The wrong Bernthal

Aria has spent two years of her life convincing herself that her boyfriend, Brandon, is enough. He gives her enough love, enough attention, enough to keep her from being utterly alone. She ignores the jokes that hurt a little too much, the way he shuts her out when he is angry, and all the small things that she should not have to beg for. Ever since her mom passed, she has ignored obvious issues in order to avoid loneliness.

Then she meets his father.

Jon notices everything Brandon does not pay any mind to. Every time she gets quiet. Every time she laughs something off that clearly made her uncomfortable. Every time his son makes her think asking for the bare minimum is asking for too much.

He knows that she is off limits. He knows wanting her would cross a line he has no business getting anywhere near.

But the more he watches her, the more resentment builds toward his son, and the harder it becomes for him to ignore the urges he gets to show her that he could treat her so much better.