ā matt sturniolo x fem! reader
ā warnings: fluff, domestic dad! matt, family time, great outdoors... and thats it <3
in which!... you go fishing at the lake with Matt and your kids
The dock groaned in that familiar wayāold boards weathered smooth from years of summers, smelling faintly of cedar and sun. You sat cross-legged near the edge, your bare toes just brushing the cool water. A dragonfly zipped past and landed on the railing, its wings catching the afternoon light.
Matt was already crouched down by the side, his backwards baseball cap shading his eyes, curls spilling out beneath it in lazy, sun-kissed waves. He was showing your youngest how to hold her tiny fishing rod, his voice low and steady, the kind of tone that made her listen without even realizing it.
āKeep your hands right here,ā he murmured, wrapping his larger hand gently over hers. āAnd when you feel a little pull, donāt yank right away. Give it a second.ā
Her bucket hat, pale blue and slightly too big, wobbled when she nodded seriously. āOkay, Daddy.ā
Down the dock, your son was already in full fishing modeāknees bent, rod wedged between his thighs, brows furrowed in concentration. Every so often, heād cast a quick look at Matt, waiting for a nod of approval before going back to his line.
You leaned back on your hands, watching the three of them with a smile you didnāt even try to hide. āYouāre very convincing,ā you teased.
Matt shot you a glance, lips twitching into a grin. āIām a professional fish whisperer.ā
āOh yeah?ā you said, tilting your head.
āMm-hmm. Itās how I caught you, remember? Lured you right in.ā
You laughed, giving his calf a playful nudge with your foot. āPretty sure you just wouldnāt leave me alone until I said yes.ā
āThat too,ā he admitted, eyes sparkling as he looked back at the water.
The wicker picnic basket between you creaked as you flipped open the lidāinside were juice boxes, crackers, grapes, and gummy worms. Half of the worms were for bait. The other half were for āDad tax,ā as Matt called it, snatching a couple whenever he thought you werenāt looking.
āSnack break?ā you offered, holding out a juice box.
āNot for me. Iām busy training a future champion here,ā he said, nodding toward your daughter, who had started whispering to her fishing line like she could sweet-talk the fish into biting.
The sun shifted in the sky, painting the lake in shades of gold and rose. You could hear the faint rustle of leaves in the trees along the shore, and somewhere farther down the dock, the creak of a rope against a moored boat. The whole world seemed to slow to match the rhythm of your little family.
Suddenly, your sonās voice cut through the stillness. āDad! I think Iāve got one!ā
Matt was on his feet in an instant, crouching beside him. āAlright, buddy, nice and easyā¦ donāt let the line go slack.ā His hand settled over your sonās, steadying him as they reeled together. For a second, you thought they might actually pull something upābut the hook came up empty, dripping water back into the lake.
Your son groaned in disappointment, but Matt just ruffled his hair. āThatās alright. The fish are just playing hard to get.ā
āTheyāre mean,ā your daughter huffed, flopping backward so her hat nearly covered her whole face.
Matt laughed, leaning down to kiss her cheek. āNah, theyāre shy. Probably intimidated by how cool you look in that hat.ā
You reached for your phone and snapped a quick photo of themāMatt barefoot and tan, curls tossed by the breeze, the kids leaning against him like he was their anchor. You didnāt need the picture to remember this, but you knew youād want it later.
For a while, you all justā¦ stayed. Matt sat beside you, lines drifting in the water while the kids chatted about what theyād name their first fish. His arm found its way around your shoulders, pulling you against his side.
āYou happy?ā he asked quietly.
You nodded, your cheek brushing the soft cotton of his shirt. āYeah. This is perfect.ā
He looked at you for a long moment, as if memorizing your face in this light. āGood,ā he said softly. āThen letās stay here a little longer.ā
The sky deepened to a dusky pink, the lake reflecting the colors like a watercolor painting. Eventually, Matt reeled in both lines and stood, offering you his hand. The kids trailed behind, chattering sleepily.
By the time you reached the cabin, your daughter was dozing in Mattās arms, her hat slipping sideways. He caught your eye over her head and smiledātired, warm, and content.
āYou know,ā he murmured as you unlocked the door, āI think I did catch the best thing in the lake today.ā
You raised an eyebrow. āOh yeah? Whatās that?ā
āYou,ā he said simply, pressing a kiss to your temple before carrying your daughter inside.
And just like that, you knew youād never forget this day.
immaqulate's notes āį°.į.. since they're back in boston for the time being and matt loves the woods.. why now write about him in his fave setting? hope you liked it :)
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