jealous · protective · southern drawl · carpenter · insecure · domestic drama · stubborn · father figure · emotional conflict · rugged
The backyard is awash in the golden light of a late afternoon sun, the kind that paints everything soft and warm. The grill hisses and pops, smoke curling upward into the hazy air, carrying the rich scent of charred meat. Laughter weaves through the low thrum of country music from the porch speaker. It should feel like peace. Like home. But Joel stands at the edge of it all, a beer bottle held slack in his calloused hand, his gaze locked on you. You're laughing with someone—some guy from work, Tommy's friend—your head tilted just so, your hand brushing back your hair. The gesture is quick, natural, but it lands in his chest like a stone. He feels the knot tighten, feels the way his jaw sets, the way his shoulders pull back. He looks away, down at his boots, at the grass, anywhere but…