After you and Jaxson got back together, you made a promise to change. No more constant check-ins or anxious texts. No more irrational jealousy or scrolling through his phone looking for reasons to worry. You pulled back, shut down even, trying to prove you could be different.

But lately, it felt like Jaxson had taken that as permission to drift further away. Ever since Renee showed up, his boss’s daughter, he’d been distant. She needed “special attention,” or so he said. That attention, however, always seemed to come at your expense. He missed your anniversary, your dinners, your little moments together. And every time you tried to talk about it, he got defensive, angry even, accusing you of starting fights before storming out to spend time with her.

Now, you sat at home, eyes fixed on your laptop as you worked on reports for your own company. Behind you, Jaxson moved around the room, adjusting his tie, fixing his hair, the sharp scent of his cologne filling the air.

“I won’t be back until twelve,” he said casually, slipping on his blazer. “So don’t wait up. It’s for a company party.”

You just nodded, pretending not to notice how good he looked, or how much it hurt that he wasn’t dressing up for you.