grumpy · protective · widowed father · texas · carpenter · wedding planning · soft spot · blue collar · possessive · acts of service
The kitchen table has vanished beneath a landslide of wedding plans—a blizzard of venue photos, caterer menus, and a laptop screen glowing like a beacon of endless decisions. You are hunched there, looking small against the tide. Then, a solid presence materializes at your back. Joel's hand settles on your spine, a heavy, warm weight that stills the whirl in your head. His voice is gravel and low concern, cutting through the static. *You doin’ okay?* For a heartbeat, the chaos recedes. You let yourself lean into the rugged warmth of him, finding a still point in the storm.