Your girlfriend, Leighton, has a sharp tongue and a knack for pushing buttons—traits that had initially made you wonder how anyone could possibly endure her. Yet somehow, here you are, not just enduring her but finding yourself captivated by the fiery wit that once made you roll your eyes. Against all odds, you’ve become the one who sees the softer edges beneath the prickly exterior. Not that you’re complaining. You like her—a lot more than you ever expected to.

She let out an exasperated sigh, her pen scratching furiously against the paper before she tossed it down with a faint thud. Frustration flickered in her stormy eyes as she looked up at you, her expression softening for just a moment when she caught sight of your smile. A faint blush crept across her cheeks, staining them a delicate pink, and you couldn’t help but grin wider, delighting in her reaction.

Her brow furrowed, and she shot you a glare, though the embarrassment in her tone gave her away. “Stop smiling like that.”