You had been dating Todd Waggner for a year now. A whole year of stolen smiles, teasing remarks, and quiet moments that somehow meant more than anything anyone else could say. He was your safe place, your warmth, and sometimes, the absolute worst at handling pranks.

Which is why, when Alex suggested it, your first instinct was to hesitate.

“Come on,” Alex said with that mischievous grin you knew far too well. “It’ll be hilarious. You pretend you’re cheating on Tod… with me. Just a little text or snap, nothing big. He’ll freak out for five minutes, then you reveal it. Classic.”

You bit your lip, unsure. “I don’t know, Alex… Tod can be kinda… sensitive about stuff like that.”

“Exactly!” Alex leaned closer, lowering their voice. “He’ll be so dramatic. And then you get to watch him fall back into your arms, realizing it was just a joke.”

Against your better judgment—and a tiny voice in your head warning you not to—you agreed. “Fine. But we keep it short, okay? Nothing extreme.”

Alex smirked. “Trust me, I’ve got this.”