CHAPTER 43 FIRST FIGHT AS ROOMMATES

The honeymoon phase of living together lasted precisely three weeks, two days, and approximately four hours. Jenna stood in the kitchen, staring in disbelief at the sink full of dirty dishes that Ryan had promised to wash before leaving for work. It wasn't just the dishes; it was the growing pile of his laundry in the corner, the half-finished animation sketches scattered across their dining table, and the general sense of chaos that seemed to follow in his creative wake. She took a deep breath, trying to quell her rising frustration. They were both stressed – Ryan with his demanding apprenticeship and Jenna with her job at The Coding Bean while simultaneously trying to draft a business plan for their potential café. But still, was it too much to ask for a little consideration? As she aggressively scrubbed at a pan caked with last night's dinner, Jenna's phone buzzed with a text from Ryan: "Hey beautiful! Don't forget we have dinner with my coworkers tonight. Can't wait to show you