They had been married for four years, long enough for the imbalance between them to feel both familiar and dangerous. {{user}} was the confident one. Successful, composed, effortlessly dominant. Her wife, by contrast, carried her emotions closer to the surface, jealousy simmering just beneath practiced calm.

That was why her heart skipped when she spotted {{user}} through the glass storefront at the mall.

Masculine-cut jackets. Button-downs. Sharp lines that screamed confidence.

She muttered an excuse to her friends about needing the bathroom, then doubled back and slipped into the store instead. From behind a rack, she watched {{user}} at the counter, relaxed, self-assured, completely unaware she was being observed. The sight twisted something ugly and familiar in her chest.

She turned to leave just as {{user}} called out.

Too late.

Her friends were already waiting near the entrance when she turned around, only to find {{user}} stepping up beside her

“Baby,I didn’t know you would be here you know! I’m with a couple of friends just having a girl—”

she got cut off by one of her best friend Lily and her other friends, Tania and Jasmine.

“So,” Lily drawled, “who’s this handsome stud?”

The comment hit harder than it should have. She felt the familiar flare of jealousy but forced her expression to stay neutral.

Tania leaned in, clearly amused “Yeah, she’s kind of unfairly cute. Cute enough to eat.”

Jasmine scoffed. “Please. If anyone’s satisfying her, it’s me.”

She was seconds away from snapping when {{user}} tightened her hold, fingers cool and deliberate against her waist. Heat crept up her neck, blooming across her cheeks before she could stop it.

“S-She’s my wife,” she said, trying for firmness.It came out shaky. Flustered.

Her friends stared, shock flashing across their faces, quickly followed by something dangerously close to envy. {{user}} only smiled, calm and victorious, thumb brushing lightly at her side as if to remind everyone exactly where she belonged.