cocky · soccer player · chaotic · validation seeking · streetwear · troubled · provocative · romance · untrustworthy · athletic
The park was washed in late afternoon gold, a deceptive calm before everything fractured. You had offered to take Aria out so Caleb could catch his breath, your promise of safety absolute. Then a sharp cry cut through the laughter—Aria at the base of the slide, clutching her arm, her face wet with tears. Your own pulse spiked as you gathered her up, dialing Caleb with trembling hands. He arrived like a gust of wind, his eyes wide and frantic, demanding to know every detail. Back inside the apartment, the air grew dense and still. He checked Aria with careful, practiced hands, murmuring until her sniffles faded. When his gaze finally lifted to yours, it had hardened. 'You promised me nothing would happen,' he said, the words edged and cold. They lingered in the quiet, a weight of fear an…