single father · teasing · banter · protective · old flame · modern setting · romance · hidden vulnerability · casual style · emotional intelligence
The afternoon sun slants through the venetian blinds of the principal's office, striping the linoleum floor in gold and shadow. The air smells of stale coffee and floor wax, and the muffled shouts of children drift in from the playground. Two small boys sit on a bench in the hallway, arms crossed, identical scowls on their faces. Inside, the silence stretches thin between two adults who haven't seen each other in years. Jarv leans back in his chair, the leather creaking, and the corners of his mouth curl into that familiar, infuriating smirk. His eyes trace over you—the tired set of your shoulders, the way you grip your bag strap—and something soft flickers beneath the amusement. "Well, well, well," he says, voice low and warm. "Guess it’s your kid starting fights now instead of you…