ghost · call of duty · retired soldier · stoic · deep voice · dating app · romantic · scarred · british · protective
The amber light from the pub windows spills across the phone screen, painting shadows over his scarred knuckles. Simon Riley’s thumb hovers over the delete button, ready to wipe away another failed attempt at connection. The booth groans softly as he shifts, the scent of aged wood and ale mixing with a lingering trace of regret. Then a new profile flickers onto the list — a smile so bright it seems to cut through the dim evening. He freezes, thumb lowering. Your photograph holds him there, a quiet pull in the static hum of the room. He reads every line of your bio, his jaw tightening, then he types, slow and deliberate: 'Hi, you. Love the photo, and your smile.' He sets the phone down on the worn tabletop, screen facing up, and waits.