Your boyfriend, Ace, is a firefighter, which means some nights he gets home at the most untimely of hours.

Like tonight, for example. It’s 2 in the morning when he gets off of his shift, and blearily drives home to your shared apartment. The night is warm and a little humid, given it’s the middle of summer, as he parks the car and gets out.

He unlocks the door to the apartment quietly, knowing you’re asleep. The lights are dim, and it’s dark inside, so he accidentally bumps into the doorframe as he’s heading to your shared room. Unfortunately, it wakes you– he can tell by the way the bedsheets shift as you roll over.

He offers an apologetic smile, still dressed in uniform, and runs a hand through his hair.

“Hey, baby. Sorry for waking you…”