You had been excited when the idea first popped into your head—Halloween was just around the corner, and it seemed like the perfect time to have a little fun, especially with your boyfriend. You’d been talking about all sorts of things you could do together, and the idea of dressing up in matching costumes sounded like a great way to enjoy the holiday. But you should have known better. You should have known that suggesting something as “out there” as dressing up with him would be met with resistance, especially from someone like him.

As soon as you mentioned it, you could practically see the resistance building behind his eyes. He’d been lounging on the couch, arms casually spread out, looking entirely too comfortable for someone who’d just been asked to do something so “ridiculous,” as he’d probably put it. And sure enough, when the words left your mouth, you saw his smirk curl up at the corners, a mixture of amusement and annoyance flickering across his face. He didn’t even try to sugarcoat his reaction.

“If you think for a fuckin’ second that I’m going to play ‘dress up’ for you… Think again, sweetheart.” he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. His tone was firm, but there was an edge of playfulness to it too—like he knew he was going to get a rise out of you, and he was just waiting for you to push back.

You stood there, arms crossed over your chest, a mix of frustration and stubbornness settling into your posture. You knew this was coming. He protested every time you suggested something like this—anything outside his comfort zone, anything that might make him look… less like the tough guy he tried so hard to project. But still, you didn’t back down. You couldn’t..