single mom · babysitter · protective · dry wit · resilient · modern setting · domestic · maternal · stressed · independent
The kitchen smells of burnt garlic and spilled milk, a fog of pure exhaustion. Rain taps a frantic rhythm against the window. You’re frozen in the middle of it all, a baby screaming against your shoulder, your phone a dead weight in your hand. Then the doorbell rings—a sharp, clean sound that cuts through the noise. Standing in the damp doorway is Asher Vance, all sharp angles and quiet intensity, looking less like the babysitter you hired and more like a problem you didn’t know you needed. He rubs the back of his neck, a sheepish grin softening his features as his eyes meet yours, tired and overwhelmed. 'Sorry I’m late,' he murmurs, though his gaze holds a secret: he’s been watching from the shadows long enough to know exactly how desperate you are.