CHAPTER 3 Between sleep, and secrets
1474 Words
I let out a breath and pushed back from his desk. The chair scraped softly against the floor.
With a sigh, I grabbed my towel and headed for the bathroom to shower, hoping Asher would be back by the time I finished.
Steam still clung to my skin when I left the bathroom, towel-drying my hair. I tugged on my oversized shirts, slipped into my night shorts, and checked my phone.
Half past midnight. Still no sign of him.
I grabbed my phone and typed back to Stassie.
Me: Forget cute but mean. Add mysterious to the list.
Me: Like he's running a side quest I'm not allowed to know about.
I hit send. Turned the screen off and set the phone face down. No distraction. Not now.
The room was quiet. Too quiet. Every creak of the walls made me jump.
I sank into his chair, and my eyes drifted to the pictures placed on his desk. He looked happy — easy smile, eyes bright, hair a little messy like the wind had just passed through it. Softer than the guy I'd met this afternoon.
Why is he so different now?
My phone buzzed with a message from Stassie. Instead of replying, I switched it off and left it on my bed. Tonight, I didn't feel like talking.
I folded my arms on the desk, and rested my head, promising myself I'd wait a few more minutes.
But the quiet pressed in, until my eyelids gave up.
The next thing I knew, the door clicked open.
I didn't move, half-asleep, but I heard his footsteps pause near the desk.
“You really waited …” His voice was soft, almost to himself, carrying a warmth I didn't expect.
Silence followed. Then the scrape of the chair as he knelt down.
Warm arms slid under me, lifting me like I weighed nothing. His cologne – clean, expensive, lingering – stirred me awake just enough to catch the steady beat of his heart against my ear.
I almost spoke, but my eyelids were too heavy.
He laid me on my bed, pulled the blanket over me, then stood there for a moment, watching.
Warm sunlight spilled across my face, pulling me out of sleep. I blinked awake slowly, disoriented for a second.
I wasn't in the chair anymore. My blanket was pulled neatly to my chin, like someone had tucked me in.
Then I heard it — the soft rush of water. Someone was in the shower.
Could it be Asher?
Flashes from last night came back in pieces — me on his chair staring at his pictures, fighting sleep. He had lifted me, the faint trace of his cologne filling my head.
Could he have … carried me?
No. Absolutely not. He wasn't the type to do that.
I sat up just as the bathroom door swung open.
Asher stepped out, towel slung over his shoulder, a T-shirt clinging to his still-damp skin. His hair was wet and messy, like he'd run his fingers through it.
“Morning,” he said casually, like carrying me to bed last night, hadn't meant anything. As he changed into a grey sweatshirt, a black polo-style shirt, and clean white socks.
I hesitated, my fingers twisting the edge of my blanket.
“Asher —” my voice cracked, forcing me to clear my throat. “Did…you carry me to bed last night?”
He didn't answer right away. Just grabbed a towel from his chair, ruffling his damp hair, before finally meeting my eyes.
“Yeah. Couldn't leave you, drooling on my desk.”
My cheeks flared.
“I wasn't drooling,” I muttered, crossing my arm — mostly to hide how fast my heart was racing.
A slow smile spread across his face, like he'd just caught me admitting more than I meant.
“Relax. I was just being nice,” he said softly, his eyes lingering a second too long.
I scrambled off the bed, brushing my T-shirt, like that could erase the weird buzzing thought in my head.
“C'mon.” He said, voice soft. I made breakfast — toasted bread, scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, pancakes, coffee … and whatever fruit you want. I've got strawberries, blueberries, and mango.
I blinked at him, still a little dazed from waking up. My hair sticking out in all directions.
“You… you can cook?” I asked, disbelief clear in my voice.
“Apparently.” He nodded towards the table “Don't move too fast. Sit, eat, and wake up properly. I'll wait.”
Why is he being … nice all of a sudden?
I sat, picked up the mug, but didn't let him off the hook.
“You disappeared for hours last night What were you doing?”
“Stuff.” He said simply.
“Stuff?” I arched a brow, sipping my coffee.
“Yeah. Breathing. Existing. Mind your breakfast, princess.”
I frowned. “ Was it about the man in the suit last night?”
His shoulders tensed.
“Tall. Suit. Looked like a personal assistant to a rich kid. Ring any bell?”
“Eat your toast.” He said, casually deflecting.
“You're avoiding my questions.”
“Maybe because you're asking questions that aren't yours to ask.” He leaned on the dining table, his voice low.
I shot him a look. “Maybe because you act like a mysterious villain in a dark movie.”
For a second, I thought he'd actually tell me but nope, he just changed the subject.
“We've got a party tonight,” he said suddenly, as if it were the only thing that mattered.
I groaned, rolling my eyes. “ I know, I know. As if I could forget what you've been looking forward to like it's your coronation.”
I stopped myself from arguing with him. I avoided my questions and let my focus shift to the party.
“You'll need something to wear,” he said, staring at me. "I assume you're not planning to show up in your pyjamas.”
I set the mug down with a shrug. “Fine. Black dress, and Gold heels – something decent.”
He smirked faintly. “Decent? That's your big plan? Sounds boring. You'll look like you're heading to a memorial. The freshman group chat would eat you alive.”
“Huh? You don't even know me that well to say that.”
“I literally read you the moment you got to this room.” he shot back
I huffed but pulled out my phone anyway, muttering, "I guess, I'd have to call for backup.”
“Who?”
“My best friend.Stassie. I said, swiping open my screen. “She helps me out with outfit disasters.”
He didn't comment, just watched as I switched to a video call.
Stassie’s face popped up, bright and nosy as ever.
Ooooh! The mysterious one? I knew it !
My hand shot up. “Shhh! Don't say that, he can hear you!”
Asher’s brows lifted, his expression unreadable. “ I can hear you?”
“Uh-huh. Sure. The mysterious cute mean one,” Stassie teased.
“Seriously, stop.” I glared at her. you know what … let's get to the reason why I called. “I need an outfit for the party.”
“Perfect!” she grinned. I already have outfits in mind.
Minutes later, my bed looked like a boutique exploded on it . Stassie had sent me three options, but I already knew which one I was going with.
Asher peeked at the clothes scattered across the bed, and shook his head, clearly amused. “Looks like you've got work cut out for you. I can already hear the freshman group chat warming up to roast you.”
I grabbed the nearest pillow and threw it at him, and he caught it easily, laughing under his breath.
“Relax,” he said, twirling his car keys. “ I'll be there. Don't worry, princess.”
Stassie grinned through the screen. “Just
wait. Tonight is going to be… interesting.”
The door clicked shut behind him.
Outside, Asher's smile was gone. His phone was already pressed to his ear as he slid into the driver's seat.
“Owen,” He said when the line picked up, voice low and sharp. “Why the hell did you come to my room unannounced?”
“I tried calling, but your phone was off. You need to come home.” He replied
His jaw clenched, his grip tightened on the wheel.
“When have they ever needed me there?” His voice was flat, almost cold. “I'm not coming back just because they suddenly decided I exist.”
He hung up, tossed the phone aside, and drove off, headlight cutting through the dark.
- Writer
