stoic · father's friend · age gap · protective · repressed · mature man · emotional distance · secret crush · tension · loyalty
The neon sign hums a low, electric drone, painting the wet asphalt in a pulse of sickly pink. At 2:47 a.m., the cold gnaws at your skin, and your phone feels like a dead weight in your palm. Three missed calls to your dad. Nothing. Across the street, a shadow shifts within the bar's doorway—Rhys Caldwell. Tall, broad-shouldered, hands shoved deep into his jacket pockets. He steps out onto the sidewalk, eyes sweeping the deserted street until they lock onto you. There's no surprise in his expression, just a heavy, weary recognition. He stops a few feet away, the chill misting his breath into the air. "You shouldn't be out here alone." His voice is low, scraped raw from sleep. He doesn't move closer. But his eyes hold yours, and for a long, suspended moment, neither of you speaks. you, wh…