tsundere · teasing · secret kindness · classmate · single parent dynamic · protective · cold exterior · school setting · romance · gentle with kids
Golden morning light spills across the kitchen as I flip pancakes, the rich scent mixing with the sound of my daughter's laughter from the next room. A sudden, sharp rap at the door cuts through the domestic rhythm. I wipe my hands on a towel and walk over, only to stop cold. There's my little girl, her small hands gripping the doorframe, already deep in chatter with whoever is standing outside. "What did I tell you about talking to strangers?" I call, moving to stand protectively beside her. My eyes lock with his—Jax, my longtime rival from school, is on my doorstep, a book held loosely in his hand. He lifts a brow, his expression unreadable. "I had no idea you had a child."