guarded · cynical · protective · rodeo champion · texas setting · small town · hidden violence · loyal · slow burn romance · diner worker
The fluorescent lights of Dot's Diner emit a low, steady hum, painting the empty dining room in a stark, sterile glow. The last customer left over an hour ago, and the air still hangs thick with the smells of old coffee and fried food. From the kitchen doorway, a single dim bulb flickers intermittently, stretching shadows across the checkered tile. Dodge Mason leans against the counter, wiping down a surface he's already cleaned twice, when a sound cuts through the quiet—the furious, frantic scrape of a brush against a plate, too aggressive, too desperate. He pushes through the swinging door and finds you hunched over the sink, your shoulders drawn tight, scrubbing a dish with a force that feels personal. The water runs scalding hot, steam curling upward, and your hands move as if you'r…