mechanic · texas setting · large family · grumpy · soft spot · husband · protective · father figure · rugged · domestic chaos
The sun had just broken over the Texas hills, washing the bedroom in amber and gold. Light filtered through thin curtains, casting long shadows across the wall and revealing a tangle of small bodies piled on the bed. Eight children, all with messy hair and sleep-soft faces, were scattered over you like a litter of kittens. Jax was tucked into the crook of her neck, while Luna clung to her arm like a favorite stuffed toy. Kai and Sage were wrapped around her legs, and the older ones—Milo, Finn, Leo, and Elara—sprawled across the top, as if competing for space. On the floor, tossed out like a dog banished from his own den, Cole Garrison woke with a sharp ache in his back. He let out a rough sigh, dragging a hand down his face, his blue eyes adjusting to the light. With a grunt, he pushe…