Ashley's mom appeared in the doorway.
Ashley blinked. "Mom… what are you doing home so early?!"
Mary looked between them. "What do you mean… I always come home at this time!
And who's this handsome boy next to you? Is he a your new boyfriend ?"
Ashley and Jonathan said together, "No! No! No!"
Mary raised an eyebrow. "Then what is he doing here?"
Ashley hesitated. "Um… we're working on a project together…"
Jonathan quickly added, "Yeah… yeah!"
Mary's eyes narrowed slightly. "…Okay… and what about the dog?"
Suddenly, Liam appeared behind them, looking guilty. He muttered, pleading, "I'm sorry, Mom… I didn't mean to—"
Mary shot them both a sharp look. They froze, realizing they were in trouble.
Five minutes later, they were all sitting in the living room, explaining what had happened.
Ashley shrugged slightly. "It's really just… what happened. And, by the way, the project thing is real ,we didn't make it up."
Jonathan nodded. "Yeah, that's true!"
Mary softened. "Alright… if that's the case, then everything's fine."
Ashley exhaled. "Okay… now that that's settled, Jonathan, you can go back home…"
Mary smiled. "No way! Sit with us for dinner."
Ashley shot a look at her mom and thought to herself, Oh, God…
Five minutes later,
they were all sitting at the table, finishing their dinner. Mary's curiosity finally got the better of her, and she turned her attention to Jonathan.
Mary: "So… what's your last name?"
Jonathan blinked calmly. "Harley. Why do you ask?"
Mary tilted her head, a playful glint in her eyes. "Just curious… and how do you and Ashley know each other?"
Ashley and Jonathan exchanged a glance.
For a brief second, it felt like they were sharing a secret.
Jonathan opened his mouth to explain what had happened that morning with the boys but before he could speak, Ashley quickly covered his mouth with her hand.
Ashley (smiling slyly): "Through friends."
Jonathan froze for a moment, then nodded, letting her take the lead.
Mary raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Ah… very nice. And what exactly do you do at school? What's your specialty?"
Jonathan answered in his usual calm, precise tone: "My major in school is AP Biology, Laboratories, and Physics."
Mary's eyes lit up. "Wow! You have a smart friend!"
Ashley chuckled softly, a little embarrassed but genuinely happy: "Yeah… hahaha… he really is."
Jonathan couldn't stop glancing at Ashley as she laughed, his green eyes calm but attentive, almost unreadable.
There was a quiet intensity in the way he looked at her, subtle but impossible to ignore.
Across the table, Liam slouched in his chair, folding his arms and muttering under his breath: "Great… I'm totally not needed here."
Ashley noticed him and gave a small reassuring smile, silently telling him to calm down. Jonathan, focused on Ashley, didn't even notice Liam's little sulk.
Mary leaned back, folding her arms with a satisfied look. "Alright… now I know all about you, Jonathan Harley. Welcome to dinner. And behave yourself!"
Jonathan gave a polite, almost robotic nod. "Of course, Mrs. Morgan."
Ashley rolled her eyes slightly but couldn't stop smiling inwardly. She was just glad her mom had relaxed and wasn't overreacting.
To be continued….