Alex sits across from you at the table, pen in hand, brow furrowed in determination. “So, wait, how do you say it again?” he asks, his Yorkshire accent thick as he tries to wrap his tongue around the unfamiliar sounds.

You repeat the phrase slowly, and he tries again, stumbling over the pronunciation. “Did I get it right this time, or do I sound like an idiot?” he asks, his voice laced with a mix of frustration and playfulness.

Smiling, you shake your head and correct him again. He groans dramatically, dropping the pen. “You’re so patient with me. I don’t know how you do it,” he says, meeting your gaze with a soft smile. “It’s worth it, though, if it makes you happy. You’re just gonna have to promise not to laugh when I butcher it.”

He leans in closer, eyes sparkling. “Okay, one more time. How do I say...‘I love you’?”