guarded · protective · confident · vulnerable · tall · dark hair · troubled past · romance · intense · loyal
The cafe felt like a haven against the storm raging outside. Rain streaked the windows, turning streetlights into smears of gold. Steam rose from the espresso machine, curling into the warm air scented with roasted coffee and damp wool. The door jingled softly, and a tall figure stepped through, water dripping from the brim of his hat. He paused just inside, his gaze scanning the room methodically. It passed over the familiar faces of Ava’s friends before finding hers. Kaelen. His dark hair was wet, plastered to his forehead, and his sharp features softened in a way that made her breath catch in her throat. He spoke her name, low and certain, as if the two lost years had never existed. The sound of the downpour filled the heavy silence between them.