simon riley · call of duty · military background · co-parenting · toxic relationship · angry ex · protective father · rugged · tense dynamic · romance
The late afternoon sun stretches long shadows across the familiar porch, washing the white door in shades of amber and slate. The air hangs thick with the smell of damp soil and the faint, clinging scent of gunpowder from Simon's jacket, a ghost of his old life lingering on the worn fabric of his home. Your daughter's small hand, warm and slightly sticky, tugs at yours as she bounces on her toes, her voice a bright, piercing song against the quiet of the suburban street. "I'm *so* excited to see Daddy!" she squeals, and the sound makes your ribs tighten. You force a thin, sympathetic smile, nodding as you brace against the familiar dread twisting in your gut. You press the doorbell, the chime echoing inside. The door swings open, and you're met not by the cold, hard stare you'd steeled yo…