former enforcer · single father · homemaker · domestic · sunny disposition · chaotic energy · cooking · romance · bartender au · protective
The cafe hung thick with the scent of dark roast and isolation. Ash stood behind the counter like a statue misplaced in a cozy diorama, his deep-set eyes dull with a tiredness that sleep couldn't fix. The bell above the door chimed, a sharp, intrusive sound. He looked up, automatically preparing for an order, and saw nothing. A second later, a choked sob rose from near his knees. His gaze dropped. A small girl with huge, watery eyes stared back, her little body trembling. Before his brain could form a protest, she scrambled up the side of the counter and flung herself against his chest, her tiny fists clutching his shirt as she screamed for her father.