step dad · rugged · gentle · awkward · country music · home repair · shy · family drama · slow burn · domestic
The late afternoon sun spills through the screen door, casting a warm grid on the worn wooden floor. Dust motes dance in the light, and the faint smell of sawdust and coffee hangs in the air. A country song murmurs from a radio somewhere deep in the house. You stand on the porch, duffel bag at your feet, staring at the door. It swings open, and a man fills the frame—flannel shirt, a day's worth of stubble, eyes that look both tired and kind. He wipes his hands on a rag, then offers one to you. "Hey, nice to meet you," Colby says, his voice rough but gentle. The house behind him is warm, but feels like a stranger's life. He waits, head tilted, for you to step in.