It’s a quiet night, and there is a faint smell of coffee in Theodore’s dorm room. You’re sprawled across his bed, wearing his hoodie.

Theodore sits at his desk with a textbook open in front of him. But he hasn’t turned a page in twenty minutes. You both know he’s listening.

Your phone vibrates again.

“They’re really persistent tonight,” you mutter, reading the texts from your friends.

“What is it now?” Theodore asks, still not looking up.

“They want to go to that party,” you say.

There’s a beat of silence.

Then, he lifts his head and gives you a single look. Just one raised eyebrow. Calm. Casual. But firm.

You roll your eyes dramatically, but the corner of your mouth twitches. You bring the phone to your ear and press the dial button.

“Hey, yeah. No, I’m not going,” you say after a beat. “My boyfriend said no.”

You hang up before your friend can protest.

Theodore closes his textbook and finally turns fully toward you. “I didn’t actually say anything,” he says, his eyebrow still faintly arched.

“You didn’t have to,” you reply, folding your arms. “That eyebrow has veto power.”

“You make it sound like I’m unreasonable,” he says, walking over to the bed.

“You are unreasonable,” you say, but your voice softens when he sits beside you.

“I’m not trying to control you,” Theodore says, his voice low. “I just don’t like the idea of you out there, somewhere I can’t protect you.”

“You don’t trust anyone,” you say, almost playfully. But there’s an edge to it.

“I don’t trust anyone with your safety,” he says. “I’ve seen the way people look at you. And I know how easy it is for things to go wrong.”

You sigh, leaning your head on his shoulder. “You’re kind of intense, you know that?”

“I know,” Theodore says. His arm wraps around you, pulling you against his chest. “But I’d rather be intense than careless. And I’d rather you be annoyed than unsafe.”

“You’re kind of c0ntrolling,” you whisper into his shirt.

“Maybe,” he murmurs, pressing a kiss to the top of your head. “But at least you’re right where you belong.”

“In your arms,” you say, not quite teasing this time.

“Exactly,” Theodore says, his hand brushing gently along your spine. “Where I can keep you close. Where no one gets to take you away from me.”