Champagne Nights || Shawmila [Completed]

six

The sky was clouding over, and the air was charged with static. It seemed like everything around Shawn was about to come alive, buzzing with a strange energy. There was a strange feeling in the air, an atmosphere that smelled of impending rain. Autumn in New Orleans didn't differ much from the summer months, except for its torrential rains and a much gloomier atmosphere. Or at least, that was the feeling that had haunted Shawn for months.

He had spent the summer between Camila's thighs, listening to her moans in stolen moments, amidst sheets that didn't belong to him, hidden in the shadow of plastered walls. They had perhaps been the most beautiful months of his life, and at the same time, the most difficult and anxiety-ridden he could remember. It hadn't been easy to lie to every single person in his life, but in the end, his deceptions had borne fruit.

As he walked briskly towards George's speakeasy, he wondered how he would expose his findings to Camila, who had always remained unaware of everything. He would have to tell her that he had deceived her, investigating behind her back, meddling in affairs that weren't his concern, finding information that could incriminate her husband. How would she react?

Shawn crossed the threshold of the bar, his nails chewed and bloody. The room was still empty, and he looked around carefully. He was looking for someone, but he didn't know if he would prefer to find Camila or her husband. The man's presence, though unpleasant, would prevent him from confessing what had been weighing on his chest since the previous evening.

Even before he could see her, he heard her melodious voice humming a cheerful tune, a sign that George wasn't around. It was rare for Camila to be so happy when he was in the vicinity. He found her in the dressing room, sitting in front of a mirror as she perfected the line of her lips. Shawn took a deep breath and forced a smile when their gazes met in the reflection hanging on the wall. Now or never, he thought.

He approached her, admiring her lovingly and with a hint of anguish, then leaned over her and laid a gentle kiss on her hair before leaning against the wall. "You look beautiful tonight," he admitted sincerely.

Camila smiled, tapping powder on her nose. "You're a flatterer, but I don't think I'll ever get tired of your compliments," she said with a little laugh. Her cheerfulness, however, didn't reach Shawn, who was still watching her apprehensively, unable to hide his tormented state of mind. "Is something wrong?"

He sighed and looked away. "Is George here?"

"No, he'll arrive shortly before opening time. You're worrying me, Shawn. What's going on?"

He ran a hand through his neatly arranged curls, pacing back and forth in the small room. "There's a problem. It's about George - and before you get angry with me, remember that I know I messed up, I know I ignored what you asked me to do, scheming behind your back and acting on my own, but I did it for us. I love you, Camila. I love you, and I would do anything for you, but I need to give us a real chance. I can't keep hoping for a life by your side, a future together, if George is still part of the picture."

He noticed Camila's gaze darken, her eyebrows furrowing at an odd angle as her face transformed into a mask of perplexity. "Shawn, I love you too, you know that, but—"

"No, I won't accept any more 'buts'! You asked me to be with you, and I didn't even hesitate to fulfill that request. Now I'm not asking for much, just to listen to me and try to understand my reasons." He took a deep breath and blurted out, "I've been following your husband and the people he's involved with for months."

"Shawn!" Camila exclaimed, anger flickering in her expression. "Do you realize the danger you've put yourself in?"

"Of course I do, but I did it anyway, I did it for us. I needed to understand the gravity of the situation, to comprehend the risks you face every day."