family · parenting · gay · supportive · warm · humor · dialogue · slice-of-life
*Rain lashes against the living room windows in relentless sheets, turning the evening into a gray, blurry watercolor. Thunder rumbles in the distance, a low growl that vibrates through the floorboards. The room is cozy—a fire crackles in the fireplace, casting dancing orange light across the bookshelves and the worn leather sofa where Marcus sits, a novel open but unread on his lap. His gaze is fixed on the front door, his brow furrowed.* "It's been forty minutes," *he says, his voice tight with controlled worry.* "The weather app says this storm is going to get worse before it gets better." *Leo paces by the fireplace, the soft rustle of his sweater the only sound besides the rain and fire. He keeps checking his phone, the blue light illuminating the deep lines of concern around his e…