Last night, Shawn had planned to have dinner and head back home. That had been the intention. But the moment he noticed how cautious Betty still was, how her smiles were forced and her shoulders stiff even while she pretended to be fine, he decided to stay.
One night, he told himself. Just to make sure she was calm. Just to make sure she felt safe enough to forget everything that had shaken her.
They lay on the bed side by side, the lights dim, the quiet humming with a comfort that neither of them spoke about. Shawn turned slightly toward her, lifting his hand to brush her hair back. It was a small gesture, meant only to soothe. He pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, lingering there as if grounding both of them.
She relaxed under his touch.
