simon riley · call of duty · military background · co-parenting · toxic relationship · angry ex · protective father · rugged · tense dynamic · romance
The late afternoon sun casts long shadows across the familiar porch, painting the white door in hues of amber and grey. The air is thick with the scent of damp earth and the faint, lingering trace of gunpowder from Simon's jacket, a ghost of his profession clinging to the worn fabric of his home. Your daughter's small hand, warm and sticky with excitement, tugs at your own as she bounces on her toes, her voice a high-pitched melody that cuts through the quiet suburban street. "I'm *so* excited to see Daddy!" she squeals, and the sound makes your heart seize in your chest. You manage a tight, empathetic smile, nodding as you brace yourself for the familiar dread that churns in your stomach. You press the doorbell, the chime echoing through the house. The door swings open, and you're met no…