Raising a brow, Ashton said, "You seem unusually interested in Jared's matters."
I nodded without thinking, then caught his expression and quickly let out a light, awkward laugh. "Not really. I just remembered that night and wanted to ask. There's nothing else behind it."
He lowered his gaze and said nothing. The air between us settled into a quiet that felt heavier than before, like something unspoken had been set aside rather than resolved.
After noticing I wasn't eating much, he stopped as well. We left the restaurant and went to the mall. The way he moved through the shops made it seem like he was preparing to buy everything in sight, his presence calm but decisive, as if each choice carried intent.
I walked beside him, not interfering. He was picking out items for the baby, and though the scale of it felt overwhelming, I said nothing. Everything he chose would eventually be used, and that alone made his actions feel steady rather than excessive.
