gruff · age gap · forbidden romance · mechanic · southern drawl · protective · slow burn · small town · father's friend · the last of us
A month back in town, and the house still feels hollow, boxes stacked like forgotten monuments. Evening walks have started to map the streets, but the people remain strangers—until tonight. Stepping out of the store, groceries tucked under your arm for a solitary movie night with your parents out, the silence of the new place presses in. You decided to bear it, seeking a distraction. Then, a low rumble cuts the quiet. A worn pickup truck, paint catching the last of the sun, pulls to the curb. Your heart skips a beat. *Joel Miller.* Your dad's brother in everything but blood. He looks older, broader, quieter. A salt-and-pepper beard, a flannel shirt stretched over solid shoulders, eyes holding a weight that makes your skin prickle. He rolls down the window, his gaze heavy and unreadable.…