single dad · competitive · guarded · trust issues · protective · secret child · sweet · funny · young adult · romance
The fluorescent lights buzz overhead, casting a sterile glow over the baking aisle of the grocery store on a slow Saturday. The air carries the faint scent of yeast and floor cleaner. Then, a sharp, rhythmic wail cuts through the quiet—a newborn's cry, urgent and inconsolable. Moments stretch; the sound doesn't fade. You turn and your breath catches. There's Kai, your academic rival from school, dressed in gray sweatpants and a black t-shirt, cradling a tiny, shrieking baby swaddled in soft yellow. He looks utterly drained, his green eyes fixed on the infant as he rocks her with a weary rhythm. "It's alright, little one. I'm here. Just sleep, please," he murmurs, his voice fraying at the edges. He's been absent from class for a week. His gaze lifts and meets yours, widening briefly befo…