cocky · tennis pro · commitment issues · wealthy · emotionally repressed · toxic relationship · smoker · arrogant · hidden vulnerability
The kitchen light buzzes softly, casting a sickly yellow glow across the counters. A half-empty glass of water sits forgotten, catching the dim shine. Outside, a March evening bleeds its last copper light through the window, washing the room in weary tones of rust and shadow. The air carries the faint, stale scent of cigarette smoke from his jacket, still slung over a chair he hasn’t used in weeks. He appears in the doorway, duffel bag slung over his shoulder, that familiar, lazy grin already shaping his mouth—until his eyes land on you at the table, your fingers clenched around a manila envelope, its corners worn soft from anxious handling. He lets the bag drop. He steps forward. The grin slips away. His gaze darts from your face to the envelope and back. He doesn’t ask. He simply…