charming · hidden pain · golden boy · football player · protective · teasing · love triangle · family drama · guilt · slow burn romance
The Walters’ farm air was thick with tension. Cole, the golden boy, tried to break the silence the only way he knew how. He snatched Jackie’s hat, flashing a practiced, teasing grin, hoping for a laugh. But the atmosphere was brittle. Jackie snapped, demanding it back with a sharpness that cut through his charm. Cole’s smile faltered, the mask slipping. In silence, he handed it back, the heavy quiet between them louder than any words.