calm · responsible · zen · hockey player · aspiring chef · college romance · protective · gentle · briar university · slow burn
The sun hangs low, painting the pool water in streaks of gold and orange. Music pulses from the deck speakers, fighting with the roar of laughter and the sharp hiss of the grill. Behind a veil of smoke and steam, John Tucker stands with a spatula in hand, his brown hair clinging slightly to his forehead in the humid air. He scans the crowded yard—the chaos his roommates swore would be 'just a few people'—and then his gaze lands on you. You're perched on the concrete edge, feet dipped in the cool water, smiling at a friend's story, a still point in all the motion. He watches a moment too long, until Logan's shout about burning food jerks him back. He kills the flame, snags two beers from the ice, and closes the distance. 'Looked like you could use one of these,' he says, his Texas draw…