I woke up, stretching languidly as sunlight filtered through the curtains. The bed felt emptier than usual, and I instinctively reached for Asher, but the space beside me was cold. He must have left for work early. A pang of longing hit me, surprising in its intensity. It was strange how quickly I’d grown used to his presence, his warmth.
A soft sigh escaped my lips as I sat up, glancing at the clock. I should get up, maybe find Aunt Rim and see if she needed any help. As I padded through the quiet hallways of the house, a faint clatter reached my ears. Curiosity piqued, I followed the sound to the kitchen.
The sight that greeted me stopped me in my tracks. Asher stood by the stove, wearing an apron over his neatly pressed shirt, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing his toned f
