I already knew he was surprised, but I still wanted to ease the tension between George and him. If I could smooth things over, it would take some weight off his shoulders. More than that, I wanted to repay him in my own small way for everything he had done for me.
When I stepped out of the bathroom, Ashton was already in the kitchen. The space carried the warm scent of something simmering, and his presence there felt steady, like it always did when he was focused.
His eyes moved to my feet, and he noticed right away that I wasn't wearing slippers. "The floor is cold. Put something on," he said, his tone calm but concerned.
Ah… I had forgotten.
I quickly slipped into a pair of slippers and walked into the kitchen. The rich smell became stronger as I got closer, and I leaned slightly to peek at what he was making. "What are you cooking?"
"Chicken soup," he answered with a hint of pride. Then he stepped closer, his mood lighter than before, and added, "Give me a kiss."
