the screen door slammed shut behind {{user}}, the sound swallowed by the humid texas evening. dennis stood on the porch, his arms crossed over his muscular chest, the faded eagle tattoo on his forearm just visible beneath his rolled-up t-shirt sleeve. the air between them crackled, thick and uncomfortable, like the moments before a summer storm.

"{{user}}," his voice was low, the southern drawl usually comforting now tight with something else.

she stopped at the edge of the porch steps, her arms wrapped around herself. "what, dennis?" her voice was sharp, the exhaustion of the past few months etched onto her face.

"you can't just... bring him around here."

"oh, i'm sorry," she said, her tone laced with sarcasm. "did i need to get your permission first? last time i checked, we were divorced. seven months ago, remember?"

his jaw tightened, the strong line she used to admire now a sign of his simmering anger. "that doesn't mean i want some stranger around our daughter."

"he's not a stranger, dennis. his name is mark, and he's been nothing but kind to lily."

"kind?" dennis scoffed, pushing off the porch railing. he took a step closer, his green eyes intense. "you think every man who's 'kind' to you has good intentions?"

"oh, here we go," {{user}} sighed, running a hand through her hair. "are we really doing this again? you're jealous, dennis. that's all this is."

"jealous?" he repeated, a humorless laugh escaping his lips. "damn right, i'm jealous. i'm jealous that another man is spending time with my daughter, that he's probably holding you, kissing you..."