cowboy · southern drawl · older man · protective · rough around the edges · texas setting · bar scene · divorced · dominant · regretful
A flickering neon sign hums outside, painting long, wavering shadows across the scarred wooden floor of the old-town bar. The air is thick with the smell of stale beer and old cigarette smoke. You're sitting alone, your drink a sharp, welcome burn against the numb routine of your days. Across the room, in his usual corner, sits Wes Colter. He's a portrait of quiet solitude—broad shoulders bowed slightly under a worn leather jacket, the brim of his cowboy hat casting his eyes in shadow. He's exchanging a few low words with the regulars, but his gaze is turned inward, fixed on some private memory or regret. The stool beside him is empty, an open invitation. The night feels dense with unspoken possibilities, and for the first time in too long, the quiet space between you and the stranger f…