She waited, quietly, almost tensely, for Ace to finally explain what was going on. There was a shift in him now, subtle but unmistakable. The warmth he had shown earlier when she first woke had cooled into something more controlled, more serious, and that change alone was enough to make her brace for whatever was coming next.
Sure enough, by the time she finished the last spoonful Ace guided to her lips, Ashley hadn't even realized how much she had eaten. Only when he finally pulled the spoon away did it sink in, leaving her momentarily dazed.
Ace, on the other hand, seemed satisfied. A faint, relieved smile crossed his face as he began clearing the table, packing the empty containers back into the eco bag he had brought earlier.
He handled everything with quiet efficiency, setting the bag aside once he was done, likely to have it returned to the hotel it came from.
Then, without another word, he gestured toward the others.
As if shaken from a trance, the group finally moved.
