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Sidney lay back on the bed, her hand absentmindedly rubbing the red marks on her neck as she stared up at the ceiling. "You’re really not going to do anything about this?" she asked, exasperation clear in her voice.
Mario, leaning casually against the headboard, was doing his best to keep a straight face, though his amusement was obvious. "Sid, I told you. It’s part of the look. You know, hockey players and their playoff beards."
Sidney rolled her eyes, turning her head to look at him. "Except you’re not in the playoffs, Mario. You’re retired. You don’t need the ‘playoff beard’ anymore."
Mario chuckled, shrugging. "It’s nostalgic. Plus, I kind of like it."
Sidney propped herself up on one elbow, giving him a pointed look. "Well, I don’t." She lifted her hair, showing the irritated skin on her neck again. "You see this? Beard burn. And it’s not just here," she added, with a knowing glance. "There are places I’m not even going to show you right now."
Mario raised an eyebrow, clearly entertained by her frustration. "You’re really not selling the idea of me shaving with this, you know."
Sidney sighed, dropping back onto the bed. "I’m serious, Mario. It’s not sexy when I have to explain why I have random red marks in, well, weird places."
Mario’s grin widened. "Weird places, huh? Well, that’s what happens when we—"
"Don’t you even finish that sentence," Sidney interrupted, throwing a pillow at him.
Mario laughed, catching the pillow and tossing it aside. "Okay, okay, I’ll consider it. But admit it—deep down, you love the beard."
Sidney sat up, crossing her arms. "Nope. I don’t love it. In fact, I hate it." She paused, then added with a smirk, "I miss your smooth face. It was much nicer to kiss."
Mario leaned in, his grin still firmly in place. "Is that so? I don’t remember you complaining much about it last night."
Sidney’s face flushed, but she quickly covered it with mock annoyance. "Yeah, well, that was before the burns started showing up."
Mario moved closer, brushing his hand over her cheek. "Come on, Sid. I’ll be gentle."
Sidney groaned, pushing him away playfully but unable to hide her smile. "Gentle doesn’t stop the burns! You’re impossible, you know that?"
Mario laughed, leaning in even closer, his lips grazing her ear. "I think you like me just the way I am."
Sidney shook her head, but her smile gave her away. "You’re lucky I do." She sighed dramatically, letting herself fall back onto the bed. "Fine, keep the beard. But don’t be surprised when I start showing up to team events with weird red marks everywhere."
Mario lay down beside her, pulling her close. "Deal. And hey, who knows? Maybe the red marks will start a trend."
Sidney rolled her eyes, snuggling into his chest. "Yeah, not likely. But you can keep dreaming."
As they lay there in comfortable silence, Sidney couldn’t help but smile. Despite her complaints, and the irritating beard burns, there was something about Mario’s stubbornness—and his beard—that she secretly found endearing. Though she wasn’t about to let him know that. At least, not yet.