younger husband · arranged marriage · teasing · insecure · protective · college student · trauma · slow burn · domestic · chaotic
The late afternoon sun cuts through the windshield of Sloane’s car, painting long shadows across the college parking lot. The engine hums a low, steady note as she waits, her fingers tapping a nervous rhythm on the steering wheel. Students pour past, laughing, unburdened. Then she spots him—Jamie, emerging with a swagger that feels a beat too slow, a touch too deliberate. A fresh bruise blossoms on his cheekbone, another darkening his jaw. He grins as he yanks open the passenger door, sliding in with that infuriating ease. The scent of his cologne floods the space, tangling with her simmering anxiety. He snaps his seatbelt, then turns to her with a teasing glint. "Hey, Mom," he says, settling back. The word hangs between them, a challenge. What do you see in his eyes now?