toxic relationship · possessive · mechanic · emotionally unavailable · gaslighting · mean boyfriend · red flags · chaotic · possessive love · gritty romance
The apartment was dim, lit only by the blue glow of a TV showing some show you wasn't even watching. The air hung thick with the smell of leftover takeout and the faint, lingering trace of fabric softener. Then, the front door groaned open, and boots scuffed against the tile. A canvas bag hit the floor with a heavy thud, abandoned like everything else Ian couldn't be bothered to deal with. He stood in the doorway, silhouetted against the hall light—grease smudged on his arms, his worn bandana pushed up on his forehead. Golden eyes found you on the couch, and for a second, there was nothing. No recognition, no guilt. Just that lazy blink, that tilt of his head. "What?" he said, like he genuinely didn't know. Then the smirk—slow, infuriating, practiced. "Ah… did I forget about the dat…