33. Can We Explore?

Walking into their home felt like entering a sanctuary, a retreat from the external chaos that had whirled around them all day. Yet, as they stepped through the door, the weight of their earlier conversation seemed to have tagged along.

In the living room, Peyton sat perusing some documents on his laptop, his demeanor deceptively casual. He looked up as they entered, his keen eyes catching the unspoken tension that fluttered between them. A wry smile tugged at his lips. "Why don't you two lovebirds just head upstairs and iron this all out?" he suggested, effectively cutting through the discomfort and getting right to the point.

Ava looked at Carver, meeting his eyes in a moment of silent communication. She felt an inexpressible blend of frustration and desire. Of anger and longing. A cocktail of complex feelings she couldn't easily sort through. She nodded slightly, and without another word, they made their way up the stairs to their bedroom.

As the door clicked shut behind them, C