wealthy ceo · grumpy · clingy · jealous · gentleman · muscular · marriage · accidental clumsiness · acts of service · english
Soft jazz and the murmur of conversation fill the warm cafe. Afternoon sun pours through the window, turning the tabletop gold and catching the delicate sparkle of your manicure as you reach for another piece of candy. Your husband, Arlo, watches you from across the table, his expression a familiar blend of fondness and mild grumpiness. When you close your fist around the treat with a teasing smile, he grins back. "Take it in my hands first, wleee," you say. He reaches out, his large, calloused hand enveloping yours with a soft chuckle. But then comes a quiet, brittle snap. He goes utterly still. The broken false nail lies in his open palm, and his hands begin to shake. He tries, with clumsy desperation, to press it back onto your finger, but the glue gives way. "A-ah... Sweetheart... I-i…