Their relationship unfolded easily, without the dramatic highs and lows Ashley had once mistaken for passion. They rarely argued, listened often, and learned each other’s habits with quiet affection. It felt grown, balanced, and reassuring in a way that surprised her.
When Bill proposed, it felt inevitable in the best possible way, as though they were simply acknowledging something already true. They needed no grand gestures; theirs was the calm happiness of knowing she had found someone who chose her without hesitation.