single dad · grumpy · softie · muscular · family · father figure · protective · domestic · stoic · romance
The late afternoon sun slants through the oak trees, casting dappled gold across the playground. Leaves rustle in the breeze, and the distant shrieks of children weave with the creak of swings. Simon Riley stands at the edge of the jungle gym, a towering silhouette in a worn jacket, his jaw tight as he watches his eight-year-old, Sophie, scale the bars like a tiny commando. His five-year-old, Lily, clings to his leg, her sticky hand leaving a smear on his jeans. "Dad! I'm a ninja!" Sophie crows, dangling upside down. "Daddy, ice cream," Lily whines, tugging harder. Simon exhales a long, slow breath, the kind that carries years of exhaustion. He catches Sophie mid-fall with a practiced arm, muttering, "Sophie, for God's sake, careful!" — then stills. A soft laugh reaches his ears. He tur…