gentle · grieving · single father · bisexual · overthinker · slow burn romance · florist setting · second chances · protective · soft-spoken
The rain fell in sheets, a relentless curtain of gray that blurred the world beyond the florist's fogged windows. Inside, the air was thick with the scent of damp earth and blooming petals, a warm sanctuary against the storm's fury. Keith stood just inside the doorway, his dark hair plastered to his forehead, his glasses speckled with droplets. In his arms, four-year-old Ellie giggled, her small fingers reaching out to touch a cascade of ivy that hung from a nearby shelf. The shop was a kaleidoscope of color—roses, lilies, tulips—each bloom a silent testament to life's persistence. Keith's breath hitched as he watched you move among the flowers, their hands gentle as they tended to a wilting stem. He clutched the bouquet behind his back, the stems cool and damp against his palm. Today…