Chapter 49: Anticipation

Chapter 49: Anticipation Ashley's heart skipped a beat as she stared at the message on her phone, her mind reeling with excitement and a hint of nervousness. "Max," the single word read, like a whispered promise. She felt a shiver run down her spine as she quickly grabbed her phone and made her way to the door, her hand hesitating on the doorknob for a moment. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing thoughts, and slowly turned the handle. As the door creaked open, Ashley's eyes met Max's, his piercing gaze locking onto hers like a magnet. He stood in the dimly lit hallway, his tall frame looming large, his eyes sparkling with a hint of mischief. For a moment, they just stared at each other, the air thick with tension. Ashley's mind was a jumble of emotions, her heart pounding in her chest like a drum. She felt like she was standing on the edge of something, the unknown stretching out before her like a precipice. "Hey," Max said finally, his deep voice low and husky, sending a shiver down Ashley's spine. He smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners, and took a step closer, his movements fluid and confident. Ashley's hand instinctively went to the doorframe, her fingers grasping for support as her legs seemed to weaken beneath her. She felt like she was melting into his gaze, her entire being drawn to him like a moth to flame. "Come on in," she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper, as she stepped aside to let him enter. As Max walked past her, his shoulder brushing against hers, Ashley felt a spark of electricity run through her body, like a live wire had been touched to her skin. The hallway seemed to shrink around them, the air growing thick with anticipation. Ashley's eyes followed Max as he moved into the living room, his eyes scanning the space before coming to rest on her. For a moment, they just stared at each other, the silence between them like a living thing. "I see Tia's asleep," Max said finally, his voice breaking the spell. He nodded towards the nursery, his eyes flicking towards the closed door. Ashley nodded, her throat dry. "Yeah, she went down around 9." She hesitated, unsure of what to do next, as Max moved closer, his eyes locked onto hers. The room seemed to shrink around them, the distance between them growing smaller with every step. Ashley's heart was pounding in her chest, her entire being on high alert as Max stopped in front of her, his eyes burning with intensity. "We need to talk," he said, his voice low and husky, sending shivers down Ashley's spine. But as he spoke, his eyes seemed to gleam with something else, something that made Ashley's heart skip a beat. Something that made her wonder what was really on his mind.