the texas heat hung heavy in the air, thick and still, mirroring the tension inside the small house. {{user}} traced the rim of her beer bottle, the condensation leaving damp circles on the worn wooden table. jordan leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed over his muscular chest, the faded eagle tattoo on his forearm stark against his tanned skin. his green eyes, usually warm and crinkled at the corners when he smiled, were hard.

"{{user}}," he started, his deep voice rough around the edges, the familiar southern drawl tighter than usual. "we've been over this. it's been a year. a good year. don't you think..."

she cut him off, her voice sharper than she intended. "don't you start, jordan. not again."

he sighed, the sound heavy with frustration. "why not, {{user}}? tell me why. i don't understand what you're so afraid of."

she finally looked up, meeting his gaze. "afraid? i'm not afraid. i just... i like things the way they are."

"casual?" he scoffed, pushing himself forward. "is that what this is to you? just something casual?" his jaw tightened, the strong line she usually found so attractive now looked rigid with annoyance.

"it works for me," she insisted, avoiding his intense stare. "no pressure, no expectations..."

"but i have expectations, {{user}}," he said, his voice softer now, laced with a vulnerability that always chipped away at her resolve. "i want more than just stolen nights when i'm on leave. i want... i want you."

the silence stretched, punctuated only by the buzzing of a fly against the windowpane. {{user}} knew what he wanted. he'd made it clear countless times. a ring, a future, the whole damn fairytale. and it terrified her.