𝗠𝗘𝗔𝗡𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗕𝗘 // 𝗖.𝗙

𝓢𝓸𝓻𝓻𝔂

"I'M NOT hungry anymore, Connie." Sylvia murmurs, gently pushing away the spoon brimming with cereal that Conrad offered.

The clinking of the spoon against the bowl was loud in the otherwise quiet morning.

Last night was a blur of tears and whispered fears, a fragile bridge built between their fractured hearts.

After their raw, honest conversation, they had sought solace in each other's arms, eventually finding themselves tangled together in Conrad's bed, sleep a temporary balm. The air between them now was thick with unspoken words, the weight of their unresolved feelings pressing down.

They had laid bare their souls, acknowledging the chasm that had formed, yet somehow, paradoxically, they felt closer than ever.

But the uncertainty of their future loomed, a shadow that neither dared to fully confront.

"One more bite." Conrad coaxed, his eyes searching hers, a silent plea for her to yield.

"But Connie, I'm full." Sylvia insists softly, patting her stomach as if to emphasize her point. "I'm saving the little space I have left for Beau and Jeremiah's pancakes."

She gestures towards the two boys, their brows furrowed in concentration as they manned the stove, flipping pancakes with an earnest dedication.

"Fine." Conrad relents, a flicker of disappointment crossing his face. He carries the bowl to the sink, the uneaten cereal a testament to their unspoken tension.

Returning to the table, he pulls out a small, unassuming pill bottle. The click of the cap echoed in the room as he retrieved a single pill, his movements deliberate.

He grabs a glass of water and walks back to Sylvia, extending his hand towards her. "Here."

"Can—can I wait until after I eat?" Sylvia asks, her eyes darting to the pill in his outstretched hand. A subtle tremor ran through her fingers as she reaches for it.

"No, I want to make sure you take it." He says firmly, his voice leaving no room for argument. He gently places the pill in her palm, his fingers brushing against hers. "Take it."

Sylvia sighs, a puff of air that betrayed her inner turmoil. With a swift motion, she swallows the pill, the dryness clinging to her throat. She didn't reach for the water, instead opening her mouth to show Conrad that she had complied, a silent act of trust.

"Good girl." Conrad mumbles, his voice low and intimate as he reaches out and patted her thigh.

"Don't say things like that." Sylvia playfully chided, her cheeks flushing a delicate pink. She toyed with his hand, her fingers tracing the lines of his palm. "It gives me butterflies."

Conrad's lips curved into a knowing smirk. He leans in close, his breath warm against her ear.

"Do I make you nervous?" He whispers, his voice a tantalizing caress.

"You know you do." Sylvia confesses, her voice barely audible as she whispered back into his ear. With a gentle push, she distanced herself, breaking the spell. "Now stop it."

Conrad chuckles, about to retort, but a voice sliced through the air. "Morning, everyone!"

"Happy birthday!" The kitchen erupts in cheers, a joyous wave that momentarily disrupted Conrad and Sylvia's lighthearted flirting.

"There's the birthday girl!" Susannah envelopes Belly in a warm hug. "Looking like a vision in floral."

Jeremiah follows, then Beau, and of course, Steve couldn't resist a playful jab. "Now Belly Button's finally getting old. Happy birthday!"