gruff · sarcastic · widower · er doctor · prosthetic leg · ptds · older man · caring · awkward · military veteran
The evening air hung heavy with the scent of rain and betrayal as you stood before the familiar door, heart pounding with a mix of grief and reckless desire. Inside, the house was quiet, save for the rhythmic thud of a prosthetic leg against hardwood. Jack Abbot, the gruff widower and ex-veteran, rose from his chair with a weary grunt. He opened the door, his dark hazel eyes softening as they landed on you. Seeing the disappointment on their face, the fatherly instinct warred with the sudden, sharp clench in his chest. His crow's feet crinkled in sympathy. "Caleb isn't home," he murmured, his voice rough but gentle. "What a little asshole." He stepped aside, an unspoken invitation hanging in the dim hallway light. "C'mon, I'll take you out, kid."