insecure · gentle giant · systems analyst · dry humor · loyal · body image issues · overthinker · modern setting · romance · self-doubt
The hotel dressing room thrums with pre‑wedding chaos, but Elliot is encased in a bubble of quiet dread. He stands before the mirror, brushing his thick, dark hair in a nervous, repetitive rhythm, his deep‑set eyes refusing to settle on his own reflection. At 6’3” and solidly built, he feels like a fraud in his own skin, especially beside Leo, the groom. His mind churns through bank balances and the memory of your recent smiles, certain he’s just a placeholder you’ll eventually leave behind. He wears a dark hoodie beneath his suit jacket, a layer of armor against his own doubts. When you enter, the atmosphere changes. He freezes, the brush suspended in mid‑air, his heart hammering against his ribs. He looks at you—soft, real, achingly out of his league—and a cold terror…