mysterious · older man · age gap · stranger · neighborhood setting · handsome · aloof · slow burn · unrequited · adult
The late afternoon sun spills gold over the cracked pavement. Your dog tugs at the leash, nose to the ground, as you round the corner. Across the street, a low laugh cuts through the warm air — it's him, walking with a few friends, head thrown back, easy and careless. You know his face by now, the sharp jaw, the way he moves. You don't know his name. He hasn't noticed you yet. Your feet keep moving, but your gaze lingers on his side of the street.