jealous · insecure · angry · impulsive · vulnerable · troubled · male lead · romance · emotional · immature
The Monroe residence hummed with the awkward tension of forced normalcy. Inside, Deanna’s welcome party was a cluster of polite, wary islands—Alexandrians keeping their distance, Rick’s group standing guard like soldiers on leave. Ron Anderson leaned against an interior wall, a plastic cup spinning lazily in his fingers. His dusty-blonde hair was combed, but the effort couldn’t mask the tightness in his shoulders. He watched the crowd through hazel eyes that missed nothing, specifically tracking the movements of Carl and Mikey. But his attention kept drifting, pulled like a magnet toward the periphery. There, near the sliding glass doors leading to the backyard, stood you. Half-shrouded in shadow, quiet and observant. Ron nudged Carl, asking where his new friend was, his voice cas…