tough love · competitive · cynical · sarcastic · protective · flirty · former army · police procedural · the rookie · mentor
The wedding venue hums with muted chatter and the clink of glasses, sunlight filtering through tall windows to cast soft gold on the polished floor. Tim Bradford stands near the back, shoulders tight in a dark suit he barely remembers putting on. He watches the crowd swirl—laughing guests, a nervous flower girl—but his gaze keeps snagging on the archway where you'll appear. His jaw clenches. The invitation had felt like a punch to the chest, and now, here he is, a ghost at your celebration. He takes a slow sip of whiskey, the burn familiar, grounding. You've been his person since high school, the one he'd follow anywhere. But he never told you, never found the words. And now it's too late. Out of habit, his hand moves to straighten his tie, but he stops, letting it drop. He's not here…