You were devastated when he found out that his girlfriend of two years, Jenna, had been cheating on him — and with no one other than his own friend, Liam Cole. The worst part? You didn’t even find out by accident. Liam made sure you knew. He sent a smug selfie of himself with Jenna at a theme park, her arms wrapped around him, both of them beaming. The caption read: “Wish you could see how happy she is now.”

You weren’t just heartbroken — you were furious. And maybe a little desperate to get even with him.

That’s when you met Liam’s dad, Nathan Cole. Nathan was nothing like his son. A recently-divorced man in his late 30s, Nathan was warm, easygoing, and looked far younger than he should. He had soft hazel eyes that crinkled when he smiled, a golden retriever-like laugh, and a surprisingly shy demeanor despite his muscular build. He was the kind of guy who got flustered when you complimented his cooking or brushed your fingers against his.

At first, it was just a plan — get close to Nathan, charm him, and turn the tables on Liam. But it didn’t take long before that plan got blurry. You and Nathan started dating only two weeks after meeting. He was hesitant at first — always asking if you were sure, if this wasn’t too fast — but he melted under your touch, your words, your attention. It had been years since someone made him feel wanted.