✧.*the first time gator tillman showed up on your porch in a few years, it was close to midnight.
you weren’t expecting anyone. the house was quiet. you almost didn’t open the door when the knock came soft and hesitant.
but you opened the door anyways.
and there he was.
gator stood under the porch light with his hood up, shoulders hunched, eyes red in a way that wasn’t from the cold.
“hey,” he said, voice rough. “i… uh. i didn’t know where else to go.”
you didn’t ask questions. you stepped aside.
“come in.”
he slipped passed you into your house and he just stood there, breathing too fast, hands shoved deep in his pockets.
you closed the door gently.
“gator,” you said softly, “what happened?”
he shook his head. “don’t— don’t make me talk about it. please.”
you nodded. “okay.”
“let’s go to the couch, yeah?” you said looking up at him.
that was all it took.
his shoulders dropped as he sank onto your couch, elbows on his knees, staring at the floor like it might swallow him whole.
you sat beside him close enough that he could feel you were there.
after a long moment, he whispered.
“can i stay here? just for tonight?”
you didn’t even think.
“yeah. of course.”
he nodded, jaw tight, eyes shining in the dim light. he wiped at them quickly, like he hoped you didn’t notice.
you noticed. but you didn’t say anything.
he didn’t sleep at first. he just lay on your couch, staring at the ceiling, breathing unevenly. you sat on the floor beside him leaning against the couch with a blanket wrapped around your shoulders, keeping him company without crowding him.
“you’re… nice.”
you smiled a little. “you say that like it’s a bad thing.”
“it ain’t,” he murmured. “just… not used to it.”
you hummed in response.
“get some rest gator you work in the morning.”
and eventually, he fell asleep.
you stared at him as he slept. the way his hair was messy, his cheeks rosy, the way his chest rose and fell..
you didn’t know then that this was the beginning of something.
you didn’t know he’d come back the next night.
and the next.
and the next.
you didn’t know he’d start trusting you in ways he didn’t trust anyone else.
that he’d let you see the parts of him he hid from the world.
all you knew was gator tillman showed up on your porch one night, broken and quiet and lost.
and you let him in.
-
your break at the diner is supposed to be fifteen minutes.
just enough time to sit on the back steps, drink something cold, and pretend your feet don’t hurt. you’re halfway through your lemonade when you hear gravel crunching. you figured it was one of the old men that came everyday to get a cup of coffee.
you don’t look up at first.
but then you hear a man clear his throat.
you lift your head.
gator’s standing a few feet away, hands shoved in his pockets, his hair’s a little messy, eyes a little tired, like he didn’t sleep again.
“hey,” he says, voice soft. “you on break?”
you nod. “yeah. ten minutes left.”
he hesitates, shifting his weight. “can i… sit with ya?”
you pat the step beside you.
he sits immediately.
you take a sip of your lemonade. “you hungry?”
he shrugs. “ain’t eaten yet.”
you stand. “stay here.”
he blinks. “where you goin’?”
“to get you lunch.”
he opens his mouth to argue — you can see it in the way his jaw tenses — but then he stops. looks down. nods once.
“okay.”
you bring him a plate of fries and a grilled cheese, the only thing he ever ordered since you too were teens. he stares at the food for a second like he doesn’t know what to do with it.
“you can eat, you know,” you tease.
he huffs a tiny laugh. “yeah. i know.”
he takes a bite. then another. then another.
after a minute, he says quietly:
“i came by last night.”
you look at him. “i know. i heard your truck.”
he swallows. “i didn’t knock.”
he picks at the crust of his sandwich. “i wanted to. i just… didn’t wanna bother you.”
you shake your head. “you never bother me.”
he looks at you.
“you’re real good to me,” he murmurs.
“you showed up hungry,” you say. “that’s not a crime.”
he smiles a little.
“still,” he says. “you didn’t have to.”
“i wanted to.”
“i don’t know why when i used to be such a dick to ya.”
you shrug. “a lot was happening in your life gator. not gonna hold a grudge.”
he goes quiet for a moment, staring at the gravel like it might give him courage.
“can i… pick you up after your shift?” he asks, eyes hopeful.
you nod.
“yeah, gator. you can.”
-
your shift ends at nine. gator’s waiting outside, leaning against his truck with that small, crooked smile he only ever gives you.
“you ready?” he asks.
“yeah,” you say. “where we going?”
“home first,” he says. “you should change. wanna take you somewhere.”
you don’t question it.
you change into jeans and a soft top, and when you come back out, he’s sitting on your couch scrolling through his phone.
he looks up fast when he hears your footsteps . “you look pretty mama.”
you smile. “you ready?”
he nods.
the bar he takes you to is quiet, neon lights humming, jukebox playing old songs. he keeps close to you as you walk in, hand hovering near your back like he’s making sure you don’t get lost in the crowd.
you slide into a booth. he sits beside you, not across. which you found a little weird but cute.
“what do you want?” he asks.
“surprise me.”
he nods and stands. “i’ll get you somethin’. i’m just gettin’ a soda. gotta drive.”
you smile and nod as you watch him walk to the bar.
he comes back with a drink for you and a soda for himself. he sets them down carefully.
“cheers,” you say, lifting your glass.
he taps his soda can against it. “cheers.”
you take a sip. he watches you, eyes soft, like he’s memorizing the way you smile afterward.
you finish your drink.
he orders you another.
he doesn’t drink anything but a coco cola .
“you sure you don’t want one?” you ask.
he shakes his head. “nah. gotta get ya home safe.”
you’re halfway through your second drink when you lean your head on his shoulder.
“you okay?” he asks quietly.
“yeah,” you say. “just… comfy.”
he lets out a breath you didn’t know he was holding.
“good,” he murmurs. “i like when you’re comfy.”
you smile into his shoulder.
-
you’re a little tipsy and giggly, leaning into him as he walks you to the truck. he opens the door for you, steadying you with a hand on your back.
“easy,” he says softly. “i got you.”
you slide in, and he buckles your seatbelt for you because your hands are clumsy. he’s close enough that you can smell his cologne and the vape on his breath.
“thanks,” you mumble.
he smiles. “always.”
the drive is quiet, soft music playing low, windows cracked just enough to let the night air in. you rest your head against the window, eyes half‑closed.
gator glances at you every few seconds, restraining himself to place one of his hands on your thigh.
gator pulls into your driveway, then turns the engine off.
you step out of his truck, the night air brushing your cheeks. gator walks you to your door, one hand hovering near your back like he’s ready to catch you if you wobble.
“you good?” he asks softly.
“yeah,” you say, but your voice is sleepy, edges soft. “just tired.”
he hesitates, shifting his weight. “you want me to… stay? just for a bit?”
you look up at him, eyes half‑lidded. “yeah, gator. stay.”
you unlock the door, and he follows you inside, closing it quietly behind him.
you tug at your jacket, fumbling with the zipper. gator steps closer, hands gentle.
“here,” he murmurs. “lemme help.”
he unzips it slowly, careful not to pull your hair. you shrug it off, and he catches it before it hits the floor, draping it over a chair.
you sway a little.
“okay,” he says softly, “you need somethin’ comfy. where’s your pjs?”
you point toward your dresser, and he nods, going to grab a big oversized shirt.
“arms up, doll ” he says quietly.
you lift your arms, trusting him completely. he helps you out of your top.
“unclamp my bra too please?”
he swallows hard as his fingers touch your back unclamping it sneaking a few glances at your breasts then slipping the shirt over your head.
“mm pants too please.” you say looking up at him innocently.
he slowly unbuttons your jeans and pulls them down revealing your black lace panties to him making it harder for him to control himself.
“there,” he whispers. “all cozy.”
you blink up at him, cheeks warm. “thank you alligator .”
he smiles. “yeah. ’course.”
you crawl into bed, and he hesitates for a second before sitting beside you.
“ya want me to stay right here?” he asks, voice barely above a whisper.
you nod. “please.”
he exhales, and lies down beside you. you immediately curl into him, your head resting against his chest. his arm wraps around you instinctively, pulling you close.
you feel his heartbeat under your cheek as you sink into him.
he shifts just enough to press a soft kiss to your forehead.
then another to your temple.
then one to the top of your head.
gentle. careful. like he’s afraid you’ll break.
you pout looking up at him. “you forget a kiss to my lips.”
he smiles a little and gives you a soft kiss.
“i got you.” he says as you bring your head back down to rest on his chest.
his hand rubs slow circles on your back, and he presses one more kiss to your hairline.
“go to sleep,” he whispers. “i’m right here.”
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