hapter 146


    <b>Chapter </b><b>146 </b>


    Ashton’s so–called “usual routine” was that they’d each go to their own rooms to shower, then one of them would quietly slip into the other’s bedroom. One would obediently lie down with eyes closed, trying to fall asleep, while the other would sit nearby, gaming away.


    One still, one moving, peaceful and serene, as if time itself stood still.


    Because of the awkwardness, after Briar entered Ashton’s bedroom, she didn’t say a word. She went straight to the single armchair in the corner and


    started ying a game on her phone.


    Ashton was sensible enough. Hey down obediently, closed his eyes, and waited to fall asleep.


    After finishing two rounds, Briar finally looked up at Ashton. He was wearing a slightly open robe, unintentionally revealing his sexy chest. His breathing was steady and long.


    Phew! He’s finally asleep!‘ Briar thought, finally letting out a breath of relief.


    The weight on Briar’s heart lifted. She touched her still–burning face, then her lips, which were no longer swollen. She felt the lingering ripples in her


    chest.


    Men, especially handsome ones, were truly seductive.


    That kiss in the car hadpletely messed with Briar’s mind. Even while gaming, she was totally distracted.


    She slumped further into the armchair, resting her head on her hand. As her tense expression rxed, drowsiness crept in.


    Probably because she felt safer now that Ashton was asleep, Briar let herself close her eyes.


    Half an hourter, her breathing steadied, and she drifted into a deep sleep.


    Meanwhile, Ashton, who was supposedly asleep, opened his eyes. There was no trace of sleepiness in his gaze, just rity.


    He mimicked Briar’s posture, propping up his head as he watched the sleeping girl. Because she was curled up in the chair, her sleeping position looked ufortable. Soon, her head began to bob forward and back…


    Ashton’s eyes were gentle, amused by her awkward sleeping pose.


    Briar slept exceptionally well that night, surrounded by alternating softness and firmness, a warm cocoon. She didn’t wake until her rm red.


    Still groggy, she reached out blindly for her phone, but instead, her handnded on something smooth and warm. As she opened her palm, she could feel a strong, rhythmic heartbeat underneath.


    ‘Wait, is that… a heartbeat?‘ Briar wondered.


    And not just any heartbeat. It seemed familiar, like Ashton’s,


    Briar’s fuzzy brain instantly cleared. She opened her eyes, and a giant close–up of Ashton’s handsome face was right in front of her.


    Startled, she jumped up in ce, nearly tumbling off the bed. A pair of strong arms quickly wrapped around her waist and steadied <b>her</b>. <b>“</b>Careful<b>” </b>


    “Ashton, you…1…” Briar stammered, her mind spinning.


    She wanted to ask, ‘What are you doing in my bed?‘


    <b>But </b>the room’syout and the bedspread clearly weren’t hers. So she switched gears and thought <b>to </b><b>ask</b><b>, </b>“<b>Why </b>am I in <b>your </b><b>bed</b><b>?</b><b>” </b>


    <b>1/3 </b>


    <b>10:36 </b>Mon<b>, </b>18 Aug


    Mon<b>, </b>18 Au


    <b>(</b><b>320</b>)


    But she distinctly remembered falling asleep on the armchairst night. However, she woke up on Ashton’s bed, and they were sleeping in each other’s


    arms.


    The smooth, warm skin she touched earlier, and the strong heartbeat under her palm. Those told her everything.


    She hadn’t just slept with Ashton. Her hand was touching his bare chest.


    ‘Oh god!‘ Briar squeezed her eyes shut in mortified despair.


    ‘Please, someone tell me this is just a dream and I haven’t actually woken up yet!‘ Briar thought frantically.


    “Briar, are you okay? Did I scare you?” Ashton’s concerned voice, tinged with amusement, sounded. His hand resting on her waist shattered herst illusion.


    “I’m fine.” Briar forced her eyes open and pried his hand off her waist, trying her best to put on a straight face. “Morning, Mr. Wade.”


    Ashton caught every flicker of emotion on her face and held back a chuckle. “Morning. Want to get up now or sleep a bit longer? The time is…”


    He turned and picked up Briar’s still–ringing phone from the nightstand, nced at it, and said, “It’s only six in the morning”


    “I’m up. Time for my morning workout. Mr. Wade, see youter.” Briar snatched the phone, silenced the rm, then bolted out of bed, threw on her shoes, opened the door, shut it behind her, and vanished.


    From the outside, it looked like a calm, coordinated routine. But inside, she was panicking.


    Ashton sat on the bed, watching her escape like a heartless yboy who’d been abandoned after a one–night stand, amusement dancing in his eyes.


    Briar was flustered. She hadn’t even stopped to question him about why she was in his bed. She just ran.


    She must’ve thought she climbed into his bed while half–asleep.


    Truth be told, Ashton really understood Briar.


    Briar had genuinely assumed she’d unknowingly climbed into his bed in a sleepy daze.


    Briar dashed back home, straight into the bathroom. Looking at herself in the mirror, her eyes were full of panic and helplessness.


    Am I out of my mind? How could I just sleepwalk my way into Ashton’s bed? How am I ever supposed to look Ashton in the eye again?” Briar thought, her heart pounding like crazy.


    Briar was a restless sleeper. Whenever she dozed off, she’d end up hugging whatever was within reach,


    If she really did crawl into bed and hug Ashton, with his high alertness, he probably noticed the moment she got close.


    Oh god, just let me die of embarrassment already!‘ she groaned inwardly.


    After hiding in the bathroom for over thirty minutes, she finally changed into her workout clothes and went downstairs.


    But the mental walls she’d just managed to patch together instantly copsed when she spotted Ashton Wade, also in workout gear, sitting on her living room sofa like he owned the ce, just waiting for her.


    “What are you doing in my house?” Briar asked warily, knowing full well the answer.


    Ashton answered with a breezy calm, “Waiting to go jogging with you.”


    Briar frowned. She wasn’t really in the mood for jogging with him today.


    But Ashton didn’t give her a chance to refuse. He was already heading <b>out</b>, and Briar had <b>no </b><b>choice </b>but to <b>trail </b><b>behind </b>him.


    <b>2/3 </b>


    76%


    Feeling guilty, she kept her distance the whole run. No matter how fast of stow Ashton went, she refused to run beside him, fully aysiding him.


    Later, after picking up breakfast, Frank, dragged out of bed by Connor, got out of the car and immediately noticed the awkward distance between Ashton and Briar. “Little Briar, did you two have a fight?”


    Briar replied, “No.”


    Frank squinted at her suspicious tone. “Did Ashton bully you? It’s okay, tell me. I’llin to Grandpa.”


    Briar felt even more guilty. Compared to the awkwardness of Ashton kissing herst night, it almost felt like she was the one taking advantage of him.


    She basically strong–armed him into cuddling and sharing a bed.


    <b>3/3 </b>