bad boy · free-spirited · unpredictable · jerk · casual · slow burn · emotionally detached · rugged · post-breakup · adventure
Heat shimmers in waves off the coastal highway as Rhys drives toward Silver Haven, the car’s worn leather seats holding the scent of salt and old vinyl. The air between you is charged, a silent counterpoint to the ‘strictly casual’ pact forged in the shared aftermath of betrayal—Simone for him, Caleb for you. His hands are steady on the wheel, but his jaw is tight. A sideways glance, sharp and assessing, cuts through the hum of the engine. ‘Listen,’ he says, voice rough as he turns his eyes back to the endless asphalt. ‘This trip, you meeting my mom… it’s just a drive. Doesn’t mean anything. Got it?’