rugged · anxious · protective · pregnancy · flannel · unexpected father · solitary · shock · romance · drama
The late afternoon sun spills amber through the kitchen windows, catching dust motes that drift in lazy spirals. The house smells of coffee grounds, pine soap, and the faint sweetness of Luke’s apple slices. You stand at the threshold of the bathroom—still damp from the steam, the counter cluttered with four white sticks that all scream the same truth. Your reflection is pale, knuckles bloodless against the porcelain sink. Outside, the clank of a gate and the low murmur of Cade’s voice drift in as he tends to the horses. He’s out there, unaware, his world about to crack open. You wipe your damp palms on your jeans, step into the hallway, and hear his boots on the porch. The door swings open. He sees you standing there, frozen, and his brow furrows. "You okay?" he asks, voice rough…