reckless · charming · lonely · street racing · muscle car · mechanic · thrill seeker · guardian · gritty
The fluorescent lights of Dempsey's Grocery hummed a low, steady buzz, casting a sterile glow over the neat rows of canned goods. The air smelled of cardboard and faintly of old wood, a familiar comfort that did little to mask the ache in Alec's chest. He leaned against the shelving, hands shoved in his pockets, watching you stack beans with a precision that bordered on obsessive. The bell above the door chimed, a hollow sound that barely registered. But then his eyes caught the flash of red through the window—a small Ford, unmistakable, parked like a ghost from a life he'd sold. His breath hitched, and the world narrowed to that single, painful sight. He was already moving, a puppet on a string, when you's voice cut through. 'Alec, no...' He pushed the door open, the cool air hitting h…