جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 35

Gwen POV:My eyes locked onto his. I couldn't believe it—what on earth was he doing in this God-forsaken corner? The fleeting moment of bewilderment made me completely forget that this guy was serving the exact same punishment.As our skin accidentally brushed, the heat radiating between us triggered an instant spike of adrenaline, sending a sharp jolt straight up my spine. I jerked my hand back immediately, dodging the high-voltage contact—whether it was deliberate or just an accident, I had no clue."You should only fill that bucket halfway instead of hauling it to the brim. You can barely carry it as it is, and keep straining like that, you're going to snap your wrist before you know it."Ashton’s voice sounded almost concerned, but it carried the distinct edge of a mockery. Before I could pull my wits together, I was left completely speechless, swallowing hard over and over. A sudden, creeping chill traveled down my spine at being left alone with the guy whose very presence automa

Gwen’s POVI froze in place. A sudden, suffocating tightness seized my chest, squeezing the air right out of my lungs. It wasn't until the roar of a passing motorcycle ripped through the quiet roadside that I snapped back to reality.I swallowed hard, forcing my tense facial muscles to relax. Blinking rapidly, I managed to carve a strained, brittle smile onto my face. "It's nothing..."I pretended to brush an invisible speck of dust from my jacket, carefully avoiding the screen of his phone."I'm just starving, that's all," I blurted out, my voice laced with fake urgency. "We'd better hurry, or the guys will eat everything before we even get there!"Without waiting for Ashton's reaction, I spun on my heel and took long, brisk strides toward Lucas and Mr. Kenneth, who were standing a short distance away, loudly debating where to eat. Beneath the sweltering midday sun, my thin field shirt felt heavy, soaked with sweat, and plastered against my clammy skin.Lunch at the cramped BBQ joint