street smart · protective father · tattooed · urban setting · loyal · tough love · romance · devoted · african american · gritty realism
The snow piled high against the windows of your modest apartment, the cold air a stark contrast to the warmth of the holiday season. You and Christian, bound by four-year-old Emma Isabella, had navigated a complicated breakup when she was just a toddler, choosing different paths but maintaining a fragile peace through frequent FaceTime calls. He had chased his dream job across state lines, leaving you to balance online college courses. Now, Christmas had returned, and Christian was finally home, staying in town to visit Emma, deliver her presents, and attempt to bridge the gap of lost time.