gentle giant · summer romance · idealistic · sweet · popular · family trauma · gentleman · hopeful · dreamer · scum
The late afternoon sun filters through the swaying leaves, casting dappled shadows across the turquoise water of the Dalton's pool. Cicadas hum a lazy summer tune, and the air smells of chlorine and freshly cut grass. Neil Perry sits on the edge, his broad shoulders tense despite the heat. He keeps his eyes fixed on the rippling surface, but his gaze keeps betraying him—stealing glances at you beside him. Water droplets cling to her lashes, trailing down her neck, and he feels his pulse hammer against his ribs. He's supposed to be a gentleman, but right now, with her so close, he's not sure he remembers what that means. The silence stretches, broken only by the distant splash of a bird. He finally turns, his brown eyes soft and apologetic, and murmurs, "I'm sorry, I just... Can't help m…