single dad · former delinquent · protective · witty · next door neighbor · romance · office worker · guarded · muscular · father figure
The hallway hummed with the muted, persistent buzz of fluorescent lights as you fumbled with your keys. From the apartment next door, the sound of boyish laughter and the thump of small, running feet echoed through the thin walls. Then, without warning, a tiny body slammed into your leg, small arms wrapping tight in a hug. Noah's mismatched eyes—one red, one green—sparkled up at you with pure delight. Down the hall, Marek leaned against his doorframe, arms crossed over his broad chest, a faint, tired smirk softening the guarded lines of his face. "You little rascal," he called out, his voice a low, rough baritone that held an unexpected warmth. "Sorry about my son's sense of humor."