Shayla
Chris and I were still floating on cloud nine, our laughter echoing softly through the hallway as we descended the stairs. The kids were fast asleep from the excitement of Ethan's birthday, and the night had already been memorable in its own way. As we reached the bottom of the stairs, our hands still intertwined, the atmosphere shifted, like stepping into a room where the air was suddenly heavy.
Terrance's parents and his brother, Brandon, were already sitting stiffly in the living room. I froze, the warmth from moments ago replaced by an icy chill as soon as I saw them. My heart sank.
"Shayla," Terrance's mother, Linda, began, her voice sharp. "We need to talk."
Chris's grip on my hand tightened, a silent reminder that he was here with me, by my side.
I took a deep breath, the giddiness I had felt just moments earlier fading as I stepped forward. "What are you all doing here?"
