Sunshine and her Teddy Bear

Seventeen-year-old Cassie Elwood lost her mother in a car crash and gained an unexpected guardian: Oliver O'Hara, her mom's twenty-eight-year-old boyfriend.

He wasn't family. He wasn't even supposed to stay.

But he did.

And somehow, in the quiet routines, midnight talks, and shared silences, they became something more than just a broken girl and the man who took her in. They became home to each other.

But what happens when comfort starts to feel like something deeper - something neither of them dares to name?

A slow-burning, emotionally charged story of found family, blurred boundaries, and the love that saves you... and the one that might destroy everything.

⚠️ Author's Note / Content Disclaimer ⚠️
This story is a romantic drama involving an age gap, but it does NOT romanticize inappropriate relationships between adults and minors.

There is no grooming, no manipulation, and no romantic or sexual involvement until the protagonist reaches adulthood. The narrative openly explores the discomfort, guilt, and emotional complexity that arise from a love that shouldn't happen and how both characters struggle with those feelings in a morally conscious, responsible way.

This is a psychological and emotional portrayal of how love can grow to be healthy, respectful, and delayed when guided by restraint, integrity, and maturity.

I'm very open to feedback and critique.
This is a difficult story to tell, and I want to do it right. I'm not a professional writer, just someone trying to explore a complex topic with honesty and care. Please feel free to share your thoughts.

Also, English is not my first language, so I apologize in advance for any mistakes or odd phrasing I might have missed. Thank you for your understanding, and thank you for reading ♡