SHAPES UNSPOKEN

- 18 -

HAPPY READING 🥰

Annabelle Inniss

“What the hell Sean!”

Cindy’s voice cut through the air like a whip.

My legs slid down his waist immediately and I stepped back, my breathing uneven. Sean’s chest was still rising and falling quickly as he looked over my shoulder at Cindy. For a moment no one spoke.

Steph’s laughter echoed faintly from somewhere inside the house, unaware of the storm building outside.

Cindy stood a few feet away, her arms folded tightly across her chest. Shock and anger flashed across her face.

“What exactly is going on here?” she demanded.

Sean didn’t hesitate. He stepped forward, placing himself slightly in front of me without making it obvious.

“What it looks like,” he said calmly.

Her eyes flickered between the two of us.

“At Steph’s birthday party?” she snapped.

I opened my mouth to say something, but Sean’s hand gently brushed against mine behind his back, a silent signal telling me to let him handle it.

“This is my house,” he replied evenly. “And Annabelle is my guest.”

Cindy laughed bitterly.

“Your guest?” she repeated. “Is that what we’re calling it now?”

Sean’s jaw tightened.

“Cindy, don’t start.”

“Oh, I’m starting,” she said sharply. “Because the last time I checked, we’re still married.”

The word hung in the air like a heavy weight.

My stomach twisted slightly, but I kept my composure. I refused to look ashamed when I had done nothing wrong.

Sean’s voice dropped, controlled and firm.

“Yes, legally we are,” he said. “But you left months ago. You made your decision.”

Her expression faltered for a second.

“That doesn’t mean you replace me.”

“I didn’t replace you,” he said.

He turned slightly and reached for my hand, pulling me beside him.

“I moved forward.”

The simple honesty of it made my chest tighten.

Cindy stared at our joined hands.

“I see.”

There was a long pause before she spoke again, her tone quieter now.

“So that’s it? Just like that?”

Sean didn’t answer immediately.

“This isn’t the place for this conversation,” he said finally.

“And when would be the place?” she shot back.

“When Steph isn’t a few rooms away.”

That silenced her.

The mention of their son softened the tension slightly. Cindy exhaled slowly and ran a hand through her hair.

“You couldn’t wait?” she asked, her voice lower now. “You couldn’t wait until things were finalized?”

Sean’s eyes hardened.

“You left, Cindy. You stopped answering calls. You stopped coming home. What exactly was I supposed to wait for?”