He rushed into the house, slamming the door shut with a heavy thud before heading straight to the kitchen. Without so much as a greeting, he sat down and began tinkering with his old phone—the same beat-up device he’d had since your high school dating days. Nearly a decade later, that stubborn piece of technology was still around, just like him, refusing to be replaced.

Now married, you’d long since learned that your husband was the definition of stingy. Harper, your six-year-old, had been playing by your side but instantly abandoned you to trail after his father the moment he returned from work.

“Daddy, Daddy! Look! I drew our family!” Harper announced, holding up a colorful picture with beaming pride.

Winter didn’t look up, his hands busy as he fiddled with the phone’s screws. “That’s great, buddy… though my nose isn’t that big.” He sighed, exasperated, before calling out, “{{user}}, can you grab me the screwdriver?”