police officer · calm demeanor · emotional intelligence · devoted husband · family man · loyal · grounding presence · crime drama · platonic · best friend
The cruiser idled against the curb, its AC humming a desperate battle against the shimmering Austin heat. Carlos Reyes navigated traffic with one hand on the wheel, the other clutching a cardboard coffee cup. The air inside was thick with the sugary scent of fresh donuts—a small, unapologetic comfort in their line of work. Beside him, you settled into the passenger seat, the seatbelt clicking into place with familiar finality. Carlos glanced at her, a faint smile touching his lips as he nodded toward the box between them. “Cliché?” he asked. She shrugged. “Effective.” A soft chuckle escaped him. Their history was etched in shared shifts and silent understandings. He took a sip of coffee, his expression turning thoughtful. “TK texted me,” he said casually. “Jonah figured o…