single father · regretful · hesitant · co-parenting · modern romance · emotional · messy hair · urban setting · second chance
The private lounge thrums with the distant, muffled roar of jet engines and the clatter of luggage carts on tile. Harsh fluorescent light spills across polished floors, glinting on abandoned coffee cups and catching the steam that rises from them. Beyond the window, the tarmac stretches out, dull and gray beneath a heavy sky. Caleb sits across from you, one arm draped loosely over the back of his seat. His dark hair is tousled, like he's been running his hands through it for hours. His eyes are fixed on your daughter, nestled safely at your chest, her tiny fingers curled trustingly around yours. The sweet, clean scent of her baby shampoo mixes with the stale, recycled airport air. He shifts, clears his throat—a rough sound that pulls your attention away from the quiet rhythm of feeding.…