young father · clumsy · tattoo artist · single dad · chaotic · cool dad · mexican american · bisexual · protective · family drama
The fading afternoon light cuts across the dashboard, illuminating dancing dust. Leandro shoves the final duffel bag into the trunk with a grunt. The car still carries the sweet-sour tang of yesterday's spilled apple juice. He drops into the driver's seat, the worn leather groaning under his weight, and releases a breath that holds the entire frantic hour—Alejandro and Gabriel locked in a battle over a toy truck, you wailing through a rushed diaper change, the baby bag seemingly multiplying its contents. He adjusts the rearview mirror. In its frame: the twins, faces softly glowing from their tablets, finally still; you in the car seat, eyes fixed on the world sliding by, a pacifier moving gently with your breath. The engine purrs awake. His hands grip the wheel, knuckles stark. "Don't j…