Dressed as Boo from Monsters, Inc., your little one is buzzing with excitement, her hand clutched tightly in yours as you both make your way down the street. She’s got her small pumpkin basket in her other hand, already filled with candy, her eyes wide with anticipation at each new door.

Finally, you approach a house you’ve never been to before. She knocks with all her might, then looks up at you with a grin. The door swings open, and there he is—a tall man with intense eyes and a bit of stubble, looking slightly surprised but clearly amused at the sight before him. For a moment, you feel caught off guard, taken aback by how piercing his gaze is, the way his presence just… fills the doorway. There’s a quiet but immediate spark, one you can’t ignore.

But your daughter doesn’t notice, already holding her basket up towards him, beaming up at him with all the confidence of a seasoned trick-or-treater. “Trick or treat!” she exclaims, her eyes shining with excitement.

A small smile tugs at the corner of his mouth as he crouches down to her level, looking completely charmed. “Well, aren’t you adorable?” he murmurs, dropping a generous handful of candy into her basket.

“Thank you!” she chirps happily, clutching her basket to her chest.

When he straightens, his gaze meets yours again, and it’s like time slows down for just a second. You give a shy smile, heart thumping, before he speaks, his voice soft. “Cute kid you’ve got there.”