Tarquin had alreadye downstairs, looking like a puppy who just got scolded. Elysia ignored him, carrying her te of food straight into the dining room. Tarquin sighed and strode into the kitchen. "Dad, what did Elysia say to you?" yton lowered his voice, "Don''t get all gloomy. She said she''s moving into the guest room for two reasons: one, to punish you, and two, to get a surprise ready for you."


    Tarquin blinked. "A surprise?"


    "Yep."


    "What kind of surprise?"


    "She didn''t say. So even if you were a total angel today, she''d still find some reason to kick you out."


    Tarquin groaned, "Can I just skip the surprise and keep my wife?"


    yton shrugged. "Hey, don''t ask me. Go ask her."


    Tarquin threw a nce at Elysia. She shot him a re.


    He tried shing her a winning smile. She rolled her eyes so hard it looked like she might pull a muscle.


    Tarquin: ... Yeah, no need to ask. That''s a hard no.


    Elysia turned away, but couldn''t help grinning to herself.


    Silly guy, as if she''d really want to sleep apart if not for the surprise she was nning for him! Her husband deserved a little spoiling, after all.


    Sure, he''d skipped out with Evan the other day. A bit of scolding was enough— she wouldn''t banish him to the couch just for that. But his birthday wasing up fast, and she needed time to set up his surprise...


    And if it''s going to be a surprise, he absolutely can''t know what it is.


    That means he''ll just have to suffer a little now for a sweet rewardter. Dyed gratification, babe!


    ...


    Once Tarquin realized there was a surprise in store, his mood lifted. But a night without his wife beside him? Pure torture.


    He tossed and turned, then finally called Keaton Huber.


    Keaton picked up instantly, but sounded like he wanted to hang up just as fast. "Dude, you calling me thiste? Make it quick, I''m busy chatting up a girl right now."


    Tarquin raised an eyebrow. "Where''d you find a girl?"


    "Just met her tonight, and trust me, she''s about to be my girlfriend. So spit it out, don''t ruin my game."


    Before Tarquin could answer, Keaton suddenly had a realization.


    "Wait, shouldn''t you be cuddling with Elysia right now? Why the heck are you calling me? Hold up-did she kick you out of bed?!"


    Tarquin: ...


    Keaton heard the silence and burst outughing, "Dude, what did you do to get yourself exiled? Bro, you must''ve broken some kind of holy rule!"


    Tarquin scowled, refusing to take the bait. Instead, he ryed everything Elysia had told him earlier.


    Then, more seriously, he warned Keaton: "Look, I don''t care if you


    or not


    or no


    want to chase after What


    but if you ever make her cry:ing for you. Elysia made me promise."  s


    Keaton was absolutely bbergasted.


    "Man, you arepletely whipped! Seriously, don''t you ever think about your bros? It''s all about your wife, huh?"


    "It''s bad enough you put your wife first-now you gotta protect her best friend, too?"


    "So what, I''m not as important as your wife? Fine. But now I''m not even as important as your wife''s bestie? That''s cold, man!"


    "You know what, Tarquin? I don''t care about anyone''s opinion, but gotta hand it to you-you are the mosthenpecked man I know Aren''t you even a little embarrassed?"  s


    "What''s so scary about women anyway? I just don''t get it. If I ever get married, I''ll


    be the king of the castle. My word will bew!"


    Mr. Huber was still young and clueless. Mr. Bradford, on the other hand, knew better.


    "The louder you talk, the harder you''ll get knocked down, trust me."


    Keaton scoffed, "No way I''ll ever be whipped like you! I''m 100% alpha, man. Oh,


    wait, the girl''s sending me a voice note-gotta go!"


    "As for Winona, rx. We''re just


    velmet


    friends. I swear, I''ll never make move. If I do, I''ll babysit her grandkids or something! out!"  s<fn751e> Readplete version only at f?ndnovel</fn751e>


    gaussien vay, làm


    Keaton hung up, clearly eager to get back to his date.


    Tarquin didn''t bother calling again. He rolled over and texted Elysia.


    [Hey babe, you still awake?]


    [Can''t sleep. Miss you.]


    No reply. After a while, he tried again.


    [Babe, I''m going to bed. Can I get a goodnight kiss? Do I deserve one?]


    Elysia: ...


    She couldn''t help but think of that meme that was blowing up onlely—a series of dramatic, needy texts.


    Honestly, this man was asking for it.


    But hey, her husband deserved a little pampering. Elysia replied,


    [Goodnight kiss, mwah.]


    Tarquin grinned and texted back, [Love you.]


    He even sent a sticker of a cartoon hugging and kissing.


    Elysia smiled, her lips quirking up. [I''m going to bed now. Don''t bug me.]


    Tarquin: [Love you, love you, love you, Elysia, I love you!]


    Elysiaughed quietly to herself. "Silly man, such a big baby sometimes."


    Honestly, men are just grown-up kids.


    When a man''spletely at ease with a woman, he turns into the goofiest version of himself.


    Elysia didn''t reply again. She closed the chat and got to work—not on medicine this time, but on nning her husband''s birthday surprise...