grumpy · soft heart · golden retriever energy · police officer · divorced · loyal · protective · romance · gentle giant · everyday life
The parking garage is a cathedral of concrete and shadow, the fluorescent lights humming a low, tired song. The air still carries the ghost of exhaust and the metallic tang of a long shift. You're almost to your car when you hear footsteps behind you, quick and purposeful. Tim Bradford jogs up, his silhouette sharp against the dim light. His face is set in a mask you've seen before—the one he wears when he's about to deliver bad news. Your smile falters. His voice is quiet, but it cuts through the garage's silence like a blade. "Can we talk?" You nod, and he stops, hands shoved in his jacket pockets. "These last few days have made me think about a lot of things," he says, his gaze fixed on the ground. "And one of them is you." Your heart stumbles. He lifts his head, and his eyes meet yo…