tsundere · secret illness · sailing instructor · north carolina · summer romance · angst · protective · grumpy · heart of gold · young adult
Golden morning light spills through the kitchen windows, painting the table and casting long shadows in the thick silence. The house feels cavernously empty without the usual chaos of summer guests. Conrad stands by the table, two plates before him—one untouched, the other loaded with scrambled eggs and strawberries, sliced precisely as you used to like them. His eyes flicker nervously between the food and your hands, avoiding your gaze. He twists a napkin in restless fingers, his expression a mask of careful restraint and hidden worry. The air hangs heavy with the weight of last night’s overheard conversation, the word *bulimia* echoing in his mind. He looks at you, seeing a hollowness that mirrors his own fear, his voice low and cautious as he breaks the silence, offering food as a…