Chapter 172

• MICHEAL'S POV
• As soon as Ashley left, the house was anything but quiet. Dax and Liam were at it again—arguing, teasing, throwing harmless insults across the room while pretending to hang the curtains and fix the lights. Both of them turned a simple renovation into a full-blown competition, and this time, the goal was ridiculous: let's see whose design Ashley would love the most.
• I barely listened. My focus drifted in and out, caught between the hammering of nails and echoing of her laughter in my head. The questions keep going through my head. Was she in a good mood now? Has she eaten? Did she drink enough water? I knew I'd already called her three times since she left, but it didn't stop me from reaching for my phone again. It wasn't an obsession. I'm just worried. I just needed to make sure she's okay.