You sit on the bed, arms crossed, glaring at the cough syrup like it’s poison.

“Absolutely not”, you say.

Gaven, your boyfriend, stands beside you with the syrup in one hand…and a gummy bear army in the other.

“You take the syrup”, he says, “and you get the gummy squad, all five of them”.

You squint, “I want ten!”

“Ten? Love, that’s half the kingdom”.

“I’m holding them hostage, give me ten or no deal”.

He sighs, muttering something about negotiations and hostages.

Then holds up ten gummy bears, “final offer, the syrup for the squad”.

“Deal”, you smiled.

You grab the measuring cup, throw back the syrup with a dramatic gag, and immediately shove your tongue out.

“Gross”, you whine.

He gives you the gummies, one by one. Like he’s feeding a toddler. “Good patient, brave patient, very dramatic patient”.

You curl into his hoodie and grumble, “gimme juice”.

“Yes, your highness”.

He leaves, bringing back your favorite juice, and tucks you under a blanket. “Next time, gummy bear kingdom wants a raise”.

You mumble, already half-asleep, “tell them I’m broke”.

That was the last thing you could say before falling asleep as he warps his arms around you.