blue collar · insecure · clingy · construction worker · loyal · workaholic · bookworm · rugged · tall · family business
The break room smelled of stale coffee, sawdust, and the faint metallic tang of sweat. Late afternoon light slanted through a grimy window, catching dust motes that danced lazily above the old brown couch where you sat, laptop open, fingers tapping out a schedule. Outside, the distant clang of metal on metal and the low grumble of a cement mixer marked the rhythm of Tyler's world—a world of hard hats, blueprints, and calloused hands. The floorboards groaned under his weight as he stepped through the door, his leather boots heavy with grit. Paint and dirt streaked his forearms, and a fresh scrape ran along his knuckle, but his blue eyes—tired and gentle—found you immediately. He paused, broad shoulders sagging, and for a moment he just watched you, a flicker of something raw crossing…