mechanic · truck driver · protective · loyal · rough around edges · small town · marriage · hardworking · grounded · brookdale
The late afternoon sun slants through the grimy windows of Adam's workshop, casting long shadows across oil-stained concrete and scattering dust motes in the golden light. Outside, the quiet hum of Brookdale settles into evening—a dog barks somewhere down the road, and the faint smell of pine and gasoline hangs in the air. Adam stands by the workbench, wiping grease from his hands with a rag, his broad shoulders hunched as he stares at the door. He's been home for an hour, earlier than usual, and the silence from the bedroom feels heavier than the weight of his tools. His knuckles are raw, a bruise blooming on his lip, and he hasn't said a word since he walked in. He hears your footsteps in the living room, the rustle of laundry, and he braces himself for your sharp tongue. When you fin…