouth’s full of sores – you can barely eat!” Maya blurted out, running her mouth as usual.
Ashton stepped right in front of me. “Open your mouth.”
I froze. Maya’s eyes went wide.
Next thing I knew, he had his hand on my chin, making me open up. After a quick look, he let go. “Yep, full of ulcers.”
He turned to Maya, who stood there slack–jawed. “Get her some oral antiseptic spray and medicated
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mouthwash.”
Maya stuttered, “O–okay!”
| Manu
She started to leave, then spun back. “Wait aren’t you an engineer? How do you know all this medical stuff?”
Still awkward from having my mouth checked, I muttered, “He was in the military.”
Maya looked ready to say more when Ashton cut in, “Weren’t you going somewhere?”
“I-” she caught my eye, seemed to remember something, and finally left.
I looked at Ashton. “Next time, don’t-”
“Good morning, Mr. Mercer!” Maya’s voice cut me off.
I froze. Logan was here?
Turning around, there he was. He glanced at me before asking Maya, “Where you headed?”
“Getting medicine for Elaine’s ulcers,” Maya said. Logan rushed over.
“Not drinking enough water again, huh?” He knew me too well. I got dehydrated easily, usually sticking to soups and lots of water.
Otherwise, I’d get nosebleeds or ulcers.
After ten years together, of course he knew these things.
But his words stung. Made me think about how he told Caleb we were “too close.”
We knew each other so well he got bored and let a widow turn his head.
“Something you need, Mr. Mercer?” I kept my tone ice–cold and professional.
Logan’s face darkened at my attitude. He started to speak, noticed Ashton behind me, and said, “Come here. Need to talk to you.”
Whether it was personal or business, we couldn’t discuss it in front of Ashton, I walked a few steps
away.
Stopping short, I said, “We’re on a tight schedule. What is it?”
He stopped too, his boyish face twisted with annoyance. “You’re trying to get back at me, right?”
“What?” The question came out of nowhere.
“Look, I don’t care that you made a 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 friend group. You’ll wreck everything.
It took me a second to catch up. His last line gave it away – he meant Caleb.
Someone must have told him about Caleb’s visit. Can’t believe he assumed we’d get together.
He was projecting his own mess onto others. My face burned with anger. “Logan, you think everyone’s like you?*
He looked confused. His almond eyes narrowed as I laughed bitterly.
“Not everyone hooks up with their friend’s partner.”
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His face soured instantly. “Elaine, I told you, it’s not like that with Selene.”
I was done arguing about this. “Whatever. Not my problem anymore.”
“Level with me, Elaine. You’re just bored of me, right? That’s why you won’t let this little thing go?” More projection.
“Think what you want. You’re the one who said we knew each other too well and got bored,
remember?” Not the first time I’d thrown those words back at him.
That particular knife had cut deep.
Logan clenched his fists. “What are you trying to do?”
“I want us to stay broken up. Move on, Mr. Mercer. Deleting messages? Checking up on guys I talk to? Come on.”
I’d never talked to Logan like this before. For years, I’d been the perfect girlfriend, going along with whatever he wanted.
He clearly wasn’t ready for this sharp, cold version of me. His face darkened. “Elaine, you really think I’m hung up on you?”
“Of course not. With your money and looks, women must be lining up. Why would you be hung up on anyone?” I said sarcastically.
He stepped closer. “If you admit all that about me, why are you making such a big deal over one tiny mistake?”
Tiny mistake?
Just like Selene, he really thought he’d done nothing wrong.
I was more convinced than ever that ending things was right.
His words showed me the truth – he’d only gone so far with Selene because he took me for granted. He thought I’d never leave.
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