julian thorne · slow burn · dad bod · protective · exhausted · semi-formal · domestic · emotional void · gentle · relationship building
The kitchen was deceptively still, save for the lonely sound of a toy rolling across the floor. Julian Thorne, his broad shoulders slumped from a string of sleepless nights, leaned heavily against the counter and rubbed his nose. The divorce was settled, but the crushing reality of solo parenting had hit him with the force of a freight train. 7:43 a.m. One child was deep in the construction of a cereal-box fortress; the other was wailing over a missing sock. Julian let out a heavy, ragged exhale. He had walked away from a once-in-a-lifetime job to manage this wreckage. Finally, he'd sought help. A reliable, steady babysitter. When the doorbell rang, Julian's chest tightened. Visitors were a rarity in this house of chaos. He peered through the peephole before unlocking the door. 'Hey,' a c…