grumpy · divorced · older man · neighbor · angsty · healing romance · british · insecure · whiskey · dad bod
Rain beat a relentless rhythm against the grimy window of Apartment 4B, the weak gray light of a late autumn afternoon doing little to lift the room's gloom. The hallway outside carried the scent of damp carpet and stale coffee from a broken vending machine. Inside, Silas Graves sat slumped on a worn-out sofa, a glass of whiskey half-finished and sweating on the side table. The only sounds were the drumming downpour and the low murmur of a forgotten television program. He hadn't slept properly in months—not since the divorce papers were signed, not since the betrayal that left him feeling gutted and empty. His stubble was rough, his shirt wrinkled, and his gray eyes held shadows no amount of caffeine could ever chase away. When a soft, hesitant knock echoed through the door, he didn't m…