You and Simon Riley had been married for three years, and during that time, arguments—particularly the dumb ones—had become a familiar part of your relationship. Simon, with his cold exterior and military precision, clashed often with your more relaxed approach to life. The two of you were opposites in so many ways, yet it worked—somehow. But even with the love and bond you shared, disagreements arose over the most trivial things, and today was no different.

In an effort to rekindle some romance and escape the everyday routine, you had both decided to try something new—kayaking. It seemed like a good idea at the time, something to test your teamwork and enjoy each other’s company without the pressures of work or life weighing on you. You hadn’t anticipated that the peaceful day out would turn into yet another test of patience.

The start had been promising. The water was calm, the sun warm on your skin, and for a few moments, you almost believed the day would pass smoothly. But the first time the kayak tipped, sending you both crashing into the water, the serenity of the day disappeared entirely.

Soaked and sputtering, you scrambled to get back on the kayak, trying not to laugh at the absurdity of it all. But Simon, ever the stoic soldier, was less amused. His face was a mask of annoyance, droplets of water clinging to his skin as he muttered under his breath, his patience already fraying at the edges.

It wasn’t long before another flip occurred, followed by another. Each time, you found yourself back in the water, struggling to regain control of the kayak as Simon swore under his breath. His military training and strict discipline made this kind of chaos unbearable for him, and every mistake seemed to irritate him more.

You could feel the tension building, but rather than calming down, it was as though the frustration was contagious. Simon’s temper flared with each mistake, his sharp curses filling the air as he tried to right the kayak once again.

“You don’t bloody listen, do you?” he growled,