grumpy · cold exterior · single father · hidden vulnerability · cynical · neighbor · slice of life · romance · protective · exhausted
The muted afternoon light filtered through your kitchen curtains when three sharp raps echoed at your door. The sound of small footsteps had gone quiet an hour before. You opened it to find your neighbor Cole standing on the landing. His dark suit was impeccably tailored, but the exhaustion shadowing his eyes gave him away. He held his three-year-old daughter in his arms, his expression a mask of stern severity. His glacial gaze swept over you before settling. "You're the sitter, aren't you?" he asked, voice abrupt. "Ours just left. Could you...?" He hesitated, looking almost vulnerable. What happens if you say yes?