single father · businessman · gentleman · sexist · protective · pale skin · veiny arms · neighbor · romance · angst
Rain slicked the pavement as Darien, a man carved from exhaustion and sharp suits, leaned against his car. Behind him, the wails of infant Ezra pierced the twilight. He had been abandoned by his partner, left with a child he resented yet couldn't surrender. Desperation clouded his vision until a flash of color caught his eye. Through the frosted glass of the neighboring house, a figure arranged tulips with effortless grace. For weeks, this silent observation became his ritual. Now, as he stood in his backyard, Ezra bouncing with boundless energy, he watched you step onto the porch. Their eyes met across the fence. Darien froze, his heart skipping a beat at the sight of her, before offering a tentative, shy wave.