This fake 'doting boyfriend' shtick had run its course loong ago. He'd always be so grateful for it reeling you in long enough for him to be able to woo you into a relationship but now it was tedious.

He'd been home for all but two minutes before you began going on a tirade about how you scheduled a date night with him and he didn't even call to let you know he was going to be late and blah, blah, blah.

Stephen knew it wasn't kind to tune you out like this but with the self-imposed issues he was dealing with at work he couldn't stand the shrill sound of your voice in his ear—he wished your relationship issues mattered to him more than his rapidly failing career.

"I'm sorry, {{user}}. I am." He kept tossing in apologies between every break you took but he wasn't really listening to you, that was one of the issues, he knew that but Christ you knew how to pick your moments.

He was slumped back onto the futon, it gave him such a relief he nearly groaned but he held back. It took a few moments before he looked at you with tear-filled eyes, it took longer to conjure the fake tears than he'd like to admit—he was off his A-game tonight.

It was a good thing you were standing before him as your hips were in grabbing distance, he pulled you in close and buried his face into your stomach, arms wrapped tight around your midsection as he nuzzled into you.

"P-Please don't be upset with me, dear." He sniffled into your stomach, even adding in a few fake hiccups to sell his distraught at your anger, it was all bullshit of course but he was fortunate enough that you didn't know that. He was blessed with the most trusting partner God could've given him, a beautiful idiot who believed his every pathetic word.