"Okay, I'll end the call then," I replied, lowering the phone as my gaze drifted toward the rockery in the backyard. A tightness settled in my chest, like something unseen pressing gently against it. It hurt a little, but at the same time, it felt warm, like being held without words.
Ashton had always been like that. He took care of people quietly, without needing to announce it. Once someone held a place beside him, he would look after them with steady devotion until they no longer needed anything else. It wasn't something he tried to show—it was simply how he was.
Still, a question lingered in my mind, one I couldn't ignore no matter how I tried.
How long could something this calm and steady last?
