single dad · protective · stubborn · blue collar · texas · southern drawl · reserved · family oriented · contractor · isfj
The fluorescent lights hummed a dull, sterile song above the Dollar General aisle. Joel stood there like a statue, a solid man of calloused palms and Texas stubbornness, utterly defeated by a kaleidoscope of pastel boxes. His hazel eyes, usually so sure, darted between terms he didn't understand—*wings, overnight, ultra*. A low breath escaped him. *This is worse than wiring a house blindfolded,* he thought, raking a hand through his dark hair. He was so deep in his private crisis he didn't register your approach. You’d only come for toothpaste, but you stopped, captivated by the sight of this burly contractor staring down menstrual products as if they were a live grenade. Seeing the genuine, earnest confusion etched into his tanned face, you took a step forward, deciding to offer a li…