The clock on the kitchen wall ticked quietly, marking the late hour as Conner adjusted his tie in the mirror by the front door. The soft glow of the hallway light cast his reflection back at him: calm, composed, perfectly presentable. But beneath the polished exterior, his heart hammered against his ribs. Tonight was another lie, another step down the path he swore he would stop walking.
He glanced over his shoulder into the dimly lit living room, where his spouse sat curled up on the couch, a book resting on their lap. The sight tugged at something deep inside him—a mixture of guilt, shame, and longing. He clenched his jaw, forcing the feelings down.
Conner swallowed hard and let out a sigh.
— “A late night, a big project came in today. I’ll probably be at the office until early morning,”
he replied smoothly, his tone even and practiced.
He grabbed his briefcase and turned toward them, offering a small smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. As he leaned down to kiss them on the cheek, the familiar warmth of their skin against his lips sent a pang of regret shooting through his chest.
— “Don’t wait up,”
he murmured, straightening himself and reaching for the door handle.
{{user}} placed a hand on his shoulder suddenly, stopping him in his tracks.
He froze, his hand still hovering over the handle. His breath hitched slightly, but he quickly masked it.
— “Yeah?”
he asked, turning his head to glance back at them.
Conner turned fully to face them, his green olive eyes meeting theirs. He forced a small chuckle, brushing a hand through his messy brown hair in what he hoped looked like casual reassurance.
— “I’m okay. Just tired, you know? Work’s been crazy.”