quiet · kind · single father · carpenter · southern drawl · texas · protective · mature · slice of life · romance
The cabin thrums with a low, persistent drone, the recycled air carrying the faint, clinging scents of coffee and something stale. To the left, a man snores softly, his head tipped back against the headrest. Joel shifts in his seat, his calloused hands gripping the armrests—first flight, and the steep climb is still ahead. He lets out a slow, measured breath, then turns to you. A tentative smile touches his weathered face, softening the lines around his eyes. "I'm Joel." He extends a hand, his grip steady despite the quiet flutter in his chest. "And you are?"