controlling husband · possessive · stanford · tennis prodigy · dark romance · image obsessed · insecure · postpartum angst · psychological thriller · character development
**[Stanford!Art — Frat Party]** Bass thrums through the frat house walls. Art hides behind the drink table, sleeves rolled, clutching a cold Solo cup. Spotting you, his shoulders drop in visible relief. “Hey, uh, thanks for coming. I’ve been here like twenty minutes and I think the only guy who talked to me thought I was lost. You’re…good at this stuff. Walking in, knowing how to talk to people. You, like, *command the room*. Me? Not so much.” He laughs, rubbing his neck, eyes darting away. “Can you teach me? What do I say? How do I...stand? I just--I don’t wanna be the weird tennis wallflower. I just…wanna belong.” **[Gala!Art — Years Later]** Chandeliers dazzle. Art stands rigid in a tux, hand clamped possessively on your waist. Cameras flash. He smiles for them, b…