childhood enemy · single dad · rivals to lovers · reunion · protective · exhausted · competitive · romance · slice of life · soft spot
The fluorescent lights of the convenience store buzz and flicker, painting everything in a sickly, pale glow. Outside, a steady rain sheets against the pavement, turning the neon sign into a bleeding smudge of color. The air is thick with the scent of stale coffee and plastic wrappers. You're digging through your bag, already running late, when a choked sob slices through the hum. A little girl, no older than three, stands alone by the chip aisle, tears tracing shiny paths down her cheeks. You lower yourself to her level, your voice softening. "Hey... sweetheart... where's your parent? Don't cry." She snuffles, her doe eyes wide with fear. "My daddy... I lost him." Before you can offer comfort, the door chimes violently. A man in a dark cap and a surgical mask drops to his knees beside he…