Page 41 of My Only

Would Ayla even be there?

I hadn’t wanted our first conversation to happen over the phone—but I’d changed my mind, called her all morning, and she still hadn’t answered once.

Hadn’t called me back either.

Levi handed me the folder I had one of the project managers take back to him after he dropped it off at my office earlier.

“He finalized it,” Levi informed.

I flipped open the folder, leafing through the pages, nodding as I reviewed the designs. “Like I knew he would.”

Levi was a landscape architect I brought in from North Carolina, recommended to me by a former client.

Before Greene Gardens, he worked freelance, but his work spoke for itself.

His attention to detail? Impeccable.

His vision? Next level.

His layout featured green spaces, fountains, walking trails, playgrounds, and community seating areas.

The rainwater garden feature wasn’t just for aesthetics. It also functioned as a natural drainage solution.

We were making Greene Gardens look so damn good, even I wanted to live there.

“This is solid,” I commented, still reviewing the designs. “The placement of the rainwater garden is smart. It minimizes runoff without wasting space.” I nodded. “And the seating areas along the trails? Makes it inviting, not just functional.”

Flipping to another page, I grinned.

“You did good work. I’m sure Bryant was happy.”

“Ecstatic,” Levi confirmed with a short laugh. “He was in a good mood today.”

I laughed, knowing exactly what he meant.

This project was huge.

The pressure immense.

We weren’t just designing houses and buildings.

We were creating a village.

The weight of that responsibility was heavy as hell.

I sighed, feeling that weight pressing on me.

And not just from work.

From home too.

I just hoped this project wasn’t about to wreck my marriage.

Levi stood quietly beside me.

Too quiet.

I peeked over to see him leaning against the counter, his eyes still on me.

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