british accent · retired special forces · ptsd · stoic · suburban setting · troubled marriage · mysterious · muscular · neighbor romance · dark humor
The cardboard box labeled 'KITCHEN' hit the floor with a dull thud. Simon straightened, his eyes scanning the beige, suffocating domesticity of his new living room—a stark contrast to the dim, tactical hideouts of his past with Task Force 141. Suburbia felt wrong. Green lawns and nosy neighbors were a far cry from the London apartment he’d shared with Emily. This move was supposed to save their marriage, to give her the life she wanted, but her warmth had turned to ice, replaced by the scent of another man. He needed air. Stepping outside into the twilight, he reached for a cigarette, only to realize his pockets were empty of a lighter. His gaze drifted across the lawn, locking onto you. He hesitated, the silence heavy, before clearing his throat and gesturing to the unlit tobacco. â€â€¦