#Chapter 85: Another Time

Ava I turned to find Chris standing in the doorway, his eyes wide as he took in the chaos that had once been my tidy little cottage. Tools scattered across every available surface, puddles of water and paint splatters decorating the floors, various home repair supplies strewn about in organized disarray. And there I stood in the middle of it all, my overalls completely disheveled and my hair askew, sweat beading on my brow—and the biggest shit-eating grin that I could possibly muster plastered across my face. “Like what you see?” I teased, placing my free hand on my hip as I gestured to the renovated bathroom behind me with the hand that was holding a rather large paintbrush. “I’ve been making some much-needed improvements around here.” Chris blinked slowly, his gaze flickering between me and the half-assembled sink faucet that I had been in the process of repairing when he arrived. I felt my smile begin to fade. For a moment, I was worried that he might scold m