Ellie’s POV.
My heart jumped and I shot awake the moment I felt someone stroking my hair. There was humming too, and for a second, I thought I was dreaming. Maybe I was just caught in a deep slumber. But when I blinked my eyes open and saw Asher lying right beside me, I sat up so fast I nearly lost balance, then scrambled backward until I was standing five steps away from the bed.
“W-What are you doing here?!” My voice trembled with a tangle of emotions I couldn’t even name.
Asher didn’t even flinch. He smiled calmly like he hadn’t just invaded my personal space or jolted me awake in the most terrifying way.
“Your mom called me. She said you wanted to talk to me.”
I blinked, trying to remember the conversation I had with my mother the day before. Yes, I had mentioned needing to talk t
