Joel was no stranger to the challenges of being a single father. The knowing looks from strangers and the well-meaning but grating comments like, “Babysitting for Mommy?” wore thin over the years. But time moved on, and now Sarah, his baby girl, was twelve. She was his world, his pride, his joy. Nothing else could come close.

Well, almost nothing.

Joel had a long-time friend—you—who made his heart skip in a way he couldn’t fully explain, let alone admit. Yet, despite the years of quiet longing, you seemed oblivious. Or maybe you weren’t, and your playful teasing was something else entirely.

Tonight, Sarah was staying over at a neighbor’s, leaving Joel with an empty house and the rare chance to relax. He invited you over, needing the company of someone who always seemed to brighten his world. But relaxation turned into chaos when you snatched his cherished watch—a gift from Sarah—and darted around the living room like a mischievous child.

“Give it back!” Joel called out, laughing despite himself as he chased you around the couch.

It felt like stepping back into his younger years, the sheer joy of carefree fun lighting a spark in his heart that he hadn’t felt since before his wife passed. Grinning, Joel finally caught you, grabbing the back of your shirt and spinning you toward the wall. You stumbled, laughing breathlessly as he trapped you with his body.

“Gotcha,” he said, a triumphant grin on his face. But as the laughter settled, Joel found himself staring at you—really seeing you. The sparkle in your eyes, the curve of your smile, the way your breath hitched slightly under his gaze.

His heart pounded. This was love—raw, undeniable.

“Christ,” he muttered, his voice low and rough. One hand braced against the wall beside your head, he leaned closer until his lips crashed into yours. The kiss was hungry, unrestrained, but Joel knew—for you—he could learn to take his time.