This one is inspired by Tim McGraw's new song, "Hard to Stay Mad At." Enjoy!

"Nathan?" Haley asks. Her voice is tentative; a quiet, shaky whisper as if the words themselves were made of clouds. "Are you mad at me?"
She watches him from her spot on the bed, her back perched against the pillows, as Nathan slowly strips into his boxers. Haley can feel the tension rippling down the knots of his spine. Save for an earlier headnod, he barely acknowledged her presence- even when she had nothing on but a towel. That's how she knows something is bothering him.

When another silent minute passes, Haley says his name firmly. This gets his attention.

Nathan's eyes snap in her direction as he gently eases under the covers. Her teeth sink into her lower lip, and begins gnawing at the fatty flesh, anxiously awaiting his response.

"Yeah," he mumbles and crosses his arms over his chest, "you could say I'm mad."

Haley's shoulders slump with an exaggerated sag, trying not to stare at the river of protruding veins carved across her husband's biceps. "Why?"

He shifts further beneath the covers in a desperate attempt to avoid her concerned eyes and wandering hands.

"You told Luke," Nathan groans, "you said you wouldn't tell anyone!"

"Aw, honey," Haley almost laughs at the pout folding over Nathan's lips. Their four-year-old daughter, Lydia, wears the exact adorable expression when she's brooding over something.

"It's not funny, Hales," the throaty whine matches Lydia's, too. "It's embarrassing."

"I just wanted him to talk to you. It happens to every guy, baby. It's not a big deal." Her sneaky hand snakes beneath the covers and taps a soft pattern against his naked chest. Nathan's too busy pouting to even notice.

"He's my brother!"

"Would you have preferred I go to Chase, or Clay?"

"No. I would've preferred if it stayed between us!" Nathan's voice wobbles on the edge of another decibel, but when he remembers their children are asleep across the hall, it remains a hushed but angry whisper.

"I'm sorry," Haley continues to gnaw at her lip. Nathan glances over her head because he knows if he keeps staring, it'll be his own teeth chewing it. "I only told him because I know it's been bothering you but you don't listen to me. I thought Lucas could reassure you-,"

Nathan cringes, "it's weird, Haley. Guys don't talk about that shit."

"I wish you'd stop beating yourself up over it. It was only one time and it happens to everyone."

Nathan raises an eyebrow, "how do you know that?"

"How do I know what?"

"That it happens to every guy?"

"I mean, I don't…" Haley trips over her words. "I just base it off of what I've heard."

"Heard from who?"

"Brooke. Peyton, Quinn, Viv-."

Nathan's mouth forms a perfect circle, "you talk about it with your sisters?"

"I didn't tell anyone except Lucas, I promise!"

"But-" Nathan shakes his head, "in the past?"

"Oh, yeah," Haley waves a hand in the air fluidly, as if swatting a fly, "they've said they had times where their partners couldn't perform, but like I said, not a big deal."

"Ugh," Nathan groans again. "Is there anything girls don't talk about?"

Haley pretends to think about it, then laughs, "I don't think so."

"Lucas is basically a girl," Nathan rolls his eyes, "he'll probably babble it to Peyton now."

"He won't. He promised."

"Oh," Nathan looks at Haley with a pointed expression. His blue eyes narrow sharply, "you mean like you promised?"

"I'm sorry," she whispers; her tone is syrupy. She uses it when she's trying to sound extra sweet. "If it makes you feel any better, I also said you're an absolute God in bed."

Nathan bites back a grin. He's still mad- at least, he wants Haley to think he's mad. But damn, she's hard to stay mad at. Especially now that she's looking up at him with those eyes. Those huge, melted milk-chocolate eyes with magnetic powers. He always drowns in the pools of her black irises; but Nathan would gladly never come back for air if he had the choice.

"Yeah, but that doesn't change the fact you told Lucas about last night!"

"Did he make fun of you?"

"No," Nathan sighs, "but still, if I wanted advice, I would have gone to him on my own."

Haley's hopeful grin crumbles, "you're right. I'm sorry, Nathan. I shouldn't have said anything."

"I know he's your best friend, but I'm your husband, Hales," Nathan says with a layer of hurt beneath his words.

"Oh, Nathan," Haley reaches for his hand and threads their fingers together, "I really am sorry. I didn't mean for it to seem like I was putting Lucas ahead of you. You know you always come first. Always and forever," she smiles widely to try to get him to crack a smile. He does. She takes it as an in to snuggle into his chest. Her skin immediately molds to his. Nathan can't control it. When she's in his arms, everything is better, instantly. He wraps his arms tightly around her waist. She's wearing one of his old college t-shirts but it smells like her fruity soap. He inhales a strong breath and nuzzles her forehead.

"Are you still mad at me?" She whispers.

"Maybe," he murmurs.

"What if I do this?" Haley begins to bluntly rake her fingernails along his abs. She sees the corner of his lips crack into another smile.

"Still mad," he says.

Like a rose petal, a pout now blossoms across Haley's lip, "I'm sorry, baby, I really am. I'll never do it again."

She gives him those eyes again; they're bursting with love and pure adoration. He's her fool and she knows it. Damn it.

"Okay," he says simply.

"So, you're not mad anymore?" She lifts her head from his chest and her grin glows with a thin layer of hope.

Nathan suppresses another smirk, "oh, no, I'm still mad." Before Haley can reply, he continues, "I'm mad that you're so damn hard to stay mad at."

Her giggle wraps around him, "well, you know they say you should never go to bed angry."

"Is that right?" He feels her bare leg wrap around his beneath the covers, and smirks. There's no denying it. He can't stay mad at Haley James Scott. "I guess whoever 'they' are has a good point."

Haley shifts so that she's fully straddling him. Nathan's hands find her hips and hold her steady as she leans down to meet him for a long, sensual kiss.

"I love you, Nathan. I'm sorry I upset you."

"It's okay," he whispers with a permanent smirk, "it just means we get to make up."

Haley laughs and rolls her eyes before leaning in for another kiss, "fine by me."

"I love you, too, Hales."

"Shh," Haley shuts him up with a harder kiss, "we have some making up to do."