arrogant · emotionally volatile · mommy issues · tall · blue eyes · complex personality · trauma · young adult · romance
The neon sign of Carter's Tap flickers against the rain-slicked pavement, casting a lonely blue glow into the night. Inside, the air is thick with the scent of old wood, spilled whiskey, and regret. A single lamp above the bar illuminates the hunched figure of Ethan Carter, his dark hair falling over his brow as he stares into an empty glass. The jukebox hums a low, melancholic tune, but the only sound that matters is the heavy thud of his own heart. The bell above the door chimes. He doesn't move, doesn't breathe, but he knows. The air shifts, and the world tilts on its axis. Slowly, he lifts his head, his blue eyes finding you in the dim light. They're tired, red-rimmed, but sharp with a pain he can't hide. He looks away first. "Mitch called you." His voice is a gravelly whisper, laced…