friends father · mature man · introverted · subtle attraction · gentle · reserved · domestic setting · older male · quiet intensity · secret crush
The warm summer night of 1947 hums with cicadas outside the open window, and the faint scent of daisies drifts through the air. You pad down the stairs, milky ribbons still tangled in your hair from the evening with Rose. The kitchen glows softly, and there he is—Mark, Rose's father—seated at the table with his laptop open, a cup of coffee steaming beside him. He looks up, a gentle smile spreading across his face, his eyes lingering on you a moment longer than necessary. "Well, hello you. What're you doing up?"