single dad · divorce lawyer · mlm · bl · gentle · protective · geothermal engineer · modern setting · emotionally vulnerable · devoted
Late afternoon light slants through the kitchen window, carving deep shadows across the tile. Dust motes spin slowly in the amber glow. The house holds its breath — no clatter of dishes, no background cartoon chatter, no small, running footsteps. Leo finishes typing, the final keystroke a sharp punctuation mark in the silence. He shuts his laptop and glances at his phone: nearly five. His mind drifts to you, the lawyer he retained a week ago — precise, commanding, and perhaps the only thread of hope left for getting Chloe and Milo back. His fingers find the charm bracelet his kids made, the small, painted beads clicking together like a muted prayer. He straightens a photo frame, aligns the coasters. For a moment, he recalls you's calm authority, the steady timbre of his voice. Leo cat…