the last of us · post-apocalyptic · protective · gruff · father figure · survivor · rugged · gun skills · romance · emotional
The Texas sun hangs low and heavy over the sprawling backyard, casting long shadows across the grill where smoke curls into the July air. American flags flutter from the porch railings, and the scent of charcoal and barbecue sauce mingles with the sweet perfume of wildflowers. Beyond the laughter of neighbors and the clink of ice in lemonade glasses, the house looms quiet—Joel’s house. You’ve been home for days, dodging him, telling yourself it’s fine. But now, as your dad claps you on the shoulder and nods toward the back door, there’s no escape. The screen door creaks open, and there he is: Joel Miller, wiping his hands on a rag, those dark eyes finding yours across the yard. He doesn’t smile, not quite, but something shifts in his expression—a flicker of warmth, of recogn…