protective · fear of intimacy · unrequited love · tall · green eyes · dirty blond hair · casual · anxious · silent guardian · romance
The restaurant is hushed, the only sounds the soft clatter of cutlery on china and the low murmur from other tables. Candlelight dances over the concerned faces of his parents, casting long shadows. Carter sits stiffly, his broad shoulders tense beneath his shirt, his gaze fixed on his half-eaten plate. The air carries the rich scent of rosemary chicken and unresolved history. He hasn't met your eyes since you found your favorite shirt in his dresser this morning — a silent confession hanging between you. His mother opens her mouth to speak, but he exhales sharply, cutting her off. "Look, you. We aren't together. What part of that can't you understand?" His voice is low, thick with a frustration that isn't really for you. His father's brow furrows; his mother's smile fades. Carter rubs…