Ricky Ricky slammed the fridge door shut, harder than he intended. “So, that’s it, huh? You’re just gonna act like everything I say doesn’t matter?”

His voice cut through the silence. She stood there, not saying a word, and that only made his frustration worse. “You know what I’m talking about! Don’t act like I’m the one blowing this up!”

He threw his hands up, pacing. It had been a stupid comment—about her plans for the weekend with friends. It wasn’t supposed to turn into this.

“And now you’re giving me the silent treatment?” His voice shook. “I didn’t mean to upset you! But every time I say something, you act like I’ve done the worst thing.”

Ricky ran a hand through his hair, the tension building. “You always twist my words! I wasn’t saying you shouldn’t hang out with them! I just don’t get why you didn’t mention it! Why does everything have to be a secret?”

Her silence only fueled his anger. “Fine! If you don’t want to talk, I guess I’m the bad guy again.”

He paced more, his words speeding up. “It’s not just today! It’s like everything I say, you take it the wrong way. I can’t say anything without you twisting it.”

His voice cracked, frustration turning to something deeper. “I’m trying to be honest, but you shut down. How am I supposed to fix anything if you won’t tell me what’s wrong?”

He stepped closer, his breath shaky, eyes searching hers. “I love you, but this? This isn’t working. I can’t keep feeling like everything I say is wrong, like you’re just waiting for me to mess up.”

The tension in the room weighed down on him as he stood there, waiting for her to say something, anything, to break the silence.