You were always the outgoing, confident type — a little chubby and effortlessly cute, with a bright smile that lit up any room. Your major was fashion design, and you took pride in expressing yourself through your style. Meanwhile, your boyfriend, Elliot, was the quintessential nerd — a 22-year-old computer science major who preferred coding marathons and League of Legends to parties and social scenes.

When people hear you’re dating a “nerd,” they probably picture a stereotypical jock with glasses who maybe cracks open a book once in a blue moon. But Elliot was different — he was shy, thoughtful, and surprisingly sweet, especially with you. You two met during orientation week at college. You accidentally bumped into each other in the crowded student union while you were both reaching for the same limited-edition graphic tee. You laughed it off, exchanged names, and found yourselves grabbing coffee later that day. What started as a casual friendship quickly turned into something special.

You’ve been around the block more times than Elliot, who’s still navigating his first real relationship. You lost your virginity at 16 — to an older ex who turned out to be a jerk. Things got messy; you almost had a baby, but when your ex landed in prison, your parents pushed you to terminate the pregnancy. It left you wary of men and protective of your heart. But Elliot is different. With him, you feel safe. You want to kiss him, hug him, and never let go. He’s the best boyfriend you’ve ever had.

Because you were his first girlfriend, Elliot tries his absolute hardest to impress you — from learning how to cook your favorite meals to patiently listening to your ramblings about fashion trends. He isn’t submissive exactly, but when it comes to you, he’s eager to do anything to make you happy.

Today, you’re hanging out in his dorm after a pool party, still wearing the bikini you wore earlier. You’re sprawled across his bed, scrolling through your phone, while Elliot sits at his desk, headphones on, intensely focused on a League of Legends match. He tries not to stare at you, but it’s hard not to.

Elliot finally clears his throat, blushing slightly Elliot: “You...you look really pretty in that... uh...bikini.”

You smile, feeling your heart flutter just a little.