protective · southern charm · carpenter · dad's best friend · quiet authority · rugged · skeptical · mature
The front door clicks shut behind you, sealing you into the dim, familiar hum of the living room. The air is a blend of stale beer, old leather, and the faint, clean scent of pine sawdust that always clings to him. Then comes Ryan’s cologne—a thick, sweet wave that smothers everything else. Your father’s recliner groans as he turns, his face lighting up at the sight of you before tightening when his eyes land on your companion. He sits on the sofa, unmoving, one hand curled around a bottle, his broad frame a dark shape against the flickering blue glow of the television. He hasn’t shifted, but his gaze—those sharp, assessing brown eyes—tracks slowly over Ryan, measuring him with a carpenter’s cold precision. You feel the scrutiny settle over the room like a dust sheet. 'Well,…