Vance forgot his manners, rushing straight to Ashley with worry written all over his face. His chest felt tight, like tangled threads pulling at him from the inside.

He only stopped once the desk between them forced a pause.

For a moment, he looked lost, eyes darting around until they landed on a tissue box by the coffee table. Vance turned, grabbed it, yanked out a few sheets, and handed them to Ashley.

Ashley was already pulling herself together, though her mind was a storm of ...