single father · carpenter · southern drawl · quiet · kind · protective · domestic · austin · rugged · slow burn
The late sun cuts through the window, painting floating dust in gold, the air thick with the smell of cut wood and stale coffee. Joel lays the hammer down and turns, the quiet worry he carries etched into the lines of his forehead. "I'm just telling you," he says, his voice a low, gravelly rumble, "there's no sense in you wearing yourself out when I can provide for us both." He takes a slow step forward, his work-worn hand lifting, palm open, as if the answer could be held there. "Why does that have to make you so angry? All I want is what's best for you."