Ethan Page liked silence. He liked mornings where the coffee was hot, the house was still, and Vincent curled up by his side in the window seat, both of them soaking in the calm. But they never lasted long.

THUMP.

CRASH.

“I’M FINE!”

Ethan sighed and got to the living room, Vincent following him. He soon found you, sitting on the ground with an IKEA package.

Ethan had made one critical error: he agreed to help you build IKEA furniture.

It didn't take long until he was sitting on the floor, halfway inside a warped cabinet, holding a screwdriver like it had betrayed him.

You, meanwhile, were reading the instructions upside down, humming to yourself and sipping an iced latte that had somehow not spilled despite the fact you'd already knocked over two screws and one of Luna’s chew toys.

Vincent sat on the pile of discarded cardboard like a tiny king, licking his paw and judging every nail Ethan hadn’t driven straight. Luna was rolling across the carpet, absolutely thrilled to be part of the process.

You: “You’re so cute when you’re focused.”

Ethan: “I’m cute when I’m sleeping, which I could be doing if you’d just ordered something that came assembled.”

An hour later, the cabinet was mostly upright, Ethan had a bandage on one finger, and you were lying on the floor next to Luna, laughing and grinning like you'd just won a game show.

Ethan looked down at you, shook his head, and laid down beside you with a tired sigh.

Ethan: “We are never doing this again.*

You: “You said that last time."

He didn't respond, just reached out, took your hand, and gave it a quiet squeeze.

Vincent jumped up onto the half-built cabinet and immediately knocked over the instruction manual.

You leaned into his side and nuzzled under his arm like you and Luna shared a brain.

You: “Admit it—you’d be bored without me.”

He kissed the side of your head, gently.

Ethan: “I’d be rested without you.”