#hotgirlbedtimescenarios

[macfrog]

What’s next now that SCOM is done? ( which was amazingly beautiful btw ) Obviously no rush at all but I’d love to know if any ideas are brewing in that gorgeous brain of yours.

big love straight back to you, kt! 🩷

i ammmmm taking a little 🤏🏼 break for now and will be focusing mostly on my sex on fire babies. they deserve a beautiful ending and shit they're gonna get it

after that, i do have some ideas brewing in the jackson!joel department. an old series idea i benched a few months ago, that i've been chewing on again.

who knows! i certainly don't. i'm simply at the mercy of the frog in my brain

[punkshort]

Exposing myself here to reveal that my significant other also has no idea I’m a fan fiction girlie 😂

He knows I have a big fat crush on Pedro and teases me about it all the time (lovingly ofcourse). My TikTok fyp makes it very clear. He also knows I love a smutty book, in fact he’s read snippets from ACOTAR books just to see what all the fuss is about lol.

For some reason I just feel so shy about revealing that I read and write fics. I know he would be like okay girl do your thing even if he doesn’t totally understand it.

Idk, I think I like having my dirty little secret even though it’s not a secret at all. I’m always on tumblr we’ve just never talked about exactly what it is I do on here 🤷🏼‍♀️

We are living almost the exact same life, I fear 🤣

Mine doesn't know about tumblr (or even what it is, idk maybe he does) but I guarantee if I went and told him right now he would just be like, "alright, do you want me to read it or something?" But then when it settles in he will probably tease me a little bit here and there, but we've been together for 15 years - we know everything there is to know about each other, I want just one little thing to myself. Especially because it's so harmless!

One day I'll tell him. I just don't know when.

[milla-frenchy]

omg

this is one of the most beautiful fic I've ever read

I can't even express how much I love it ❤️❤️❤️ This is pure perfection: the angst, the love, the pain, their feelings

omfg 🥲

thank you so much for this masterpiece 🙏🤌

Loved You More

Pairing: Joel Miller x f!reader *no physical description* (one-shot)

Words: 1.4k+

Warnings: angsty and sad, mentions of loss, mentions of pregnancy / wanting children

Inspo song - Let Me Love You More Braxton Keith

Main Masterlist

It was falling apart around you, just as you had feared. You were fighting with Joel again, not because he had done anything wrong, but because of what he wouldn’t do.

He won't let you all the way in. He won't let you love him the way you know you can.

 It was the silence he wrapped around himself, the walls he built, keeping you at arm's length.

No matter how many intimate nights you shared or happy moments passed between you, he refused to let you all the way in. You knew he loved you; he told you every chance he got, and the warmth in his eyes affirmed it.

So why won’t he give himself to you fully?

“Joel, please,” you cried, tears tracing paths down your cheeks. “I told you that doesn’t matter anymore. I want you.”

It shattered Joel’s heart to hear the agony in your voice, but his resolve had crystallized into something unyielding. He took a deep breath, fighting the tremor in his chest.

He fights the urge to pull you into his chest and rub a soothing hand across your back.  “You can’t give up your dreams for me. You deserve a white wedding, a husband, kids, a bright, beautiful family. It’s what you’ve always wanted. Don’t deny it.”

“You’re enough, Joel,” you insisted, desperation clawing at your words. “I don’t need anything else.”

“That may be true now,” he sighed, sorrow etched deep into his features, “but what happens when you wake up one day and realize you want more? When it’s too late? You’ll resent me for taking those dreams away.”

“Then why!” Your voice rises, breaking. “Why did you let it go this far? Why don’t you want a life with me?”

“I do!” he admitted, anguish cracking his voice. “But I’ve done this before. I had a wife and a daughter, and when I lost it all, I nearly lost myself. Hell, I damn near didn’t make it. I don’t have it in me to be the man you need. Not anymore.”

“So, this is it?” you whimpered, the weight of finality hanging heavy in the air.

“This is it.” And with that, he turned, leaving a gaping void where hope had once lived, and he didn’t look back.

You sink to the cold, hard floor, sobbing until the tears dry, leaving behind only a hollow ache.

---

Two nights before, Joel decided he had to leave you. It was after watching your face at his niece's kindergarten graduation.

He saw how you beamed with joy and cheered for the little girl walking across the stage just as loud as her parents, Tommy and Maria. After the ceremony, you scooped her into your arms for a bear hug and looked at her precious face with love and longing, and Joel knew what had to be done.

Being a mother has always been your dream, and he knew it was meant for you. Joel had seen it in your gentle hands, how you braided hair and made flower crowns, how your voice soothed children to sleep, the perfect sweet tenor for singing lullabies and tucking babies into bed. You were born to nurture, to love, but he couldn’t give you the family you deserved.

He knew you'd be a perfect mother, but being a father was no longer in the cards for him. Of course, he's still a father; he will always be deep down. The love for his daughter Sarah and the void it left in him when she passed is exactly why he can't bring himself to go through it again.

Protecting her was his job, and he failed.

He'd had a wife then and failed at that, too. He hadn’t been enough for her to stay.

He didn't want to fail you too. So instead of dragging you with him in a lonely existence where he knew he wouldn’t allow himself to give you kids or marry you, he decided to let you go.

 He loves you enough that he can't be selfish with you. He loves you more than he loves himself, so he sets you free. It is his final act of mercy. It is a bittersweet gift to free you from a future of sorrow.

He can't be everything you need, and he doesn't want to rob you of what you've always wanted.

Although you might never forgive him, he hopes you will understand.

He prays that one day, you will see that to love you more, he had to set you free.

---

6 years later.

Joel wakes in his empty home, the silence echoing around him like it always does. After a restless night and an early morning cup of coffee, he drives into town to load up on supplies for the job site he’s heading to this week.

Joel drives his pickup truck downtown with the windows rolled down, enjoying the cool brush of the autumn air against his skin and basking in the sun's warmth.

He parks on the curb outside the hardware store downtown and exits his vehicle, shutting and locking his door behind him. He stretches his tired bones in the warm sun and breathes in the fresh air. Today felt good, which is rare for him. But the day is beautiful, and he is determined to enjoy it, to try to allow happiness, no matter how small, a place in his life.

But then, a doorbell jingles from across the street, pulling his attention in that direction, and time seems to halt. He sees you—for the first time in years. His heart constricts painfully in his chest.

Over the years, he’s heard about you, your engagement, and your wedding, too. It hurt, damn, it hurt, but it's why he left you in the first place. To give you that chance, and now that he can see it all worked out for you, he's glad he made that choice.

He watches as two children, your children, exit a café across the street, bursting out the door, laughter dancing in the air. You follow behind, a baby cradled in your arms, your face alight with a joy he had never been able to give you. And there was your husband, a man younger and more suited for you, guiding you with a gentle hand on the small of your back.

Joel feels as if he were shattering all over again, a specter haunting a life he could never reclaim. He stands frozen, unable to look away. You were everything he had wanted for you, everything he had sacrificed for.

He left you crying that day, heartbroken, and without a proper goodbye. He's sure you hate him. He's sure you don't want to think about him ever again.

But then you look up. Your bright and happy eyes meet Joel's sorrowful ones, and your gazes lock. For a heartbeat, the world stands still; the pain of the past swirls between you, breathing life into the connection he had severed so long ago.

But despite the past, you smile at him, an acknowledgment that pierces through the years of silence and heartache.

You smile at him because now you know why he did it. Why he left you and never looked back. He was right, and he was a good man��a great one.

He set you free because he loved you more; you just didn't know it until now.

You have a happy family, a white picket fence, and an adoring husband, all because Joel gifted it to you. All because he was strong enough to break your heart.

So you smile at him across the street, the man you once loved more than anything in the world. Somewhere deep down, you probably always will.

Thank you, your eyes seemed to say. I understand now.

He smiles back, a bittersweet gesture filled with love, longing, and resolution.

He knows he shoudln’t linger, so with one last nod, Joel turns away and walks into the hardware store, leaving you behind for good, leaving you to live the life he wished for you. A life without him.

As Joel steps away, the ache that settled deep into his bones years ago seems to lighten just a fraction because today is proof that he had made the right decision. He loved you more than himself. He loved you more than you had ever known.

He loved you enough to let you go. And even if he has to spend the rest of his years missing you, at least he knows you're happy.

[auteurdelabre-updates]

THE F*CK-IT LIST: Chapter One: Manifesting

For whatever reason tumblr will not allow me to add your names to my main post. But, I am tagging you here to let you know that Chapter One of the F*ck-It-List has now dropped!

@ rrravensss

@nana90azevedo

@ishestillapunk

 @feelherlove

 @mysterious-moonstruck-musings

 @lilac-boo

@whirlwindrider29

@mrs-hardy-hunnam-butler-pascal

 @guelyury

@fancyyoouu

@elegantduckturtle

@guessitwillallworkout

@risingwolf97

@bluekismet

@docharleythegeekqueen

@drewharrisonwriter

@cartoon-garbage04

@whoaitspascal87

@moel-jiller

@w-w-a-n-d-r-l-u-s-t-t

@jiminstinypinky

@ivoryandflame

@la-vie-est-une-fleur29

@kellybelly1978

@justajoelsreader

@copperhalfcent

@ak-vintage

@maladptivedaydreaming

@r3dheadedwitch

@who-iss-bells

@stevie75

@justanothermarvelfanaccount

@marvellover31415

@macaroni676

@mellymbee

@capuccinodoll

@akah565

@jasminedragoon

@whiskeyneat-coffeeblack

@hisandsnakes

@hisandsnakes

@brittmb115

@pedritospunk

@puduvallee

@pimmyxyone

@kissmeonthesidewalk

@hotgirlbedtimescenarios

@bluenightmarepost

@yesjazzywazzylove-blog

@jollycupcakeblizzard

@ashhlsstuff

@swankyorange

@caramelapplesworld

@finglefondleton-blog

@ashleyfilm

@tkyemfk

@deepestchaoslove

@wortzik-s

@untamedheart81

@probablyreadinsmut

@withoutthelovee

@noisynightmarepoetry

@vvitchesh3x

@cherrysugarx

@jokesonthem

@katw474

@cerisesetpluie

@pastelpinkflowerlife

@canteenee4

@pedritosgfreal

@keenducklandbear

@rosebuds-and-moonlight

@bergamote-catsandbooks

@koshkaj-blog

@cuteanimalmama

@weirdoneattheparty

@pattwtf

@maried01

@callmecath1

@diirtymartini

@tateypots

@getitoutofmymindwrites

@doblasftcisco

@tyysie

@pedroscurls

@exzidss

@yougavemeeverythingandnothing

@vickie5446

@iamladyp

@flomrpus

@picketniffler

@cinnabeanz

@a-library-ofmy-own

@deansimpalagirl

@dontknow446

@fairyy3333

@meet-me-backstage

@bardot49

@goodvibesonly421

@lindsaychops

@harriedandharassed

@yazsos

@sweptawayghost

@meetmeatyourworst

@artemis067

@lua-86

@chyannealaniz

@doodle-with-rhy

@r4efromvenus

@missladym1981

@spacemamax

@peepawispunk

@mbella607

@flamingo90sworld

@sarahhxx03

@ilmattmurdocksthighs

@domesticgoddess22

@churchofjoemiller

@sa1chi

@pedroswife69

[pedroshotwifey]

Joel Miller Fic Recs

Closer by @beardedjoel Completed Series - Neighbor!Joel x F!Reader

Pretty Little Wife by @beardedjoel One shot collection - Husband!Joel x Housewife!Reader

Belong to Me by @chloeangelic Ongoing Series - Linecook!Joel x Waitress!Reader

Dad's Best Friend Joel Miller by @notjustjavierpena One shot collection - DBF!Joel Miller x Bratty!Reader

Brat Tamer Joel Universe by @chloeangelic Completed Series - Brattamer!Joel x Bratty!Reader

Love's gonna get you killed by @pascalisbaby One shot series - jackson!joel x f!reader - Joel's kinda mean but it's ok bc we love him

Daddy Joel One Shot by @toxicanonymity One shot - Joel Miller x f!reader

Sundown by @bageldaddy One shot - Joel Miller x fem!reader

Going For a Ride by @palioom One shot - DBF!Joel Miller x F!Reader

You're a Mansion With a View by @atticrissfinch One shot - Joel Miller x fem!reader

Darkness on The Edge of Town by @romanarose Series - Joel Miller x reader

Yes, Mr. Miller by @pedropascallme One shot - dom!joel x sub!reader

Treat You Right by @ramblers-lets-get-ramblin One shot - boyfriend's brother!joel x f!reader

Oh Honey by @lincolndjarin Ongoing series - Monster!Joel Miller x Mortician!reader

VS, Bath & Body Works, Spencer's, GameStop, Halloween Special , and Massage Chair by @strang3lov3 Series (Can be read as stand alones) - Joel Miller x f!reader I CANNOT get enough of these two!! One of my favorite series by far for sure... The chemistry Bug gives these two is absolutely astonishing. Lots of laughs from this one as well!

Tommy's Hard Day by @toxicanonymity One shot - Joel Miller x fem!reader x Tommy Miller (Reader is free use aka Joel and Tommy don't touch)

Kinktober Day Nine by @corazondebeskar-reads One shot - Joel Miller x f!reader

Black Mail by @milla-frenchy One shot - Joel Miller x f!reader x Javier Pena

Just This Once by @talaok One shot - Joel Miller x fem!babysitter!reader

Strawberry by @joelsgreys One shot - Joel Miller x sub!fem!reader

Little Rabbit by @velvetmud One shot - Joel Miller x f!reader

Texas Hold 'Em by @sweetercalypso One shot - Joel Miller x afab!reader

2003; A DBF Odyssey by @macfrog One shot - dbf!Joel Miller x fem!reader

But I'm Better, Blood Flow, and Daddy's Girl by @bunnysbrainrot One shot series - dbf!Joel Miller x fem!reader

You Know You Never Stood a Chance by @corazondebeskar-reads One shot series (ongoing) - qz!Joel Miller x f!reader

Something Wretched About This by @covetyou Series (complete) - Joel Miller x f!reader

Wild and Unruley by @clawdeewritesfanficOne shot - Recently Divorced!Joel x afab!reader

Drive In by @hotgirlbedtimescenarios One shot - Joel Miller x f!reader

Never Pegged You for a Quitter by @seventeenpins One shot - sub!Joel Miller x tess x f!reader

Sticky by @ezrasbirdie One shot - Subby!Joel Miller x reader

Doing the Work by @jksprincess10 Drabble - Joel Miller x f!reader

Talk Me Down by @hellishjoel One shot - Therapist!Joel Miller x f!reader ...I don't want to talk about how much this called me out.

Yes, Mr. Miller? by @romanarose One shot - dbf!Joel Miller x f!reader

Piss Kink by @pedge-page One shot - Joel Miller x fem!reader Usually not my thing but.. holy fuck.

Pretty Little Thing by @hellishjoel One shot - dbf!joel/brat tamer!joel x f!reader

Stepdaddy by @chloeangelic Series (complete) - Stepdad!Joel Miller x f!reader

UPDATED 12/3/23

[littlemisspascal]

New Writers added to The Pedro Library 🐼

@hotgirlbedtimescenarios @schnarfer

New Works Added ✨

Many fics aren’t appearing in the tags when searching. If I miss yours, please let me know 💗 Or add me to your taglist cuz I love being tagged 😊

As always, if you would like me to remove your work from the rec list, please let know and I’ll remove them asap 😊

@frenchiereading Dieter Branching Out

@oogaboogasphincter Dieter Stress Relief

@morallyinept Javi G Homage / Dieter I Carry Your Heart With Me

@wardenparker @absurdthirst Javier “Should we make it official?”

@absurdthirst @storiesofthefandomlovers Javier Rewarded & Rescued / Frankie One Night in St. John’s

@janaispunk Javier Glitch

@milla-frenchy Javier Neat / Joel Owned

@burntheedges Frankie Flat / Marcus P Ask / Joel NSFW + Dance + Glow + Tease + Cake/ Din Vent + Rope/ Whiskey Leap / Dieter Park / Javier New / Dave Too Late

@penvisions Frankie Once More With Feeling / Javi G From Grief to Grace

@flightlessangelwings Veracruz Jealousy Makes You Taste Good

@beskarandblasters Joel Say You Can’t Sleep, Baby, I Know + Dancin’ With The Devil / Din Stonecatcher

@ozarkthedog Joel A Glimpse of Heaven / Javier Within You/Without You

@psychedelic-ink Joel July

@meshlasolus Joel Too Sweet

@5oh5 Joel Soil in the Lines of Their Palm

@aurorawritestoescape Joel Ribbon + Always and Forever

@tightjeansjavi Joel My Dearest

@beefrobeefcal Joel Just Wanted To Hear Your Voice

@thot-of-khonshu Joel Friendship Defined

@mermaidgirl30 Joel Stay in the Light

@quicksilvermad Din Drink Me

@nerdieforpedro Pero Her Smile was Worth It 

[planet-marz1]

I still have a few more fics on my tbr & once I go through them all i'll probably add a few more to this list 💗 A masterlist with all of my fic rec lists so far is here

A Good Friend to Have & Mothman Fever by @beskarandblasters

watch by @psychedelic-ink

Hungry by @randofantfic

seven days, six nights & skincare sunday by @hellishjoel

I'll Be Here In The Morning & The Only Thing I Did Right

by @joelmillers-whore

where you want your gift, girl? by @thetriumphantpanda

Quiet Type by @atomicladytimetravel

One Night Only by @mondaychildsworld

wet dream by @bastardmandennis

i am a nightmare, you are a miracle by @party-hearses

you should be my only girl by @undercoverpena

Something New by @pascalssbabyy

If You Leave by @lovers-liability

Taxi driver by @milla-frenchy

crimson , September & Eyes On Me by @cavillscurls

body language by @cupofjoel

sleepless by @covetyou

Like a Virgin by @talaok

Love is in the Air by @tangledupinyellow

Meet Me in the Back by @atticrissfinch

Sick Days with Joel Miller by @bearsbeetsbeskar

flesh and metal by @swiftispunk

feeling better by @cool-iguana

Ride by @hotgirlbedtimescenarios

[jennaispunk]

@swiftiscruff Friendship gift exchange

Thank you @swiftispunk and @joelscruff for being friends and putting this together.

This moodboard is for all of us. This silly, goofy wonderful man brought us all together and I will be forever grateful to him for that.

To all you who have interacted with me, read my work, sent messages and boops…THANK YOU!!

You all are amazing and my world is better with you in it.

Tagging: @sawymredfox @beefrobeefcal @janaispunk @morallyinept @fallingforthearch @beardedjoel @wethairjoel @hotgirlbedtimescenarios @faeriellie @perennialdoll247 @yourcoolauntie @noxturnalpascal @feelingindigosworld @syd-djarin @jinxispunk @fhatbhabie @burntheedges

[milla-frenchy]

Fanfic bingo

thank you for tagging me @ace-turned-confused and @evolnoomym 🙏❤️

nice 😁

npt: @aurorawritestoescape @iamasaddie @i-own-loki @littlemisspascal @thundermartini

@schnarfer @604to647 @mermaidgirl30 @hotgirlbedtimescenarios @joelmillerisapunk

@mountainsandmayhem

blank copy included below

[punkshort]

What inspires your writing? I'm a big music girlie, so I usually get fic ideas while I'm maladaptive daydreaming and driving my car and listening to music lmao

I'm not really sure if I'm being honest, but sometimes all I need is no distractions and just a few quiet moments to zone out and let my mind wander. That's part of the problem - my life has been very loud lately as my kid gets older so it's hard to complete a sentence, let alone an entire plot for a fic 🤣

[megangovier]

@hotgirlbedtimescenarios

Before the Sun Rises // Chapter 4

Fresh Start

Pairing: dbf!joel x f!reader (no outbreak)

Summary: Time with a special friend has you and Joel eager to clear the air of tension that has been causing a rift between the two of you recently.

Words: 4.3k+

Warnings: fluff, some family turmoil, and a brief/vague mention of potential SA ( nothing happened )

Masterlist

“You look like crap,” your sister teases when she spots you laid out on the couch, nursing a cold glass of water and force-feeding yourself a cold pancake from the breakfast your mom had cooked hours ago.

“Shut up, Izzy,” you groan, angry at yourself for being so hungover.

“I guess you aren’t coming to town with us today?” she asks.

“No thanks,” you say, taking another nibble of your pancake.

Your mom walks around the corner, digging in her massive, cluttered purse for her keys while she speaks to you, “Izzy and I will be in town for most of the day. I have a lot of errands to run, and she needs some supplies for summer camp.”

You grunt an acknowledgment, still too nauseous to form many words.

 “And your father’s gone golfing with Richard; who knows how long they’ll be gone today,” she finishes as she motions Izzy toward the door to leave. Finally, the door closes behind them, and the house is washed in sweet, beautiful silence.

You finish choking down your pancake and chugging a glass of water before walking into the kitchen to search for aid. Thankfully, you find a bottle of ibuprofen and swallow two before trudging back upstairs for a shower.

You’d still be in bed, but you’d made plans to visit Mrs. Mildred way before you had the bright idea to have a girl's night out.

---

Mrs. Mildred was quite the character. When you were younger, you used to view her as the crabbiest old lady on the block.

Once, you accidentally hit a baseball into her yard, which shattered her car’s side mirror. She scolded you for days afterward. The incident made you steer clear of her, only exchanging forced hellos when necessary.

Fast forward to sophomore year of high school, when your parents volunteered for you to help Mrs. Mildred with gardening. She needed someone to plant hydrangeas in her yard, and your parents graciously offered your services without consulting you. Begrudgingly, you went over, expecting a grumpy older woman.

Mrs. Mildred was stern and precise in her instructions, but as you worked together, you noticed her wit and humor peeking through her no-nonsense façade. She knew exactly what she wanted and how to do it. You imagined that if her aging back were up to snuff, she’d never stoop low enough to ask some child for gardening help.

After the plants were in the ground, she invited you inside for refreshments. “Come on inside, honey,” she directed you. She walked inside without looking back to see if you obeyed. You did.

Once inside, she ushered you to her small, round, wooden kitchen table. “Thank you for your help today, dear; I know it’s no fun, but my back is too damn old to bend over like that anymore.”

You were surprised at her crass language, a smile ticking up the sides of your mouth. As you sat at the kitchen table together, sipping homemade lemonade and munching on sandwiches and snacks, you engaged in conversation, chatting away like old friends.

It dawned on you that Mrs. Mildred wasn’t just a grumpy old lady but a girl. A lonely one, especially after her husband’s passing many years ago. Beneath her tough exterior was a woman with many stories and experiences to share with whoever would listen.

From that day on, you started to see Mrs. Mildred in a new light. You greeted her more often and joined her on her porch for afternoon chats. Before you knew it, you had formed an unlikely friendship with the firecracker of a woman, Mrs. Mildred, who turned out to be a great companion and confidante.

---

After a cool shower, you feel much more alive, no longer teetering on the verge of nausea and cringing away from every bright light in your eyes. You dry your hair, letting it fall loosely down your back, and then get dressed for the day.

You choose a delicate, white sun dress that flows loosely across your body, ties into a bow at your back, and has a hem that falls right above your knee—a perfect, relaxed fit to keep you cool and comfortable. Then, you slip into a pair of sandals and head across the street.

As you approach her home across from yours, you smile at the hydrangea bushes blooming with colorful petals, reminding you of your first afternoon here many years ago.

When you reach her door, you can hear the faint sound of old jazz music drifting through her cracked windows. You knock, and a moment later, Mrs. Mildred opens the door, a bright smile spreading across her face at the sight of you.

“Well, look who finally decided to pay this old bird a visit,” she teases, “didn’t think I’d see you again before I kick the bucket.”

You laugh, “You know I’d be pissed if you croak before I got to see you again!” you tease right back, pulling her small frame into a hug.

Mildred was even older now, probably teetering around 80 years old. Her petite frame was bent with age as she’d shrunk since the last time you saw her. Her hair, still white as snow, was curled on the top of her head with a pair of reading glasses tucked into it.

“Come on in, dear; I was just putting on another pot of coffee.”

You follow her inside, taking in the familiar surroundings of her cozy living room. The air was filled with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and fresh linen.

Settling into one of her worn armchairs, you feel a sense of ease wash over you as Mrs. Mildred bustled about, prepping the coffee. Once everything was ready, she joined you and handed you a steaming cup. You took a sip, two sugars, and a whole lot of cream, just how you like it. You smile at the fact that she still remembers after all this time.

Settling into her armchair with a cup, she starts, “Now spill. Tell me something that’ll keep this old woman from dying of boredom. What have you been up to?”

You launch into your spiel about finally graduating but not knowing what you want to do next, about how your parents are pushing you to reach out and accept a job at Richard’s law firm.

She stops you, “Enough about all that; I don’t give a rat's ass about that man. Tell me what’s on your mind, really.”

You laugh, grateful she doesn’t amount your worth to your post-college plans like most people seem to do. So, you dive into a tale of college stories and your time abroad. Only pausing when she interjects her own commentary or asks If the boys you mentioned were “anything to write home about.”

“Definitely not,” you respond. You sip your coffee, considering what you want to ask her.

“Millie, how’d you know when you’d found your husband?”  A genuine question, now turning the conversation more serious.

Mildred’s eyes sparkle with something mischievous momentarily before she barks a laugh, a crass joke probably on the tip of her tongue. But then she pauses, her laughter fading into a smile tinged with nostalgia.

“Well, honey,” she begins gently, “I’ll spare you the dirty joke this time. When I met my Donald, it wasn’t something remarkable like what you see in those sappy romance movies. He was just a regular guy, rough around the edges, but with a heart of gold.”

She leaned back in her chair, lost in the memories of days gone by. “I knew he was the one for me when he stood by me through thick and thin. He loved me for me, and I never held any part of myself back from him. He saw everything, even the ugly parts, and never once wavered in his love and support. He made me laugh when I wanted to cry and held me close when life got tough. Even put up with my foul-mouthed humor without a single chide. He was my best friend.”

A wistful smile played on her lips as she continued, “You’ll know you found the one when they accept you for who you are, flaws and all. It won’t always be easy, but it's worth it. Real love is messy and imperfect. They might never fully understand you, but they must be with you through anything and everything. Always there when you need them and vice versa.”

You listened intently, touched by the sincerity of her words. Remembering again that her wisdom extended far beyond her crass jokes and witty remarks. “Were you ever worried about whether or not he’d like you for you?”

“Well,” she considers it for a moment, “If he didn’t, that just meant he wasn’t the one for me. So, I said to hell with it and showed him exactly who I was from the start.”

You smile, happy to hear that she’d found someone to love uniquely her, just as she is.

Just as you two are about to launch another conversation, a knock at her door rattles you. “I’ll get it,” she says, groaning as she pushes herself out of her armchair and shuffles toward the door.

“Joel! There you are, come on in,” she waves him inside.

Shocked, your head whips toward the door, and you watch Joel's burly figure enter the room. His shoulders stretch against a worn-looking t-shirt above a pair of loose-fitted jeans and signature work boots that thump loudly against the floor wherever he goes.

“What is it you needed help with this afternoon?” he asks, wiping his feet on the doormat before following her into the living room where you sit.

When he notices you, his strides halt. “Oh, sorry to interrupt,” he says, at a loss for words. “Didn’t know you had company; I can come back later.”

“Nonsense,” the old woman waves him off, “Sit down and visit with us. I’ll go grab you a cup of coffee.”

Mildred shuffles into the kitchen, rattling around, while Joels sits on the couch.

“Feeling alright after last night?” He asks you, thankfully not giving you the silent treatment.

“Yeah, it was rough getting up this morning but I'm fine now,” you answer, sipping your coffee. “What about you and Tommy?”

Mildred reemerges from the kitchen, handing Joel a large mug of fresh black coffee, and settles back into her original chair.

“Had to drag him back home by the night's end.” He says before taking a sip from his mug. “By the time I drove him home and handed him off to Maria, I think he’d already passed out.”

“Sounds like he did his bachelor party right then,” Mildred chimes in with a laugh.

You look at her, confused about how she knew what they were up to last night.

She meets you with a satisfied look, “Don’t be surprised. You’re not my only friend in the neighborhood.” She nods toward Joel, “Joel’s been coming around to keep me company ever since you went off and left me.”

You look to Joel now, eager for an explanation. He looks down at his feet, almost shy and embarrassed. “I remembered you spent afternoons over here before you left. Figured she’d need some company, so I stopped by one day.”

 He looks at Mildred now with a half smile on his face. “Ever since then, she’s been exploiting my kindness for free work and rides to doctors' visits.”

The old woman cackles, “It’s the least you can do in exchange for my charming company.”

You smile, and your heart grows warm, knowing that Joel has been here to care for your dear friend in your absence.

Silence fills the air now, the tension between you and Joel still ever present, though lighter now than it has been. You avoid looking at each other too much, and Mildred seems to pick up on the awkward energy.

She breaks the silence, eyeing the two of you. “What’s going on with you two?”

Your eyes dart to hers, and Joel follows suit. “What do you mean?” you ask nervously.

There’s no way she’d know about whatever was happening between you and Joel. Whatever the growing tension was between the two of you, putting a block in your friendship, or whatever it was you had with him.

“I mean what I said. What have the two of you been up to lately? It’s summer break. I’m sure Sarah has been keeping you busy,” she says, looking at Joel before turning to you, “and you're free to do whatever now, too.”

“Right,” Joel says, relaxing, “Sarah’s been jumping at the bit to do something daily. She’s mostly excited about finally being allowed to go to summer camp this year with Izzy.”

“That’s right,” you chime in. “I heard about that. My sister won't stop talking about how excited they are. She’s actually out shopping for supplies with my mom today.”

“You finally gave in?” Mildred teases, “Took you long enough. Poor girl has been begging for years, right?”

“Yeah, yeah, I know,” Joel concedes, “I just worry about her too much. A whole week away in a camp in the woods? That can’t be a good idea for a bunch of little girls. What if som-“

You cut him off, “She’ll be fine, Joel,” you reassure him. “I went when I was younger, and I’d hardly call it camp. It’s a bunch of air-conditioned cabins right off the interstate where they do arts and crafts for a week and learn how to start fires with flint.”

He grumbles something unintelligible. Millie smiles to herself across the room, sensing the tension ease.

“Oh!” she jumps up out of her chair. “Let me show you something, dear,” Mildred says as she shuffles over to a bookshelf and grabs an old, worn leather photo album. “Speaking of my dear Donald, let me show you this.”

Mildred brings the photo album with her as she sits on the couch next to Joel, who looks confused about what she’s talking about, having not been present for the earlier conversation.

Mildred waves you over. “Come have a look,” she says, patting the spot next to her on the couch.

Rising from your seat, you join her and Joel on the couch. Mildred in the middle as a nice buffer between the two of you.

She opens the book to display a collage of age-tinted pictures, some with frayed and yellowed edges. The first picture shows a small woman with a tenacious-looking expression, obviously a younger Mildred, and a tall, sturdy-looking man who you assume is her late husband.

You and Joel both lean in to get a better look.

“This was me and my Don right after we moved into this house.”

“Wow, Mildred, you’re a bombshell!” you compliment her.

“I sure used to be,” she agrees, “nothing but a bag of old bones now,” she chuckles.

She flips to the next page; the photo now depicts a younger Mildred in a beautiful satin wedding dress, a long sweeping veil, and some interestingly oversized puffy sleeves that must have been all the fashion back then. Her husband was dressed in a suit with his arms wrapped around her.

“What a dress,” you comment.

“Sure is somethin’,” Joel adds, failing to hide his distaste for the gaudy fashion choices.

“Don’t judge me too harshly; it was all the craze back in my day. This was the day we were married nearly 60 years ago.”

“I’m sure that was an amazing day,” you offer.

“It was, well, for the most part.” Mildred flips the page, showing a picture of the newlywed couple sharing their first dance in a nearly empty reception hall. “Marrying him was one of the best days of my life, no doubt, but we didn’t have that many guests. My parents were dead set against me marrying him.”

“Why?” you ask, intrigued. You see Joel raise an eyebrow across from you, also interested in the story.

“Well, there are many reasons they came up with to try not to like him. He was older, though many people didn’t care about that much back then. His parents came from nothing: seamstresses for a mother and factory worker for a father. My parents raised hell when they found out I was seeing him. They thought their daughter deserved someone in the same tax bracket, like a lawyer or doctor.”

She flips the page again, displaying a picture of her and her husband holding a baby girl, her oldest daughter, you assume.

“When they found out we were engaged, they stopped talking to me, cut off my funds, and tried to blackmail me into leaving him. But they didn’t know the wealth I saw in him,” she continues lovingly. “He was a good man and cared for me like no one else. He laughed with me, cried with me, and fought like hell with me, too, but loved me regardless. I felt the happiest I’d ever been every day I spent with him. They never completely came around; we were always the family's black sheep after that, but it was all worth it.”

“It seems like you made the right decision. I don’t know if I’ve ever heard someone talk about their spouse that way.” You said, and it was true.

“You two listen up now,” she instructs, nodding to you and Joel. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned all these years, you need to live life for yourself. Don’t give a damn what anybody else has to say. I was shunned by my family and many of my so-called friends, too, but I didn’t care. It wasn’t more important than spending my life with the man I loved. In the beginning, I was scared of the backlash. All the external pressure got to me, and I broke things off with Donald briefly before realizing it was a colossal mistake. We lost precious time together before I came to my senses and ran back to him. I’d give anything to go back and get even just a few days more with him now.”

It was as if Mildred knew what was happening between you and Joel. She didn’t realize just how applicable this conversation was to you.

The three of you spend the rest of the afternoon chatting in Mildred's living room.

Joel shares how well his contracting business is going, especially with several new big-time clients in the city practically throwing money at him to take on all their projects.

 Before he can get into much detail, Mildred interjects, “And what about Tommy and Maria? Engagement party soon, right? Do they need help organizing?”

“Yes, mam, it is,” Joel replies, “and no, I think Maria is doing a fine job with everything. Tommy is actually pretty excited; he was going on about color schemes and ambiance last week.” Joel chuckles, “Didn’t think I'd see the day he cared about party planning details other than what drinks he’d be bringing, but the boy is in deep with Maria. Several of her friends have agreed to help with setup and hosting, so there's nothing left to do now but wait.”

“ I look forward to it,” Mildred says. “Finally, giving this old bird a chance to dress up and socialize. Your folks coming too?” she says, looking at you now.

“Yeah, we’ll be there, I wouldn’t miss it.”

Mildred yawns before getting up from the couch to stretch. “I hate to run y'all off, but I think I need a bit of a nap.”

Joel stands, offering his arm to Mildred if she needs help shuffling to the bedroom, but she swats him away.

 “Need anything before we go, Millie? What was it you called me over here for anyways?” Joel questions.

“Oh, don’t worry about it; we’ll get to that next time. Can you walk her home for me, dear?”

You protest, “Millie, I live right across the street. I don’t need –“

She cuts you off. “I’m not senile yet, dear; I know that. But he’s going to do what I asked him to anyways, won't you, Joel,” she finishes, giving him a firm look that leaves no room for arguing.

“Yes, Mam.”

Without further discussion, you all say goodbye. With a click of the front door closing behind you, you find yourself alone with Joel.

Not waiting to be led home by him like a child, you begin walking toward your house. Over your shoulder, you call back to him, “You really don’t have to walk me home, Joel.”

“I’m scared of what she will do to me if I don’t,” he jokes before his much longer strides allow him to catch up to you and walk side by side. After a beat of silence, he continues, “I, uh, I actually wanted to talk to you anyways.”

You cut your eyes in his direction, surprised by his words. “Oh,” you say, “about what?”

He doesn’t look at you; he looks straight ahead as he walks with one hand by his side and the other rubbing the back of his neck, his telltale sign of discomfort.

“’ Bout last night. And uh, about everything, really. I didn’t mean to cause a scene last night; I just wanted to make sure you got home safe.”

Sure, you had been annoyed with him last night, insinuating you were a drunk mess who couldn’t take care of herself. But after you got home and heard his voice on the phone, clearly worried about whether or not you made it home, it chilled the brewing anger you'd had toward him.

“It’s alright. I actually was going to thank you. If today's hangover is an indication of how drunk I was last night, then I get why you would have been worried about how I was getting home. Lucas, got me back safe, no problem.”

“Lucas,” Joel repeats his name, his voice a bit drier than before, and you think you see him roll his eyes. “It’s not that I don’t think you're capable of taking care of yourself, but I don’t know if I trust him.”

A beat of silence follows as the two of you continue to walk. You wrack your brain, trying to figure out Joel’s disdain for Lucas before it clicks. Prom night.

The night that should’ve been the best night of your high school life ended with you in tears over how Lucas treated you. It had left you crying in the arms of Joel Miller, who promised he'd deal with Lucas if he ever bothered you again.

“Oh,” you say, pausing as the memory floods your thoughts. You’re surprised Joel even remembers that from so many years ago.

Your eyes are on the ground, and your face is warm with embarrassment because he clearly remembers that emotional moment.

Joel halts his stride as well, coming to a stop beside you. “The last time I’d heard you say anything about him, it wasn’t good. Then I saw him there, leading you to his truck without your friends. I thought.. well, I couldn’t let you go with him without knowing if you were too drunk or if you were comfortable leaving with him.”

Guilt comes crashing down on you. You’d been so pissed at Joel but hearing things from his point of view, the way things must have looked, and given his background knowledge of Lucas, it all makes sense now.

You finally glance up, meeting his warm brown eyes in the light of day. “I know what It must've looked like. My friends and I had caught up with Lucas earlier in the night, and he seemed to have changed, so I took him up on his offer to drive me home. That’s it.” You let a small smile appear on your face, “Thanks for looking out for me.”

“Any time.” He smiles back, “I mean it.”

The sincerity in his voice sends another wave of emotion through you. Having been in such a weird place with Joel lately, you’ve forgotten the kind of man he is. He’d always looked out for you, always been there when you didn’t know who else to turn to.

Maybe it clouded your vision and led you to believe you were seeing signs of something more between the two of you when, in reality, it was just wishful thinking.

You've built up one-sided affection and snapped at him the other night outside of your house when the way he’d been acting around you didn’t fit that narrative.

Breaking eye contact, you take a deep breath and exhale. “Listen, I’m sorry for snapping at you the other night after dinner. It’s weird being back home. I was a kid when I left, but I’ve come back as an adult. I’ve been away for years and feel like a new person now, but my parents don’t see that. They treat me like they always have like I'm too young and inexperienced to know what's good for me.”

Joel opens his mouth to say something, but you keep going.

“But you’ve never treated me that way; you never made me feel less than, and I guess I got confused and.-“

“Hey,” Joel finally interjects, saving you from rambling into how you may have misconstrued his attention and embarrassed yourself by assuming it was something more.

You feel his palm land on your shoulder, rubbing a soothing thumb back and forth as he steps closer. Despite the heat of the summer sun, chills prickle up your spine.

“You have nothing to apologize for. You were right; I was being an asshole. You’re not a kid no more, hell anyone who spends any time with you should know that by now. I don’t know what I was thinking, acting the way I did. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“Can we just start over?” You ask. “Be friends again, for real this time?”

“I’d like that.” A smile lifts the edge of his lips and crinkles the skin around his eyes.

You and Joel finally finish the walk back to your house in comfortable silence, where he leaves you at the door.

“Welcome home,” he says in that signature smooth rasp.

“Good to be back,” you answer with a smile, and this time it's true, as you slip inside.

With the air cleared and things between you and Joel back to normal, the weight has been lifted, and you are eager for what's to come this summer.

[baronessvonglitter]

This picrew + the last song you listened to

Muchas gracias to @strang3lov3 and @itwasntimethatdidit40 for the tags!

NPT (apologies if you’ve already been tagged):

@hotgirlbedtimescenarios @yorksgirl @nerdieforpedro @inept-the-magnificent

[alwaysmicado]

WIP title game

RULES: post the names of all the files in your WIP folder, regardless of how non-descriptive or ridiculous. let people send you an ask with the title that most intrigues them, and then post a little snippet or tell them something about it! and then tag as many people as you have WIPs.

Thanks for the tag, babe @corazondebeskar-reads 🤍

No broken hearts - fwb!Joel Miller x f!reader -> almost ready, I promise

hand-holding etiquette - fwb!Joel Miller x f!reader

Not your fault - Nathan Bateman x f!reader

Never have I ever - fwb!Joel Miller x f!reader

Violent Delights - Joel Miller x f!reader

Why not both - Joel Miller x f!reader x Dieter Bravo

perfect - dark!Nathan Bateman x f!reader

NPT: @joelslegalwhre @imalrightllama @kewwrites @party-hearses @suzdin @hotgirlbedtimescenarios @sp00kymulderr

I'm sorry if you've been tagged already, I'm still trying to catch up. 🤍

[planet-marz1]

Some more of my favorite writers! Again, all of these lovely people are so very talented, and I recommend all of their works! 🩵🩷 Pt.1 is here and my fic rec masterlist is here <3

@amanitacowboy

@atinylittlepain

@atticrissfinch

@beardedjoel

@breakfastatjoels

@ezrasbirdie

@fuckyeahdindjarin

@gracieheartspedro

@hotgirlbedtimescenarios

@javierpena-inatacvest

@johnwatsn

@milla-frenchy

@millerscoffee

@mondaychildsworld

@morallyinept

@nervoushottee

@palioom

@pascalisbaby

@pascalsbby

@pascalpvnk

@penvisions

@randofantfic

@sageispunk

@sin-djarin

@tangledupinyellow

@theywhowriteandknowthings

@toxicanonymity

@wheresarizona

[milla-frenchy]

thanks for the tag @kewwrites ❤️

npt: @aurorawritestoescape @toxicanonymity @iamasaddie @evolnoomym @604to647

@schnarfer @sawymredfox @corazondebeskar-reads @mountainsandmayhem @joelmillerisapunk

@ace-turned-confused @thundermartini @hotgirlbedtimescenarios @fruityreads @survivingandenduring

@magpiepills

[jennaispunk]

you’re stuck in a room with the last character in your gallery. how safe are you?

It shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone that this guy is the last one saved in my camera roll.

I’m know I would be safe if I was stuck with Frankie. Look at him, that is the face of a man you can trust. He’s never going to do anything you don’t want him to.

Thanks for the tags: @whocaresstillthelouvre and @sawymredfox

NP tags: @evolnoomym @the-mandawhor1an @notjustjavierpena @fhatbhabiee @clawdee @romanarose @joelsgreenflannel @hotgirlbedtimescenarios