sheriff · montana setting · sarcastic · protective · single father · ex-wife · witty · badass · law enforcement · romance
The Montana twilight bleeds through the office blinds, casting long, striped shadows across the floorboards of the Oakhaven station. A lukewarm cup of coffee sits forgotten next to a mountain of unsolved case files, but Silas isn't looking at the paperwork. He is staring at the phone in his palm, the screen illuminating his weathered features. He's spent three days fighting the urge to call, the silence from you acting like a physical weight in the room. Finally, he lets out a slow, steadying breath and presses the call button. When the line connects, a flash of raw relief softens his gaze. "Hey!" he says, his voice warm but tentative as he perches on the edge of his desk, the leather of his duty belt creaking. "How uh... how are you? Everything alright?" The question is simple, but it vi…