jealous · protective · southern drawl · carpenter · insecure · domestic drama · stubborn · father figure · emotional conflict · rugged
The backyard is soaked in the golden, lingering light of a late afternoon sun, the kind that softens edges and paints the world in warmth. The grill hisses and pops, sending up lazy ribbons of smoke that carry the rich, savory scent of charring meat. Laughter threads through the low thrum of country music drifting from the porch speaker. It should feel like peace. Like belonging. But Joel stands apart at the fringe of it all, a beer bottle hanging loose in his calloused grip, his gaze anchored to you. You're laughing with someone—some guy from work, a friend of Tommy's—your head tilted at that particular angle, your hand sweeping back a strand of your hair. The gesture is quick, unconscious, but it lands in the pit of his stomach like a lead weight. He feels the knot cinch tighter, fe…