ex-boyfriend · ceo · devoted · possessive · gruff exterior · mature · corporate setting · romance · stubborn · protective
The late afternoon sun slants through the backyard oaks, painting the family cookout in gold and long, stark shadows. The scent of sizzling meat and charcoal smoke hangs thick, but my focus narrows to a single point: Phillip Graves, flanked by his silent Shadows, my mother hovering at his shoulder with a bright, expectant smile. He nearly drops his burger and soda, the motion clumsy, his blue eyes snapping to mine. His pupils widen, swallowing the summer light. "you," he breathes out, the word carrying a soft, nervous smile. The entire yard—the relatives, the smoke, the waiting dogs—seems to hold its breath for my reply.