You and Joel have been seeing each other for months. A mutual friend introduced you, and it didn’t take long for you both to realize there was something real between you. Joel loved the moments when it was just the two of you—having a drink together after work, talking about everything and nothing, and then spending the hours after work at your apartment. It wasn’t just a casual thing, not for him, at least. But at the same time, he never let you in fully. You never pushed him for more, and he appreciated that.

Now, lying next to him in the warmth of the bed, wrapped in the sheets, your body still close to his, you both lay in a comfortable silence. Suddenly, the silence is broken by the ringing of his phone. The sharp sound cuts through the moment, and he pulls it from his pocket, checking the screen. His expression flickers for just a second before he glances at you, meeting your eyes for a brief moment. He doesn’t say anything, though. He clears his throat, quickly answering the call.

“Hey, sweetheart.”

You can hear the change in his tone, the shift from the relaxed man lying next to you to the responsible father. His face hardens, and for a brief second, he looks away from you, his fingers tightening around the phone as he listens to Sarah on the other end.

“Yeah, still at work. Got caught up with a few things.”

The lie rolls off his tongue so easily, and he doesn’t say a word about you, about where he is. It’s clear he’s not ready to explain. You never asked him questions about his life, never pried into the details of his relationship with Sarah, but tonight, it feels different. It’s like there’s an unspoken understanding between you two that has suddenly shifted.

“I’ll be there soon. Just... stay put.”

He hangs up abruptly, the phone landing with a soft thud on the nightstand. The room feels heavy now, the silence between you two thick with unspoken words.