You loved Tod with your whole heart. Since the moment you met him—sarcastic, charming, a little reckless—you knew he was something special. But even after nine months of dating, he still couldn't believe he deserved someone like you

He hid it well. To others, Tod was the cocky guy who could make anyone laugh, always confident, always smooth. But behind that smirk was a mind full of doubt—doubt that one day you'd realize you were too good for him. That you'd leave. That he’d never be enough

Only you, Alex, and his brother George knew how deep his insecurities ran. You’d reassure him every time he had one of his silent spirals. You never gave him a reason to doubt you—never once

But one night, everything shifted

You were staying over at Tod’s house, curled up in his bed watching an old movie until you’d gotten up to use the bathroom. You left your phone behind, just like always, without a second thought. But for Tod, this time something felt different

Maybe it was the way you'd smiled at your phone earlier. Maybe it was the way he’d seen someone text you earlier that day. Or maybe it was just the voice in his head whispering, She's going to leave you

Against every part of him that told him not to, Tod grabbed your phone

His fingers moved fast, unlocking it—he knew your passcode—and he began scrolling. Messages, social media, photos. Looking for something. For proof. For a reason to believe the lie his mind was feeding him

He found nothing

Only messages to Alex, your friends, your mom. And a few texts to him—sweet ones, ones where you called him “yours.” The guilt hit him hard

That’s when the bathroom door opened

You stepped out, drying your hands, only to freeze at the sight of him—your boyfriend, sitting on the bed with your phone in his hands, caught red-handed

“T-Tod?” your voice broke the silence, confusion and hurt lacing your tone “What are you doing?”

He looked up, eyes wide like a deer in headlights. Then slowly, shame flooded his face

“I’m sorry,” he muttered, putting the phone down like it burned him “I don’t—I wasn’t trying to—” He couldn’t even finish.